Advancing Diversity in Aging Research through Undergraduate Education (ADAR)

NIA encourages college students to pursue biomedical research careers through its Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (ADAR) Through Undergraduate Education programs. Students are eligible to apply for NIA ADAR-funded programs if they are from economically, socially, culturally, or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Applicants include students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and those who have vision, hearing, or other disabilities.

NIA ADAR-supported institutions are located across the country, and each one offers a uniquely designed program. Read about the experiences of four undergraduates who said the program inspired them to consider careers in aging-related research.

ADAR is just one example of NIA’s investments in diversifying the aging research work force and encouraging research aimed at reducing health disparities.

NIA-supported Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (ADAR) Programs
Institution/Program	Program Emphasis
University of California, Berkeley Cal-ADAR: Advancing Diversity in Aging Research at UC Berkeley	Demography of aging
Columbia University New York, NY Summer of Translational Aging Research for Undergraduates (STAR U)	Neuroscience of aging
Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation Frontiers in Alzheimer’s and Aging Research	Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and the mechanisms of aging
San Diego State University The SDSU ADAR Program	Longitudinal study with the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
St. Catherine University Katies for Aging Research and Equity (KARE) at St. Catherine University	Longevity and aging
Wake Forest University Health Sciences Enhancing Undergraduate Education and Research in Aging to Eliminate Health Disparities (ENGAGED)	Mechanisms underlying the most common geriatric syndromes and diseases
University of Chicago Cultivating Health & Aging Researchers by Integrating Science, Medicine, & Aging (CHARISMA)	Aging-related clinical research
University of Maryland, College Park Aging, Diversity, And Professional Training (ADAPT) program	Cardiovascular disease and aging health
West Virginia University AGE-ADAR Scholars Program	Aging and health disparities in Appalachia
University of the District of Columbia	Aging-related research tied to balance and falls, imaging, and analytics
University of California, Davis The Advancing Diversity in Aging Research (ADAR) Program	Aging-related research
New York University Pipelines in Quantitative Aging Research Summer Program	Applying quantitative methods in aging research
University of California, San Diego Mentorship for Advancing Diversity in Undergraduate Research on Aging (MADURA)	Aging and Alzheimer’s
University of South Carolina at Columbia South Carolina Advancing Diversity in Aging Research undergraduate program	Health and aging and on health disparities in minorities
University of South Carolina at Columbia	Aging-related research experiences
Howard University Advancing Diversity in Aging Research at Howard University	Gerontology
University of Alabama at Birmingham UAB Research in Aging through Mentorship and Practice - Undergraduate Program (UAB RAMP-UP)	MSTEM areas related to aging

NIA and NIH Programs to Enhance Diversity in the Research Workforce

Visit the links below to learn more about ways that NIH and NIA are supporting diverse undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers in pursuing independent research careers.