Through a partnership with the National Institute on Aging, Scholars receive $600,000 to $800,000 for a three- to five-year period, allowing them flexible and protected time for innovative research.

“Since 1995, the Beeson program has addressed a critical need for more investigators trained in geriatrics, clinical care, and research on aging, so that an increasingly aging population will be well-cared for,” said Corinne Rieder, EdD, executive director of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “We are pleased to be part of a program that has fostered the careers of investigators whose research and leadership are enhancing the health and quality of life of older adults.”

“The Beeson award permits investigators to explore problems that previously have been neglected for lack of funding. That can make a big difference not only in how long a person lives but how well. The program may also encourage more scientists to pursue careers in geriatrics and gerontology,” said Florence A. Davis, president of The Starr Foundation.

In 2007, supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Beeson program expanded to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland with the goal of helping to train physicians in geriatrics, build Ireland’s capacity to provide high-quality care for older adults and advance knowledge of effective geriatric care. Three physician-scientists have been named Beeson Ireland Scholars thus far.

The research of the 2008 Scholars address a broad spectrum of topics related to aging clinical care and quality of life issues: from consequences of self-neglect in a biracial population of older adults to epigenetic factors in vulnerability to aging and stress to insulin signaling’s impact on metabolism and aging.

2008 Beeson Scholars
Sarwat Chaudhry, MD, Yale University School of Medicine, “Comorbidity and Functional Outcomes in Older Patients with Heart Failure”
Stephanie Cosentino, MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, “Awareness of Deficit in Alzheimer’s Disease”
XinQi Dong, MD, Rush University Medical Center, “Consequences of Self-Neglect in a Biracial Population of Older Adults”
Susan Hardy, MD, University of Pittsburgh, “Functional Recovery in Post-acute Care”
Paul Rosenberg, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, “PET Imaging of Microglial Activation in Alzheimer’s Disease”
Joseph Ross, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, “Impact of Publicly Reporting Hospital Outcome Measures for Older Adults”
Steven Russell, MD, Harvard University/Joslin Diabetes Center, “Adipocyte Insulin Signaling in Metabolim and Aging”
Arthur Simen, MD, Yale University School of Medicine, “Epigenetic Factors in Vulnerability to Aging and Stress”
Farzaneh Sorond, MD, Harvard Medical School/Brigham & Women’s Hospital, “Hypoxia-Inducible Transcription Factor 1 (HIF-1) in Vascular Aging”
Michael Steinman, MD, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, “Guideline Adherence in Elders with Multiple Comorbidities”
Douglas White, MD, University of California, San Francisco, “A Randomized Trial to Improve Surrogate Decision-Making for Critically Ill Elders”
Heather Whitson, MD, Duke University School of Medicine, “Developing Interventions to Improve Function in Seniors with Comorbidity Conditions”

2008 Beeson Ireland Scholar
Stephen Todd, MD, Queens University of Belfast, “Investigation of Platelet b-secretase Activity in Alzheimer’s Disease”

“The intent of the Beeson program was to nurture the future leaders in aging research and continue to mentor other scientists coming up through the ranks,” said Stephanie Lederman, executive director of AFAR. “We have succeeded in attracting outstanding talent and have provided much needed support in critical areas of research.”

The Paul B. Beeson Career Development Awards in Aging Research Program is sponsored by the NIA, The John A. Hartford Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, The Starr Foundation and an anonymous donor, and is administered by the NIA and AFAR.

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