Who we are
The private, not-for-profit Alliance for Aging Research is the nation's leading citizen advocacy organization for improving the health and independence of Americans as they age. The Alliance was founded in 1986 to promote medical and behavioral research into the aging process. Since then, and as the explosion of the Senior Boom approaches, the Alliance has become the voice for Baby Boomer health by developing, implementing and advocating programs in research, professional and consumer health education and public policy.
What we believe
The Alliance For Aging Research believes that science can help people live longer, more productive lives. Greater access to the latest scientific information will empower people to take control of their own health, while educating them on the importance and need for further medical advances. From policy issues to consumer health programs, the Alliance works to generate knowledge and action on age-related issues.
What we do
Simply speaking, we strive to advance science and enhance lives through a variety of activities and initiatives. The Alliance efforts have made aging research a fast growing priority for medical research today. Since the Alliance was formed in 1986, federal support for aging research has more than tripled, private research and development in aging-related health has reached an all time high, and new discoveries are making a lasting difference to the lives of millions of Americans.
Advancing Science
The Alliance...
- Fights for federal legislation that will advance medical breakthroughs by working with policymakers in the nation's capital and across the country;
- