UTMB Health Jenny Sealy Hospital
Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center

Continuously Funded Since 2000

Welcome

The UTMB Health Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) is the home of a diverse interdisciplinary team of investigators who are committed to advancing aging science. The Center supports investigators, research, and expertise in gerontology and geriatrics to accomplish the OAIC mission: To establish centers of excellence in geriatrics research and research education to increase scientific knowledge to better ways to maintain or restore independence in older persons.

Overall Accomplishments

Scholars Trained: +40
Publications: +860
Projects: +86

Contact Us

The UTMB Health Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC)
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177
Directions and Maps
Phone: (409) 747-0008
Email: aging.research@utmb.edu

News & Events

  • bw photo of two researchers, men in a studio setting in front of a watermark type illustration of a human heart

    New UTMB Research Reveals Causes Behind American Life Expectancy Gap

    April 22, 2025, 13:25 PM by SCOA

    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.

  • Alzheimer’s Association UTMB Student Symposium April 28

    April 18, 2025, 11:57 AM by SCOA

    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.

  • photo of woman

    Texas RCMAR Presentation April 22

    April 16, 2025, 09:44 AM by SCOA

    Join us for the next Texas RCMAR presentation on April 22, 2025. "Charting Your Funding Journey: Grants, Opportunities, and Institutional Resources", is presented by: Toyin Babarinde, PhD, Executive Director of Research Development, Office of Strategic Research Development, at 3 PM via Zoom.

  News & Event Archive

Leadership

Administration

  • Alexis King, MS
    Program Manager, Sealy Center on Aging, Phone: 409-772-9683, E-mail: alnking@utmb.edu
  • Roxana Hirst, MS, CCRP
    Lead Research Project Manager, Phone: 409-266-9641, E-mail: rmhirst@utmb.edu
  • Roxann Grover, MA
    Web Communications & Operations Manager, Phone: 409-772-3075, E-mail: rmgrover@utmb.edu
  All Current Participants

Associated Programs

Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (Pepper OAIC)
Center for Health Promotion, Performance, and Rehabilitation Research (CHPPRR)
The UTMB Center for Health-system Improvement (CHI)
Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health (CIRWH)
Center of Excellence for Professional Advancement and Research (COEPAR)
Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC) for Comparative Effectiveness Research on Cancer in Texas (CERCIT)
Health of Older Minorities Pre and Postdoctoral Training (T32)
Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (Hispanic EPESE)
Medical Student in Aging Research Program (MSTAR)
Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)
Texas Resource Center on Minority Aging Research (RCMAR)

Social Media

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301 University Blvd. Galveston, TX 77555-0177 | p 409.747.0008 | f 409.772.8931 The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center Award #P30-AG024832 is funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Contact Roxann Grover, MA regarding updates to this content.