Welcome to The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Welcome to The Claude Pepper Older Americans Independence Center! We seek to identify predictors of physical function and recovery from illness in hospitalized geriatric patients; identify potential treatments to improve function and accelerate recovery; determine the efficacy of the identified treatments in clinical trials in geriatric patients; and increase the number of junior and senior investigators involved in geriatric research. The OAIC theme is Translating Biological Mechanisms of Muscle Growth and Loss to Improve Function and Recovery from Illness in Older Adults.
The Pepper OAICs were authorized by Congress to conduct "research into the aging processes and into the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorders and complications related to aging, including menopause, which research includes research on such treatments, and on medical devices and other medical interventions regarding such diseases, disorders and complications, that can assist individuals in avoiding institutionalization and prolonged hospitalization and in otherwise increasing the independence of the individuals and programs to develop individuals capable of conducting research in these areas." The term independence, with respect to diseases, disorders, and complications of aging, means the functional ability of individuals to perform activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living without assistance or supervision.
OAICs provide support for research to develop and test clinical interventions, and for core laboratories in the basic sciences. OAICs also train individuals in research approaches to develop and test methods of maintaining and increasing independence, and to enhance expertise in aging research by providing training in the relevant fundamental scientific disciplines.
These Centers honor the memory of Claude Denson Pepper, a Florida congressman and career-long advocate for the rights of older adults. A vigorous man throughout his life, he rejected the idea that physical and mental decline were an inevitable part of normal aging.
UTMB is one of fifteen Pepper Centers located throughout the United States and funded by the National Institute on Aging.