January 2026 Issue | Volume 20, Number 01

A publication of the Univ. of Utah Center on Aging
phone: 801.213.4156 | email: aging@utah.edu
Newsletter Archives

The Center on Aging sponsors an annual pilot grant program to promote the development of aging research at the University of Utah. The goal of this program is to encourage new investigator career development, attract established investigators to aging research, and stimulate interdisciplinary research collaborations – ultimately leading to new externally funded research. 
 
This year's program will offer two award types - the standard Center on Aging Pilot and the Innovations in Aging Research. Step one, the letter of intent, is due on March 02, 2026, and Step two (if selected from Step one, full 3-page proposal) is due on April 20, 2026, for the pilot awards and May 04, 2026, for the innovations award. Proposal details are found in the descriptions below in the links to each Request for Proposals. Please note that the full proposal for each is limited to three pages. 

The Center on Aging will devote up to $150,000 to funding its pilot grant program this fiscal year. 

Submit Letter of Intent Survey: the deadline is March 02, 2026.

If you have any questions, direct them to Heather Podolan, Academic Program Manager, or Dr. Alayne Markland, Executive Director. 

Center on Aging Pilot RFA

Innovations in Aging Research RFA

Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative (DAC), a worldwide initiative accelerating innovation in Alzheimer’s disease research and care, announced the launch of the U.S. Early Detection Expansion Program, building upon the success of the initial U.S. Early Detection Program. As part of this new initiative, two U.S. healthcare systems, with University of Utah Health being one of those systems, will partner with DAC Healthcare System Preparedness (DAC-SP) to implement and refine the DAC-SP Early Detection Blueprint with the aim of improving rates of early detection of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease in primary care settings.  Please see the press release from DAC here.

Congratulations to all those involved in this timely research and care!!

 

Katsu Funai, PhD, is an Associate Professor and the Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Nutrition & Integrative Physiology at the University of Utah. His primary interest is in energy metabolism, and how a breakdown between energy expenditure and energy intake contribute to diseases. In particular, his group has focused on studying mitochondria and is trying to understand how they maladapt in disease conditions. Originally from Japan, Dr. Funai completed his BS and MS in Physiology at Boston University where he worked with Roger Fielding at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging to study protein anabolism and catabolism. He then completed his PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Michigan to study glucose metabolism, and postdoctoral fellowship in Endocrinology at the Washington University in St. Louis to study lipid metabolism. He opened his lab in 2013 and relocated to the University of Utah in 2017 where he continues to expand his program to study the role that metabolism.

In Dr. Funai’s 2025 Center on Aging Pilot Grant Award titled “Loss of muscle mass and function induced by semaglutide”, his team is performing both preclinical and clinical studies to understand how weight loss induced by GLP1 agonists are promoting muscle loss. This is a new area of research in the Funai lab, prompted by the recent surge in the prevalence of these drugs to be prescribed to treat obesity. While these new medications have incredible efficacy to improve metabolic diseases, their potential negative effects on muscle mass and strength are not well described. In particular, their effects in older adults, where individuals are at risk for sarcopenia and osteoporosis, have yet been reported. Dr. Funai’s team is leveraging expertise they have on metabolism, obesity, and muscle biology to perform initial descriptive studies with the Pilot Award, and will use results from these studies to perform additional studies to understand their mechanisms and potential treatment for muscle loss induced by these medications.

The University of Utah Age-Friendly Collaborative team was represented by Andrea Harris, RN, MSN and Heather Podolan at the University of Utah PFAC (Patient and Family Advisory Council) Appreciation Event on January 12th, 2026.  This event recognized patients who receive their care at University of Utah Health who are also PFAC members.  For approximately the last two years, we have joined the Age-Friendly PFAC meetings on a quarterly basis with each meeting focused on one of the 4Ms.  In turn, the Patient Experience team generates recommendations for improvements to positively impact patient experience, quality, and safety.  The University of Utah Age-Friendly Collaborative is pleased to continue to partner with the Patient Experience team to help elevate age-friendly care across the health system.

U of Utah Age- Friendly Collaborative Meetings

We welcome your participation in our monthly U of U Age-Friendly Collaborative virtual meeting that occurs on the 3rd Friday of each month from 9:00 – 10:00 AM.  Please contact Please contact Heather Podolan (heather.podolan@hsc.utah.edu) for more information.

