Project Abstract – Overall Component
The Roybal Center for Elder Mistreatment Intervention Research will contribute significant, impactful scientific
progress to the elder mistreatment (EM) field by addressing the overarching research question: How can we
reduce exposure to EM and prevent its mental and physical health impacts among community-dwelling
older adults and their family caregivers? The scientific premise underlying this Roybal Center is as follows:
most known modifiable intervention targets for, and outcomes of, EM have an established evidence base guiding
behavioral interventions drawn from related fields. There is a need to rapidly and effectively adapt, refine, and
implement these interventions to fit the context of EM. Thus, we will initially focus on pilots addressing Stages
0-2 of behavioral intervention development. We will provide robust services and support through Cores designed
to ensure translation and progression of the pilots through the NIH stage model by targeting known barriers to
research progression for EM. The activities and infrastructure proposed to overcome these barriers are described
in the Administrative Core and Behavioral Intervention Development Core (BID) Core and include novel
components such as a human subjects safety pre-review panel and a Participant-Reported Outcomes Advisory
Team. By addressing barriers in EM research at the pilot stage, we hypothesize that investigators can build
sustainable and impactful long-term research programs to achieve mechanism-focused EM intervention
development and evaluation. Based at UTHealth Houston this center is uniquely qualified to lead the
advancement of EM intervention research and support new cohorts of EM investigators with one of the largest
teams of funded EM researchers in existence. This Roybal Center is further supported by accomplished
treatment outcomes and implementation science investigators who will support the transition of projects through
the stages of intervention development. This Roybal Center is designed to overcome crucial barriers preventing
significant, impactful progression of EM intervention development research. This center will significantly impact
the field of EM by providing a rigorous evidence base to inform clinical practice guidelines (e.g., USPTF), public
policy, and service delivery -- ultimately reducing rates of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation while
supporting older adult and caregiver well-being.