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Mission About the Sealy Center on Aging

photo of diverse group of adults

The Sealy Center on Aging is an independent, multidisciplinary component of UTMB that brings together a wide range of expertise in research, education and clinical care related to aging studies.

The Center provides resources to support ongoing research on aging and ignite new research foci in older adult populations. It also supports educational programs on aging and geriatrics and outreach in the community. The Center is supported by endowment funds from the Sealy and Smith Foundation and other grants. Members are comprised of Fellows and Senior Fellows representing all four schools and three institutes at UTMB. Membership is by appointment, based on the faculty’s research interest and scholarly work on aging. The Center brings more than $25 million/year in extramural research funding on aging to UTMB in the areas of medical effectiveness, muscle aging, Hispanic aging, pragmatic clinical trials, and implementation.

History

The Sealy Center on Aging was created in 1995 to promote research in aging, improve education in aging, and support community outreach under the leadership of Dr. James S. Goodwin, George and Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics. Funding for the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) began in 2000. In 2001, the Center was identified as one of the top aging research programs in the country in a comprehensive internal review. In 2005, the Center’s external funding increases to over $20 million in external funding for aging research. Dr. Elena Volpi became the Director in 2014.

History

  • 2015: Pepper OAIC Refunded

    In 2015, the Pepper OAIC was refunded for the next five years by a $3.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to continue its mission to improve physical function and independence in older adults. 

  • 2014: Faces of Aging

    In 2014, the Center published and distributed the second edition of the book series Faces of Aging, featuring photographs of the elderly from Galveston and the surrounding community. This edition, Faces of Aging II, was a follow-up publication to the original book published in 2000, and includes descriptions of UTMB, the Center, and its many programs and opportunities for community involvement. Watch a video about the Faces of Aging Volume I & II.

  • 2014: Dr. Volpi Becomes Director

    In 2014, Elena Volpi, MD, PhD was appointed as the Sealy Center on Aging Director.

  • 2012: Dr. Yong-Fang Kuo Joins

    In 2012,  Dr. Yong-Fang Kuo was appointed as the director of the UTMB Office of Biostatistics and the Director of Biostatistics for the Sealy Center on Aging.

  • 2008: Dr. Rebeca Wong Joins

    In 2008, Dr. Rebeca Wong was appointed as the director of the WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center.

  • 2005: WHO/PAHO Designation

    In 2005, the Sealy Center on Aging was designated the World Health Organization / Pan American Health Organization to improve the health of Hispanic older populations by establishing collaborations with institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean and by training scholars with a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary perspective.

  • 2005: Funding Increases

    In 2005, external research funding fro the Sealy Center on Aging increased to over $20M.

  • 2004: Dr. Papaconstantinou's Contribution

    Work began on the Program Project Grant, "Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Aging" by Dr. John Papaconstantinou (2004 - 2011).

  • 2001: National Recognition

    The Sealy Center on Aging underwent a comprehensive external review in 2001 and was identified as one of the top aging research programs in the country.

  • 1999: Pepper OAIC Funded

    In 1999, the Center received funding for the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center to improve physical function and independence in older adults. 

  • 1997: $4M in External Funding

    The Sealy Center on Aging received $4M in external funding for aging research in 1997.

  • 1996: Forum on Aging at UTMB

    The Forum on Aging was started to inform gerontology researchers and the UTMB community about aging research activities on campus.

  • 1995: Lefeber Winter Series on Aging Begins

    The annual Lefeber Winter Series on Aging, honoring late UTMB Professor of Medicine Dr. Edward James Lefeber, a strong proponent of elder care and the study of aging at a time when few doctors were prepared to care for older patients.

  • 1995: Creation of the Sealy Center on Aging

    The Sealy Center on Aging was created to promote research in aging, improve education in aging, and support community outreach under the leadership of Dr. James S. Goodwin, George and Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics.