What Matters Most: A Couple’s Journey Through Aging
Discover how one couple navigates the challenges of aging together while staying focused on what matters most. With guidance from Nick Brening, MD, Associate Professor in the Division of Geriatrics, their story highlights resilience, adaptation, and the power of patient-centered care to support meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Link Here
|
|
|
|
AGS April 30-May 2, 2026
The link below lists the Utah-affiliated presentations and posters that are being presented. Please support our Utah presenters and try to attend these sessions virtually.
Please go to this Utah AGS Presentation/Poster list.
|
|
|
|
Center on Aging New Member and Pilot Highlight |
|
|
|
|
Anthony J. Donato, PhD, is a Professor in the Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah, where he co-directs the Translational Vascular Physiology Laboratory and serves as a Research Investigator at the Salt Lake City VA Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC). His research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive age-related cardiovascular dysfunction. Specifically, he investigates how endothelial dysfunction, large-artery stiffening, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular senescence contribute to cardiovascular disease in older adults, and how these processes can be therapeutically reversed. Dr. Donato graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a BA and an MS in Kinesiology. He obtained his PhD in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University. Following postdoctoral fellowships at the University of California, San Diego and the University of Colorado, Boulder, he joined the University of Utah Department of Medicine in 2010 and was promoted to full Professor in 2021. Dr. Donato was raised in Hailey, Idaho and when not in the lab he enjoys skiing, hiking and spending time with his family.
Dr. Donato’s Center on Aging Pilot Grant Award is titled “Developing Novel Senolytics for Treatment of Age-Related Cardiovascular Fibrosis.” Age-related fibrosis in the large arteries and the left ventricle drives the systolic hypertension and diastolic dysfunction that disproportionately affect older adults, yet there are currently no direct treatments — only symptomatic management of downstream consequences. Cellular senescence, a state of persistent cell-cycle arrest that accumulates with age, is a major driver of this fibrotic remodeling, and senolytic drugs that selectively eliminate senescent cells represent a promising new therapeutic strategy. Dr. Donato’s laboratory recently identified two hits from a high-throughput screen that act as novel senolytics through a previously underexplored cell-death pathway, but the lead compound lacks the pharmacokinetic properties needed for clinical use. With co-investigators in vascular surgery (Dr. Chris Audu), medicinal chemistry (Dr. Raphael Franzini), and cardiovascular aging (Dr. Lisa Lesniewski), the research team is designing, synthesizing, improving analogs, conducting in vitro pharmacology and toxicology studies. Finally they will test the most promising compound in human cell culture models of fibrosis and in preclinical aging mouse models, with large-artery stiffness and left ventricular function as outcomes. This study aims to advance a first-in-class senolytic toward clinical trials for age-related cardiovascular fibrosis and will lay the foundation for new treatments aimed at the biological causes — rather than only the consequences — of cardiovascular aging.
|
|
|
|
Dr. Timothy Farrell, Geriatrics Division Associate Chief for Age-Friendly Care, recently served as a content expert for the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and The John A. Hartford Foundation in the development of an online CME course for AAFP members: Foundations of Age-Friendly Care: 4Ms for Physicians - Online CME | AAFP. This CME course is free to AAFP members. Those who are not AAFP members can access the modules by creating an AAFP profile. The course includes 3 modules: “Why Age-Friendly Care Matters,” “Understanding the 4Ms Framework,” and “Overcoming Barriers to Implementation.”
|
|
|
|
University of Utah Health held an inaugural systemwide Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) in-person appreciation event earlier this year to celebrate and explore how patient and family voices, including those of older adults, help to shape care across the organization. Andrea Harris, Clinical Nurse Lead for Age-Friendly Care and Heather Podolan, Academic Program Manager, represented the age-friendly leadership team and spoke of the impact the Age-Friendly PFAC has had to develop care programs for older adults that are guided by the Age-Friendly 4Ms. We are grateful to the Patient Experience team for leading this event and for the advisors who contribute their time and expertise to improve care for all older adults at University of Utah Health. Check out the following Accelerate article for more information about this first-time event!
|
|
| |
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.
|
|
| |
The College of Nursing will be hosting monthly updates on their Aging In Utah Today series. 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 is located here - note the 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.
|
|
|
|
Dr. Leena P Bharath will present:
From Protection to Pathology: T Cell Inflammation in Aging
at special RIP on June 8 at 9am at EIHG 1st floor Auditorium
Dr. Bharath is Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and Pasini Health Sciences Research Fellow, at the Center for Health Innovation, Research, and Policy (CHIRP) at Merrimack College, North Andover, MA. Special note: While Dr. Bharath was a postdoc at UU she worked on a project that was funded via a COA Pilot Grant with Dr. Dave Symons.
|
|
| |
4th Biennial Conference on Caregiving Research
Reaching New Heights: Elevating Caregiving Research, Policy, and Practice
September 23-25, 2026 | Salt Lake City, Utah
The Family Caregiving Collaborative at the University of Utah College of Nursing is proud to host the 4th Biennial Conference on Caregiving Research, Reaching New Heights: Elevating Caregiving Research, Policy, and Practice. Join experts in caregiving research, policy, and practice.
