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Spring 2022ÌýCatalyst Grants

The Network for Aging Research is pleased to announce that the following projects have been awarded funding:

• The role of social support on the mental health and coping strategies of caregivers to assisted living residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Principal Investigators:ÌýColleen Maxwell (Pharmacy) &²¹³¾±è;ÌýSuzanne Tyas (Health). Co-Investigator:ÌýEmily Rutter (Health)
• "The pandemic has aged me": The impact of blocked personal goals on subjective age and psychological well-being in older adults. Principal Investigators:ÌýSteven Mock (Health) &²¹³¾±è;ÌýRichard Eibach (Psychology)
• Co-Designing Referral to Movement & Exercise Training for At-Risk Older Adults. Principal Investigators:ÌýLaura Middleton &²¹³¾±è;ÌýTyson Beach (±á±ð²¹±ô³Ù³ó).Ìý Co-Investigators: Caryl Russell (Health); James Milligan (CFFM Physician; Associate Clinical Professor, McMaster University); Heather Dixon, (CFFM Physician; Associate Clinical Professor, McMaster University); Mike Sehl (Health)
• Examining the Combined Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Memory.ÌýPrincipal Investigator:Ìý²Ñ²¹°ù°ìÌý°¿°ù±ð³¾³Ü²õ (±á±ð²¹±ô³Ù³ó).ÌýCo-Investigator: Ji Won Kang (Health)

Spring 2021 Catalyst Grants

NAR funding was awarded to the following 5 projects:

• Determining age and sex related impacts of exposure to modern fire effluents.ÌýPrincipal Investigator: Paolo Dominelli (Health), Elizabeth Weckman (Engineering) Co-Investigator: Bronwyn Forrest (Engineering)
• Quantifying the ‘emotional roller-coaster’ thatÌýcan accelerate aging and brain degeneration.ÌýPrincipal Investigator:ÌýKaylena Ehgoetz Martens (Health); Karen van Ooteghem (Health)
• How chronic stress impacts inflammation and cognitive function in aging refugee, immigrant and Canadian-born adults.ÌýPrincipal Investigators:ÌýJohn Mielke (Health); Carrie Shorey (Health); Co-Investigators: Suzanne Tyas (±á±ð²¹±ô³Ù³ó);ÌýSamantha Buttemer (Public Health & Preventative Medicine, Queen’s University); Shiva Adel (Family Medicine, McMaster University)

• Where do we go from here? Older adults’ perspectives on care options in a post-COVID era.ÌýPrincipal Investigators: Jacobi Elliott (Health); Jennifer Dean (Environment), Co-Investigators: Catherine Tong (Health); Justine Giosa (Health)

• Hip fracture predictive modeling – a novel approach integrating biomechanics, epidemiology, and economic perspectives.ÌýPrincipal Investigators: Andrew Laing (Health); Mayank Kalra (Health), Co-Investigators: Emmanuelle Pierard (Arts); Chris Perlman (Health); Susan Brown (RIA); Jaimie Killingbeck (Schlegel Villages); Taylor Cleworth (York); Daniel Martel (±á±ð²¹±ô³Ù³ó)Ìý

COVID-19 and Aging Grant 2020

NAR awarded funding to six diverse projects involving investigators from across all six faculties, one affiliated college and a student club at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.

• Managing multiple vulnerabilities: Aging and COVID-19 in Sub Saharan Africa. Principal Investigator: Susan Elliott (Environment)
• ²Ñ´Ç±¹±ð³§³Ù°ù´Ç²Ô²µ°ª±á´Ç³¾±ð.ÌýPrincipal Investigators:ÌýLora Giangregorio (Applied Health Sciences),ÌýHeather Keller (Applied Health Sciences) Co-Investigator:ÌýMarina Mourtzakis (Applied Health Sciences)
• COVID-19Ìýand cardiac and diabetes medications in older adults. Principal Investigator:ÌýAnita Layton (²Ñ²¹³Ù³ó±ð³¾²¹³Ù¾±³¦²õ)Ìý
• Understanding and supporting the social connections and digital connectivity of older Canadians during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal Investigators: Kim Lopez (Applied Health Sciences), Catherine Tong (Applied Health Sciences). Co-Investigators: Jen Boger (Engineering),
• Co-designing supports to enhance the wellbeing of persons living with dementia and care partners during COVID-19 and beyond.ÌýPrincipal Investigators: Carrie McAiney (Applied Health Sciences),ÌýJen Boger (Engineering). Co-Investigators:ÌýLaura Middleton (Applied Health Sciences), Sherry Dupuis (Applied Health Sciences),ÌýJane Kuepfer (Arts),ÌýHeather Keller (Applied Health Sciences),ÌýKim Lopez (Applied Health Sciences)
• Breath analysis based rapid screening method for COVID-19.ÌýPrincipal Investigator: Janusz Pawliszyn (Science)

