The Sealy Center on Aging at UTMBLeading Aging Research Since 1995

The Texas Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR), supported by the National Institute on Aging (Grant P30 AG059301), announces a call for applications for 1-year pilot project funding of up to $40,000 in direct costs. Led by the University of Texas Medical Branch and the University of Texas at San Antonio, in collaboration with UT Austin, this program supports junior and mid-career faculty conducting behavioral and social science research on health and aging in under-represented populations, with a particular emphasis on Hispanic communities in the U.S. and Latin America.

We’re proud to share that Dr. Monique R. Pappadis from the UTMB School of Public and Population Health has received a new award from the NIH’s National Institute on Aging. Her team will develop a practical, primary‑care–based program to help identify and address elder abuse among older adults living with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Join us for the next Pepper Investigators Lecture on "Recent Advances in Hispanic Aging Research: Depression, Frailty, and Health Paradoxes" with visiting scholar Diego Urrunaga-Pastor, MD. Dr. Urrunaga-Pastor will share insights from his research on aging in Hispanic populations, including the depressed-frail phenotype and the Healthy Immigrant Effect. Wednesday, Jan. 21, 12–1 PM at Rebecca Sealy 6.100 or via TEAMS (lunch provided in person).

Congratulations to Alice Williams, MS, LBSW, on completing Lifestyle Coaching Certification at UTMB last fall. This course equips coaches with the knowledge and understanding needed to effectively deliver the National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program (PreventT2®).

As we close out 2025, the Sealy Center on Aging celebrates a year of major milestones in research, education, and community engagement. Highlights include the successful renewal of our P30 Pepper Center, launch of the $5M Texas Age-Tech Initiative, continued growth of our training programs, and expanded outreach through health education, social media, and the Stories of Aging series. We also welcomed new team members and are looking ahead to an exciting 2026 with new programs, events, and research focused on improving the lives of older adults. Read more in this greeting from our Director.