Federal Project Grant Summary

The University of Rochester received a $294,116 Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866), effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. This award funds the GROWS-BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL (Growing Researchers to Support Older Adult Wellbeing in Serious Illness, Including Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Through Applied Biopsychosocial Care and Support) postdoctoral training program. The program will support up to five trainees over a two- to three-year fellowship period to conduct pragmatic biopsychosocial research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older adults with serious illness and their family caregivers.

The core deliverables include postdoctoral training and mentorship grounded in real-world applications of the biopsychosocial model, which integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in healthcare delivery. The program emphasizes experiential learning with older adults and key stakeholders, connecting trainees locally and nationally to a supportive research community focused on addressing gaps in applied biopsychosocial research. The initiative responds to documented underinvestment in this research area and recognizes that older adults with chronic illnesses, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, benefit from interventions that address not only medical dimensions but also social, emotional, financial, and spiritual concerns inadequately addressed by traditional biomedical models.