Dr. Cathy Maxwell – Professor, and the Robert L. and Joyce T. Rice Presidential Endowed Chair in Healthy Aging in the College of Nursing – and the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Expert Panel on Aging – in collaboration with Expert Panels on Health Behavior and Genomic Nursing and Health Care – will host a policy dialogue titled Ageism: Removing Stereotypes through a Geroscience Lens on February 3, 2026 at 9:30-11 AM MST. The event will feature three distinguished speakers – Dr. Margaret Wallhagen, Dr. Terry Fulmer, and Dr. Timothy Farrell – who will focus on aging as a biological process and describe opportunities for nurses to contribute to geroscience through a holistic approach that addresses ageism, while mitigating the effects of chronic diseases and increasing life expectancy and health span.

The College of Nursing will be hosting monthly updates on their Aging In Utah Today. Sponsored by the Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence, each month will feature three short 15-minute presentations across three categories. Scan the QR Code below for all the details. 

The Annual American Aging Association Meeting will take place this summer in Provo UT (Jun 2-6) with the  theme of “Geroscience from Discovery to Application”.  The link to register and submit an abstract is located here - note the deadlines for abstract registration (Feb 27) and earlybird meeting registration (Apr 30). The American Aging Association Society is made up of researchers and lay persons dedicated to the study of aging from basic science to clinical translation and represents one of main societies in the US focused on geroscience.

Please join the University of Utah, Division of Geriatrics and the Veteran Affairs Salt Lake City Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center for Geriatric Grand Rounds and Translational Grand Rounds on Tuesday mornings.

Looking for job security? Consider our Master of Science in Gerontology!

The MS in Gerontology is open to individuals from all academic backgrounds and professional careers. Gerontology has been named one of the top 5 areas of academic growth in 2026, and students are encouraged to apply, as we are one of only 7 accredited gerontology programs worldwide. Our graduates become leaders in health systems, policy, research, business, entrepreneurship, and community organizations across public and private sectors. The 34-credit degree can be completed in as little as 1 year (3 semesters) or as long as 4 years and is personalized to each student. Certified Uonline designation allows students opportunity and flexibility.  Please join us at one of our two remaining virtual information sessions, where we’ll review the program curriculum, discuss potential career pathways, and walk through the application process, with ample time for questions and discussion.

February 3, 2026
7:00–8:00 PM (MST)
Register here: https://utah.zoom.us/meeting/register/PJgdl9vNSCWzb1B6zf0tVw

February 9, 2026
7:00–8:00 PM (MST)
Register here: https://utah.zoom.us/meeting/register/R4IoiodBRT2UFS1oqk5MbQ

Additional program information can be found here: https://online.utah.edu/graduate-programs/gerontology
Please contact Dr. Katarina Friberg-Felsted, Assistant Dean, or Jessica Powell, Connections Specialist, with any questions.

Dr. Brad King in the Department of Health & Kinesiology is looking for participants between 55-75 years old to participate in an experiment that examines the effects of exercise on brain function using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Would you like to contribute to our research? Do you know someone who would be interested? Do you wish to receive more information? Contact us at: ExerciseBrain@utah.edu

What does participation involve?

Participants will first complete an online screening questionnaire to assess eligibility. Participants will then be invited to complete 3 sessions spread over 3 weeks, each separated by approximately one week. Two of the sessions involve an exercise protocol. The total time commitment is around 7.5 hours.

View the attached flyer below to participate or learn more:

Advance Care Planning

Executive Director Ence met with Andrea Harris and a team from U Health Sciences to review questions and concerns about the new advance directive form. Some clarity was reached in particular to honoring existing Ads and the older form. We were joined in this conversation by Mary Gay Jones who is also the Utah Law Commissioner and representative for Utah on the national group working on uniformity on health care directives. Jones concurred that the new document format was unwieldy and recommended a version of four pages down from seven. The DHHS department indicated we could make those changes, but their primary document was to remain in the format prescribed by Senator McKell. A battle for another day. The modified format will be live on UCOA’s site by end of January. The recommendations the UCOA team made regarding the OLST agreement will also be accommodated according to Jared Brown of DHHS.