Sign up for Updates
Registration and Hotel Reservation Hub will open May 1, 2026.
|
|
|
|
Geriatric Division Conferences |
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Dr. Rebecca Perkins, an Assistant Professor with the College of Nursing and Dr. Carson De Fries, an Assistant Professor with the College of Social Work has asked us to include these two Organization Recruitment Flyers.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization focused on research, education, and practice in aging. It brings together students, faculty, and professionals across disciplines to advance innovation and improve the lives of older adults, offering access to conferences, publications, mentorship, and a broad professional network.
|
|
|
|
Sigma Phi Omega (SPO) is an international honor and professional society in gerontology that recognizes academic excellence and service in aging. Through local chapters, students, faculty, and professionals engage in research, leadership, and community-based initiatives that support older adults.
|
|
|
|
DHHS Listening Tour
The Department of Health and Human Services has been conducting a listening tour at multiple locations throughout the state. Stakeholders attending each session offer feedback on how DHHS is meeting the needs of constituents and how people are navigating the new structure and realignments of departmental responsibilities and leadership changes. Ence participated in the 2.5-hour session at the end of March. A DHHS report of findings will follow soon.
Bolder Way Forward
The Bolder Way Forward initiative as part of a Utah Women & Leadership Project suffered severe funding cuts which has put in jeopardy completing aligned research and project completion. UCOA continues to support and participate in ongoing work as appropriate. The BWF leads are at Utah State University. UCOA is adapting outcome language as part of the Master Plan for Aging to ensure keeping a spotlight on the future health and welfare protections and development for women of all ages.
Utah Caregiver Roundtable
The Roundtables partners are making progress on the Utah Caregivers Resource website. Ten navigation short videos will be part of the site to encourage engagement and resource assistance. The first two scripts are complete: “What is an Area Agency on Aging” updating the UCOA version, and “What are Palliative Care and Hospice.” These will be recorded in the next few weeks. Another eight videos will follow throughout the summer and early fall.
Advance Directive
UCOA has completed its revisions of the new Advance Directive form bringing to close over two months of collaboration and input to improve on the format from the 2025 legislative code update while maintaining all essential code requirements and harmonizing with the national commission guidance. Special thanks to the U Health community for their input and leadership with Andrea Harris and Jennifer Brennan, JD of U HSC, and Mary Gay Taylor Jones, Utah’s Commissioner for Uniform State Laws. The UCOA website will carry the most recent versions by May 1.
Baltimore Aging Team in Mayor’s office
Executive Director Ence spoke to the City of Baltimore Mayor’s team on older adult issues and the work behind Utah’s MPA, urban and rural needs, and how to engage appointed members and volunteers to help meet the challenges of limited funding and resources.
FrameWorks Institute: "Connecting Democracy to Kitchen Table Issues."
Executive Director Ence participates in an ongoing series focused on policy change that drives a desired economy that works for everyone and the real change required to transform both our economic and political systems. In this session, we discussed building a sense of what is possible for transformative change including economic exploitation as a systemic policy choice, and impact of rising authoritarianism to the economic hardships felt by 99%, and how collective action can shift power back to the people.
One Utah Health Care Collaborative: Collective Dignity in Dying Initiative
After many conversations with the leadership of Utah’s Health Care Collaborative about End-of-Life decisions, documenting wishes, and the need for an OLST and Advance Directive repository. A new team under the leadership of Dr. Scott Barlow has launched an effort to make this registry happen as a priority over the next year. Executive Director Ence is on that team and brings context to what has been done before in Utah and currently being done in other states. Ence has secured a baseline proposal with MyDirectives after several years of nudging UHIN to take on the full-scale project. More to come on this exciting progress which now has the attention of selected medical providers, hospital systems, legal advisors, and payor systems.
NCSL Conference on Policy and Multisector Plans for Aging.
Executive Director Ence will be presenting at the National Conference of State Legislators in a special session working on policy issue alignment and Master Plans for Aging. Ence will partner with Vermont for a two-state moderated conversation advising state legislators from across the country and how to prepare them for working on state plans with a focus on transportation and housing. The NCSL team met with Ence and former UCOA chair Darlene Curley, a former state representative from Maine, to outline our presentation and engagement of other Utah organizations impacting these topics. Ence has convened conversations with Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC) whose current focus is on housing policy. Other partners will weigh in ln Utah’s current work and plans. The conference will be held June 10 in Milwaukee.
|
|
|
|
Major upcoming funding opportunity for teams focused on rural health, workforce development, health technologies, health systems innovation, and community-based interventions.
Link Here for Upcoming Funding Opportunities
|
|
| |
(#1) ADDF-Harrington Scholar Grant Award
Award Amount: Up to $600,000 for 2 years plus other benefits
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Link to Complete RFP
(#2) Harrington Discovery Brain Health Medicines Scholar Grant Award
Award Amount: $100,000 for 1 year plus other benefits
Deadline: Annually on 3/31, 6/30, 9/30 & 12/31
Link to Complete RFP
(#3) Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) Therapeutics Funding Programs
Deadline: September 14, 2026
Link to Complete RFPs
Please contact Jenna Taylor if you are interested in applying to this opportunity.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
U of Utah Division of Geriatrics 30 N Mario Capecchi Dr., 2nd Floor North | Salt Lake City, UT 84112 US
|
|
|
|
This email was sent to u1035035@utah.edu.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
|
|
|
