Old Red Ashbel Smith building on UTMB Health campus

The Sealy Center on Aging at UTMBLeading Aging Research Since 1995

Welcome

The Sealy Center on Aging (SCOA) is an independent, multidisciplinary component of The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) dedicated to improving the health and well-being of older adults through research, education, clinical care, and community engagement. Supported by endowment funds from the Sealy and Smith Foundation and $25M+ in active federal funding, SCOA supports research by more than 100 affiliated Fellows and Senior Fellows from all five UTMB schools.

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Contact Us

Sealy Center on Aging (SCOA)
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177
Directions and Maps
Phone: (409) 747-0008
Email: aging.research@utmb.edu

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Services at a Glance

  • magnifying glass icon Research
    SCOA connects researchers with specialized infrastructure to conduct interdisciplinary studies and clinical trials to advance aging research.​
  • graduation cap and diploma icon Education & Training​
    SCOA cultivates future researchers and clinicians through training grants, fellowships, coursework, and mentorship.​
  • icon Operational & Study Support​
    SCOA provides administrative coordination and study support, science writing, and multimedia development to support high-quality aging research.​
  • Hand holding people icon Community Engagement
    SCOA engages older adults through educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and community partnerships.

News & Events

  • two women discuss research at a whiteboard with colored post-it notes

    Ideation Jam Sparks New Directions for Technology-Driven Aging Research

    May 26, 2026, 09:31 AM by SCOA

    Researchers and collaborators recently gathered for a dynamic Ideation Jam designed to explore how emerging technologies can advance aging research. Organized by Elizabeth Lyons, PhD; Meredith Masel, PhD, MSW; and Missy Morrow, PhD, with support from the Texas Age-Tech Initiative, Sealy Center on Aging, and UTMB Pepper Center, the two-hour interactive session brought together participants from diverse backgrounds to generate ideas, identify synergies, and uncover opportunities for collaboration.

  • bedroom

    Study Shows Sleep Plays Key Role in Post-Hospital Recovery

    May 25, 2026, 12:24 PM by SCOA

    A new study from the UTMB Pepper Center looked at the role sleep plays in how well older adults recover after a hospital stay. The results showed that people who had worse sleep or felt more tired during the day tended to have poorer balance, weaker strength, and lower overall physical function after going home. Those with improved sleep were more likely to show better physical recovery.

  • man wearing a tie and glasses

    RCMAR Lecture: May 26

    May 21, 2026, 10:08 AM by SCOA

    Join us for a Texas RCMAR presentation online on May 26, 2026, at 3:00 PM. Konrad H. Stopsack, MD MPH, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, BIPS in Bremen, Germany, will present, "Reproducibility and Integrity in Observational Research: A Research Community Approach."

  • man wearing a suit and tie

    Pepper Investigators Lecture: May 27

    May 21, 2026, 10:05 AM by SCOA

    Join us for a hybrid UTMB Pepper Center Investigators Lecture on May 26, 2026, at noon. Shalender Bhasin, MB, BS, Harvard Medical School, will present, "Targeting Skeletal Muscle to Improve the Health and Wellbeing of Older Adults".