Research & Clinical Trials

Established in 1986, the Center on Aging supports a robust, nationally recognized research program focused on preventing or minimizing disability and promoting quality of life in aging adults. Our interdisciplinary and translational research develops a mechanistic understanding of disability, generates and tests innovative interventions, and trains future academic leaders in geriatrics and gerontology. Our research studies seek to develop more precise and individualized ways of maintaining function in late life by preventing mobility problems, fractures, pneumonia, and voiding and memory difficulties.

Our faculty conduct world-class research to improve function and independence in late life, supported by a research portfolio of more than $5 million per scientist. Their research skills include clinical, translational, basic, and health outcomes/population research. This diversity allows the Center on Aging to continually enhance its research activities by monitoring the scientific progress of many relevant research disciplines and translating those discoveries from one discipline (e.g., basic research) to another (e.g., clinical investigation). We also work to translate discoveries made at academic institutions by validating them in “real world” community settings.

Research studies conducted at the UConn Center on Aging are designed to:

• Foster a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which inflammatory and endocrine risk factors contribute to frailty and disability.
• Conduct preclinical and clinical trials intended to prevent or delay frailty and disability.
• Better understand how frailty and disability are associated with sociocultural and behavioral factors, as well as healthcare and long-term care service delivery and costs.

Active Research Studies at the Center on Aging

 

Nursing Home Satisfaction Survey – CoreQ

 

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) has contracted with the UConn Center on Aging to collect annual satisfaction surveys, called the CoreQ, from residents and family members in every Medicaid-certified nursing home in Connecticut.  CT DSS will incorporate nursing home quality into Medicaid payment rates and the results of the CoreQ survey will be a part of determining these rates.

Study team members from UConn Center on Aging will annually visit each Medicaid-certified nursing home in the state and administer the CoreQ survey to a sample of eligible nursing home residents.  Additionally, a sample of nursing home resident family members or resident representatives will be surveyed.

Click here to learn more about the CoreQ

For questions, please email:  uconnnursinghomesurvey@uchc.edu

Principal Investigators

Ellis Dillon, PhD	Julie Robison, PhD
Assistant Professor	Professor
edillon@uchc.edu	jrobison@uchc.edu

 

Study Coordinators

Sarah Driscoll	Deb Migneault
Clinical Research Assistant 2	Clinical Research Associate 2
sdriscoll@uchc.edu	demigneault@uchc.edu

 

Department of Developmental Disabilities:  National Core Indicator (NCI) Survey

 

The UConn Center on Aging study team is contracted with the Connecticut Department of Developmental Disabilities to conduct the annual National Core Indicator Survey.  The survey is designed to provide DDS with DDS participants’ feedback on their experiences receiving supports from the Department of Developmental Services and living their lives in the community.

For questions, please email: dcharles@uchc.edu

Principal Investigator

Ellis Dillon, PhD
Assistant Professor
edillon@uchc.edu

 

Study Coordinator

Doreek Charles
Clinical Research Associate
dcharles@uchc.edu

 

Community Services Care Plan Study

 

The purpose of the study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, is to understand how well goals of care are addressed and to compare the experiences of participants in the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders.

Study team members are recruiting CHCPE enrollees to participate in a one-on-one interview about their goals of care.

For questions, please email Kate Kellett at kkellett@uchc.edu

Principal Investigators

Rick Fortinsky	Julie Robison, PhD
Professor	Professor
fortinksy@uchc.edu	jrobison@uchc.edu

 

Study Coordinators

Kate Kellett	Deb Migneault
Clinical Research Associate	Clinical Research Associate
kkellett@uchc.edu	demigneault@uchc.edu

 

Increasing Successful Returns to Community Living From Nursing Facilities Through the Money Follows the Person Program

 

Most people living with dementia (PLWD) prefer to remain at home in the community, yet research shows that they are less likely than people without dementia to successfully return to the community following nursing facility stays. This mixed methods study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, analyzes how different factors are driving disparities for PLWD and what potential policy solutions could improve health equity for PLWD, through in-depth interviews with individuals eligible for the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program and their informal caregivers, focus groups and surveys with professionals involved in the MFP program, and statistical analysis of a large group of Connecticut Medicaid nursing facility residents.

Study team members are interviewing eligible participants and caregivers for one-on-one interviews about returning to the community after a nursing home stay.  Study team members are also conducting focus groups and key informant interviews with professionals in the MFP program.

For questions, please email Christine Bailey at cbailey@uchc.edu

Principal Investigators

Ellis Dillon, PhD	Julie Robison, PhD
Assistant Professor	Professor
edillon@uchc.edu	jrobison@uchc.edu

 

Study Coordinators

Christine Bailey	Deb Migneault	Kate Kellett
Clinical Research Assistant 3	Clinical Research Associate	Clinical Research Associate
cbailey@uchc.edu	demigneault@uchc.edu	kkellet@uchc.edu

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Money Follows the Person Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) CAHPS Survey

 

As part of the comprehensive Money Follows the Person program (MFP) quality management strategy, the UConn Center on Aging study team directly interviews participants or their representatives asking about their experiences in the year after transition through the MFP program.  MFP consumers are interviewed at 1 month and 12 months post-transition to identify the quality of care and services each consumer experiences over the entirety of their time in the MFP program using the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS CAHPS®) survey.

Principal Investigator

Julie Robison, PhD

Professor

jrobison@uchc.edu

 

Study Coordinators

Martha Porter	Therence James
Clinical Research Associate	Clinical Research Assistant
porter@uchc.edu	tjames@uchc.edu