Past Catalyst GrantsÌý

The following 11 faculty members were awarded catalyst grants in April 2019:

• Project title: "Changes in neuronal cellular membrane composition in aging and Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigators: Michael Beazely (Pharmacy) & Ken Stark (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Zoya Leonenko (Physics and Astronomy; Biology) & Morgan Robinson (Pharmacy)Ìý
• Project title: "Evaluation of an intergenerational and technological intervention for social isolation". Principal Investigators: Karla Boluk (Recreation and Leisure Studies) & Kelly Grindrod (Pharmacy). Co-Investigator: Uzma Rehman (Psychology)
• Project title: "Utilization of social robots for the care of people with dementia". Principal Investigators: Kerstin Dautenhahn (Systems Design Engineering) & Moojan Ghafurian (Computer Science). Co-Investigator: Jesse Hoey (Computer Science)
• Project title: "Do sex differences in reactive oxygen species production influence post-exercise glucose control in older men and women". Principal Investigator: Michaela Devries-Aboud (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: Kayleigh Beaudry (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "Designing aerobic exercise to protect knee cartilage in older adults with knee osteoarthritis". Principal Investigator: Monica Maly (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: Michael Noseworthy (McMaster University, Electrical and Computing Engineering)Ìý
• Project title: "Aging with a brain injury: Impact on visuomotor function and community participation". Principal Investigators: Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo (Kinesiology) & Lisa Christian (Optometry and Vision Science). Co-Investigator: Robin Duncan (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "Optimizing remote measurement of activity and sleep for health assessment in older adults". Principal Investigator: Karen Van Ooteghem (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: William McIlroy (Kinesiology)

The following ten faculty members were awarded catalyst grants in July 2018:

• Project title: "Barriers to safer sex communication in older adults". Principal Investigator: Uzma RehmanÌý(Psychology)
• Project title: "Virtual reality exergames to improve access to strength and range of motion exercise among people living with dementia". Principal Investigators: Jennifer Boger (Systems Design Engineering) & Laura Middleton (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Shi Cao (Systems Design Engineering), Lora Giangregorio (Kinesiology), & Michael Barnett-Cowan (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "Social support availability and cognitive function in middle- and older-aged adults". Principal Investigators: ²Ñ²¹°ù°ìÌý°¿°ù±ð³¾³Ü²õ (School of Public Health & Health Systems) & Jane Law (School of Planning). Co-Investigators: Colleen Maxwell (School of Pharmacy) & Suzanne Tyas (School of Public Health & Health Systems)
• Project title: "Healthy aging for all: A case study in Uganda". PrincipalÌýInvestigators: Susan Elliott (Geography and Environmental Management) & Rhona Hanning (School of Public HealthÌýand HealthÌýSystems). Co-Investigator: Andrea Rishworth (Geography & Enviornmental Management)
• Project title: "An exploration of how stress might help to set the foundation for Alzheimer's disease". PrincipalÌýInvestigator: John MielkeÌý(School of Public Health and Health Systems)
• Project title: "The financialization of seniors' housing in Canada: Impacts on age-friendly communities". Principal Investigator: MartineÌýAugust (School of Planning). Co-Investigators: Samantha Biglieri (School of Planning) & Nick Revington (School of Planning)
• Project title: "Mobility aid for prevention of freezing of gait episodes in older adults with Parkinson’s disease". Principal Investigator: Jonathan Kofman (Systems Design Engineering). Co-Investigators: Scott Pardoel (Systems Design Engineering) & Edward D. Lemaire (Systems Design Engineering)Ìý

The following three faculty members were awarded catalyst grants in March 2018:

• Project title: "Phonological indicants of very early dementia". Principal Investigator: Randy Harris (English Language and Literature)Ìý
• Project title: "Efficacy of a smartwatch for exercise performance evaluation during conservative management of rotator cuff tears". Principal Investigators: Stewart McLachlin (Mechanical & MechatronicsÌýEngineering) & Clark Dickerson (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: David Burns (Sunnybrook Research Institute) & Michael Hardisty (Sunnybrook Research Institute)Ìý

The following nineÌýfaculty members were awarded catalyst grants in June 2017:

