Sealy Center on Aging

New Get to Know Us video: Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD, on how early work in rehab and trauma care led her to brain injury research, and how an institutional collaboration with Dr. Leila Wood launched her elder mistreatment work. Watch: utmb.us/exp

Congratulations to Dr. Brent Masel, recipient of the NABIS Legends Award, honoring a lifetime of impact in traumatic brain injury and research. His work has shaped treatment approaches worldwide and leaves a lasting legacy at UTMB Health. Read more: utmb.us/feq

10) Bottom line: A pilot grant is the perfect low‑risk, high‑reward first step. If you’re considering aging research, this is your chance to start strong. Let your first idea grow into something game‑changing. ➡️Learn about the 2026 Pepper Pilot Call at utmb.edu/pepper!

9) Why you should care: Pilot grants can spark your research career, help you publish, connect you with mentors, and make you more competitive for future funding.

✈️ What’s a pilot research grant? It’s a small, starter grant that helps you test an idea before going after major funding. Perfect for early‑stage researchers. 1/10

Good to see UTMB highlight this work from Neil Mehta, inaugural chair of Epidemiology at UTMB SPPH! This is a strong example of how public health research helps explain long-term health trends with real relevance for the future.

🚨 Call for Proposals: UTMB Claude D. Pepper OAIC 2026 Pilot Awards 🗓 LOI due: Apr 6, 2026 🗓 Full proposals (invited): May 15, 2026 Priority areas: chronic disabling conditions, tech & independence, disparities, geroscience, community function Details: utmb.edu/pepper

Join us March 20, 2026 for a free virtual workshop on handling survey weights & missing data, hosted by the Texas #RCMAR Analysis Core & UTMB Biostatistics. Learn from experts Xiaoying Yu, Jeong Hoon Jang & Moumita Chakraborty. Register for the Teams link utmb.us/f5a

🗣️#RCMAR lecture Situating Functional & Cognitive Health Among Older Mexican Americans w/in Neighborhood Context Beyond Dollars & Hours: Understanding Care Characteristics, Caregiver Strain in Family Caregiving for Hispanic & nonHispanic Older Americans utmb.edu/rcmar

Volunteers are a vital part of patient experience at @utmbhealth, from greeting patients, assisting families & supporting teams across our hospitals. They help create a welcoming & supportive space for those we serve. Interested in volunteering? Visit: utmb.us/fbz

🔷 Galveston is preparing for an exciting new chapter in community well‑being as the Blue Zones Project takes its next steps. You're invited to attend a special gathering on **March 5th** that will introduce the initiative & outline the efforts ahead! 🔗 utmb.us/f9d

Deadline extended for the UTMB Public Health Symposium (Apr 8, 2026): abstracts are now due Fri, Mar 6, 2026 at 5 p.m. CT. Submit: utmb.us/ezs Guidelines: utmb.us/f97 Questions: austaylo@utmb.edu