Ence also interviewed Dr. Burke Hatch, an ER physician practicing in Davis and Weber counties. We discussed the AD and OLST forms and how to get this information more readily into public hands and how to help people, their healthcare agents, better understand implication of their choices, especially in an emergency setting. Brought him up to speed on prior legislative attempts at death with dignity policy in Utah.

WISE Initiative Workgroups

Initial committee work is complete for each work group, and the steering committee will be looking at summaries and recommendations later this month.

Partner Engagements

Ence participated in the National Alliance for Caregiving workgroup with Utah colleagues R. Utz and J Morgan. Progress reported on Utah’s No Wrong Door caregiving website and educational rollout as well as national updates on the Older Americans Act activity and support in Congress.

Ence inquired and received copies of new legislation adopted in New York State and Illinois adopting death with dignity options.

Ence attended the Utah Health Policy Project annual meeting to advance understanding of current legislation impacting Medicaid and other health access issues.

Commission Updates

Deb Hall, Adult Services Coordinator for Neighborhood House (Adult Day Care) will be joining the UCOA appointed member group. In addition to her with adult day care services, she is a critical liaison for the LGBTQ community and the Utah PRIDE center. Hall has been engaged in creative partnerships in the business community with many overlapping priorities with UCOA on building positive aging experiences for Utahns.

RHTP Grants

Ence has been meeting with several groups interested in pursuing a Rural Health Transformation Program grant. Funding amounts for Utah are set for 2026 and now DHHS is working with the legislature to authorize a second time the receipt of these funds. Once completed, RFP guidance will be offered.

UCOA next quarterly summit is set for Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Noon. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/640416337

Major upcoming funding opportunity for teams focused on rural health, workforce development, health technologies, health systems innovation, and community-based interventions.

About the Opportunity

The State of Utah has submitted its application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and anticipates receiving up to $1 billion over five years (FY2026–2030) to support rural health system transformation statewide. Utah expects $500M in baseline funding and is also eligible for an additional $500M in workload-based funding.

The Notice of Award was expected by December 31, 2025, and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) plans to issue multiple Requests for Proposals (RFPs) as early as January 2026, with short submission timelines. Additional informational webinars are expected. Because of this accelerated schedule, we encourage teams to begin preparing now.

The URHTP has four strategic goals with seven initiatives (described in detail here):

Goal: Make rural Utahns healthy ($155M)

Initiative 1: Preventive Action and Transformation for Health (PATH). 

Goal: Workforce Development ($187M)

Initiative 2: Rural Incentive and Skill Expansion (RISE). 

Goal: Innovation and Access ($437M)       

Initiative 3: Sustaining Health Infrastructure for Transformation (SHIFT). 

Initiative 4: Financial Approaches for Sustainable Transformation (FAST). 

Initiative 5: Leveraging Innovation for Facilitated Telehealth (LIFT)

Goal: Technology Innovation ($190M)

Initiative 6: Shared Utilities for Partnered Provider Operational Resources and Technology (SUPPORT). 

Initiative 7: Leveraging Interoperability Networks to Connect Services (LINCS). 

Please note:

Projects must align with the Utah RHTP application and legislative guidelines.

Projects should be implementation-ready and cannot create ongoing financial obligations for the state.

UDHHS’s definition of “rural” excludes Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, and Weber counties.

You can find more information and resources about the program -including webinar slides and notes- here.

Here is an important link to the new NIH Guidance on Funding: Implementing a Unified NIH Funding Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions | Grants & Funding

As a mostly virtual Center, we depend on the accuracy and timeliness of our Web presence. Center members are urged to review and update their membership directory information. Please take the next few moments to review your information on the Center’s Web site. Send any updates or requests for changes and more importantly to be linked to the appropriate topic interest group(s) complete this survey and return to Heather at heather.podolan@hsc.utah.edu or aging.utah.edu.

For past issues, please visit our NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES PAGE.

The bristlecone pine tree (Pinus longaeva) - the earth’s oldest inhabitant with a life span of almost 5,000 years - is found only in Utah and five other western states. Its extraordinary longevity and ability to adapt and survive in extremely harsh environmental conditions above 10,000 feet embodies the investigative spirit and mission of the Utah Center on Aging.