About Us

Older adults are vastly underrepresented in research, which is even more pronounced for older adults with medical vulnerability (e.g., cognitive impairment and complex multi-morbidity) and/or social vulnerability (e.g., social isolation, poverty, limited literacy, homelessness, etc.). 

The Vulnerable Populations Aging Research Core (VARC) will assist investigators with the skills and expertise needed to enroll and retain older subjects for a range of study designs, particularly those with medical or social vulnerability. 

The VARC can provide consultation for the following research that includes older adults with medical and/or social vulnerabilities:  

• Design of primary data collection studies
• Recruiting consenting, enrolling, and retaining older adults, including convening and maintaining community advisory boards
• Qualitative and mixed methods to inform intervention development
• Predictor and outcome measures of medical and social vulnerability
• Novel methodologic research (e.g.: development projects) 

Resources