Our collaborating center fosters research to improve the health of older populations by training scholars with a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary perspective and by establishing collaborations with institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UTMB Sealy Center on Aging World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Aging and Health
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177
Directions and Maps
Phone: (409) 747-0008
Email: pahowho.aging@utmb.edu
As a designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center, we support the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) through the implementation of research and clinical training in public health, geriatrics, and gerontology, following the organization’s guidelines and responding to its needs. Our experts provide technical guidance to PAHO/WHO Member States using population data, best-practice tools, and research collaborations. As one of the few centers focused on aging and geriatrics in the Region of the Americas, we stand out for our emphasis on Latin American and population-based research. With our center's recent redesignation, we continue contributing to the global efforts under the United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030) strategy.
We are pleased to announce that Norma A. Pérez Raifaisen, MD, DrPH, CPC, will serve as Director of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Collaborating Center on Aging and Health at the UTMB Sealy Center on Aging, effective May 1. Dr. Pérez Raifaisen is Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, John Sealy School of Medicine and PI, Center of Excellence for Professional Advancement and Research.
Dr. Ayala-Copete is a Colombian physician and specialist in geriatric medicine from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia. She has been part of the Neuroscience and Aging Research Group (Semillero de Neurociencias y Envejecimiento) since 2015 at her alma matter, where she began her journey as a young researcher under the supervision of Dr. Carlos Cano. Her research mainly focuses on people living with dementia, cognitive decline, and aging-related conditions. Ana aims to contribute to a better understanding of the needs of a growing older adult population and become an agent of change for improving older adults’ health throughout the Americas.
Please join us for the next Pepper Investigators Lecture: "Impact of Error-Augmented Visual Feedback in Robotic Gait Rehabilitation Post-Stroke," presented by Mansoo Ko, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Health Professions on May 28, 2025 at noon in RSH 6.100 and via Teams. Lunch provided for those in person.
Join us for the next Texas RCMAR presentation on May 272, 2025. "Negotiating Personhood in Home-Based Dementia Care: Exploring Ethnographic Methodologies in Dementia Research", is presented by: Micaela Bermea, Doctoral Candidate, UTSA, at 3 PM via Zoom.
UTMB Health has launched the Center for Health and Clinical Outcomes Research, a university-level initiative led by Dr. Neil K. Mehta, professor of epidemiology and associate dean for research in the UTMB School of Public & Population Health. The center will advance outcomes research by uniting clinical and academic departments and leveraging UTMB’s data infrastructure to improve health care and population health.
Are you a stroke survivor still having trouble walking? We’re exploring whether a safe, non-invasive form of brain stimulation—called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—can help stroke survivors improve walking ability.
Findings are now available from the October 2024 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) workshop, "Approaches to Address Unmet Research Needs in Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults." This important event gathered experts to explore the research gaps and clinical challenges of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults aged 65 and older.
Dr. Monique Pappadis and colleagues have been actively contributing to the Post-TBI AD/ADRD Committee as part of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Summit. The next session, titled "SESSION 8: Research to Improve Outcomes for Representative Populations at Risk and Living with Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias", will be held on June 2nd. Register and view the full agenda.
At Northwestern University's Pepper Center Grand Rounds, Dr. Brian Downer delivered a powerful warning: nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events and nursing homes need more resources to keep residents safe. His presentation, "Climate, Environment, and Vulnerable Populations: Natural Disasters and Their Effects on Nursing Home Residents," revealed critical findings about this overlooked public health crisis.
A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on April 30, 2025, "Navigating Turbulent Waters: Leveraging Artificial and Real Intelligence Tools," presented by Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH, Associate Vice Provost, Leadership Development; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Divisions of Geriatrics, John Sealy School of Medicine; Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public and Population Health.
Hello world! We are excited to connect with you here about aging research from UTMB Health, including funding, new grants, researcher highlights, important findings, and more. Students, trainees, and early career researchers are invited to follow us for announcements and opportunities 🤜🤛
— Sealy Center on Aging (@utmbscoa.bsky.social) January 31, 2025 at 10:29 AM
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