• Project title: "Identifying and characterizing poor muscle health in an aged population: exploring new uses for ultrasonography". Principal Investigator: Marina MourtzakisÌý(Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Alexander Wong (Systems Design Engineering) & Jack Callaghan (Kinesiology)Ìý
• Project title: "Predictors of cognitive state trajectories in longitudinal studies of aging". Principal Investigators: Suzanne TyasÌý(School of Public Health and Health Systems)& Colleen Maxwell (Pharmacy).Ìý Co-Investigators: Maryam Iraniparast (Public Health and Health Systems) & Leilei Zeng (Statistics and Acturial Science; University ofÌýÀ¶Ý®ÊÓƵ)
• Project title: "The role of lipid membrane and melatonin protection in amyloid toxicity and Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigator: Zoya Leonenko (Physics and Astrology; Biology). Co-Investigators: Morgan Robinson (Biology) & David Cory (Chemistry) Ìý
• Project title:Ìý"Macro-and tissue-level investigation into the effects of age and disease on bone quality, bone collagen connectivity, fracture toughness and hip strength". Principal Investigators: Thomas WillettÌý(Systems Design Engineering) & Andrew Laing (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Raymond L. Legge (Chemical Engineering), Marina Mourtzakis (Kinesiology), & Dan Martel (Kinesiology)Ìý
• Project title: "Examining effects of acute exercise on cortical resilience among older adults". Principal Investigator: Peter Hall (Kinesiology). Co- Investigators: Kirk Erickson (Psychology; University of Pittsburg) & Richard Staines (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "Alcohol use among older adults in Ontario: Individual and community factors related to problematic use". Principal Investigator:ÌýChris PerlmanÌý(School of Public Health and Health Systems). Co-Investigator: George Heckman (School of Public Health and Health Systems) Ìý
• Project title: "An exploration of the cellular mechanisms underlying stroke-related injury in the brain". Principal Investigator: John Mielke (School of Public Health and Health Systems)Ìý

The following tenÌýfaculty members were awarded catalyst grants in January 2016:

• Project title: "Exploring weight and body image concerns in older adults and their contributions to weight management and fracture prevention". Principal Investigator: Lora Giangregorio (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Jenna Gibbs (Kinesiology), Heather Keller (Kinesiology), & Peter Hall (School of Public Health and Health Systems)
• Project title: "C.H.O.I.C.E- a relationship-centred mealtime training intervention for long-term care: Proof-of-concept study". Principal Investigator: Heather Keller (Kinesiology). Co- Investigator: Sarah Wu (Kinesiology) & Hilary Dunn (Research Institute for Aging)Ìý
• Project title: "Dynamic balance recovery in older adults - Predictors of stabilityÌýrestoration after a simulated trip". Principal Investigator: Andrew LaingÌý(Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: Tyler B. Weaver (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "The effect of religious involvement on cognition in middle-to old-age adults: A life-course perspective". Principal Investigator: Mark OremusÌý(School of Public Health and Health Systems). Co-Investigators: Shera Hosseini (School of Public Health and Health Systems), Martin Cooke (School of Public Health and Health Systems), & Ashok Chaurasia (School of Public Health and Health Systems)
• Project title: "AutophagicÌýmechanisms in exercise-mediated muscle health". Principal Investigator: Joe Quadrilatero (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: Darin Bloemberg (Kinesiology)Ìý
• Project title: "Curbing ageism: Prejudice mechanisms and anti-ageism intervention". Principal Investigator: Ian McGregorÌý(Psychology). Co-Investigators: Harrison Oakes (Psycology) & Igor Grossmann (Psychology)Ìý
• Project title: "Regulating PEPCK activity as a novel approach to the design of new cancer therapeutics". Principal Investigator: Todd Holyoak (Biology). Co-Investigator: Matthew J. McLeod (Biology)
• Project title: "Development of novel inhibitor drug for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigator: ZoyaÌýLeonenko (Physics and Astrology; Biology). Co-Investigators: Morgan Robinson (Biology), Francis Hane (Physics & Astronomy), & John Mielke (School of Public Health and Health Systems)Ìý
• Project title: "Development of novel therapies for Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigator: Praveen P Nekkar Rao (Pharmacy). Co-Investigators: Tarek Mohamed (Pharmacy) & Elham Satvat (School of Public Health and Health Systems)Ìý
• Project title: "Adaptive recognition and promotion of physical activity for older adults, including stroke survivors". Principal Investigator: Pascal Poupart (Computer Science)Ìý

Emerging Scholar Mentorship Grant

The following eight faculty members were awarded seed grants in MayÌý2015: