Our collaborating center fosters research to improve the health of older populations by training scholars with a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary perspective and by establishing collaborations with institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UTMB Sealy Center on Aging World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Aging and Health
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177
Directions and Maps
Phone: (409) 747-0008
Email: pahowho.aging@utmb.edu
As a designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center, we support the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) through the implementation of research and clinical training in public health, geriatrics, and gerontology, following the organization’s guidelines and responding to its needs. Our experts provide technical guidance to PAHO/WHO Member States using population data, best-practice tools, and research collaborations. As one of the few centers focused on aging and geriatrics in the Region of the Americas, we stand out for our emphasis on Latin American and population-based research. With our center's recent redesignation, we continue contributing to the global efforts under the United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030) strategy.
We are pleased to announce that Norma A. Pérez Raifaisen, MD, DrPH, CPC, will serve as Director of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Collaborating Center on Aging and Health at the UTMB Sealy Center on Aging, effective May 1. Dr. Pérez Raifaisen is Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, John Sealy School of Medicine and PI, Center of Excellence for Professional Advancement and Research.
Dr. Ayala-Copete is a Colombian physician and specialist in geriatric medicine from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia. She has been part of the Neuroscience and Aging Research Group (Semillero de Neurociencias y Envejecimiento) since 2015 at her alma matter, where she began her journey as a young researcher under the supervision of Dr. Carlos Cano. Her research mainly focuses on people living with dementia, cognitive decline, and aging-related conditions. Ana aims to contribute to a better understanding of the needs of a growing older adult population and become an agent of change for improving older adults’ health throughout the Americas.
Are you a stroke survivor still having trouble walking? We’re exploring whether a safe, non-invasive form of brain stimulation—called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—can help stroke survivors improve walking ability.
Findings are now available from the October 2024 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) workshop, "Approaches to Address Unmet Research Needs in Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults." This important event gathered experts to explore the research gaps and clinical challenges of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults aged 65 and older.
Dr. Monique Pappadis and colleagues have been actively contributing to the Post-TBI AD/ADRD Committee as part of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Summit. The next session, titled "SESSION 8: Research to Improve Outcomes for Representative Populations at Risk and Living with Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias", will be held on June 2nd. Register and view the full agenda.
At Northwestern University's Pepper Center Grand Rounds, Dr. Brian Downer delivered a powerful warning: nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events and nursing homes need more resources to keep residents safe. His presentation, "Climate, Environment, and Vulnerable Populations: Natural Disasters and Their Effects on Nursing Home Residents," revealed critical findings about this overlooked public health crisis.
A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on April 30, 2025, "Navigating Turbulent Waters: Leveraging Artificial and Real Intelligence Tools," presented by Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH, Associate Vice Provost, Leadership Development; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Divisions of Geriatrics, John Sealy School of Medicine; Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public and Population Health.
The School of Public and Population Health (SPPH) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) recently hosted representatives from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), funding agency behind the UTMB Chronic Diseases Prevention & Self-Management Programs, providing evidence-based chronic disease management programs for older adults.
A newly published study by Neil Mehta and Octavio Bramajo offers fresh insights into a critical public health concern: why Americans live shorter lives compared to people in other wealthy nations. Their research investigates how deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) contribute to the growing life expectancy disparity between the United States and its economic peers between 2008 and 2019.
Register for the Alzheimer’s Association UTMB Student Symposium at UTMB on April 28, 2025. This event is an excellent opportunity for insights from community members, networking, and a platform for students to present research about aging populations through a poster session.
Hello world! We are excited to connect with you here about aging research from UTMB Health, including funding, new grants, researcher highlights, important findings, and more. Students, trainees, and early career researchers are invited to follow us for announcements and opportunities 🤜🤛
— Sealy Center on Aging (@utmbscoa.bsky.social) January 31, 2025 at 10:29 AM
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