Core co-leaders:
Loretta Jones, MA
Program Director
Healthy African American Families (HAAF)
Email: ljoneshaaf@aol.com

Keith Norris, MD
Professor of Medicine
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Email: knorris@ucla.edu

Michael Rodriguez, MD
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Email: mrodriguez@mednet.ucla.edu

The UCLA OAIC Recruitment Core (RC) enhances participation of older persons from diverse communities who are at greatest risk for functional decline and poor health outcomes in studies by providing a structure for sharing expertise in this essential area with a larger group of faculty who are conducting clinical research with the UCLA OAIC. Given the disproportionate burden of chronic diseases and functional impairment among minority elders, and consistent with the theme of the UCLA OAIC, it is critical to have participation of older African Americans and Latinos in the studies linked to the UCLA OAIC so that the interventions developed to maintain independence are generalizable to the populations most in need of them. Additionally, inclusion of minority elders in studies designed to examine the biological mechanisms of successful interventions will provide the data needed to examine whether these mechanisms vary by race and ethnicity.

Support provided:

• Identification of potential recruitment sites for demographically specific groups of minority elders
• Review and modification of recruitment and retention plan to incorporate what is known about the most effective culturally tailored approaches for specific groups
• Introduction to specific community service and or advocacy organizations who are interested in participating in research projects with UCLA
• Assistance with enrolling and retaining participants in specific studies
• Education in the most effective practices for the recruitment and retention of minority elders

Analysis/Cost-Effectiveness Core

Inflammatory Biology Core

Research Operations Core

Last Updated: November 21, 2006 © 2000 UCLA GeroNet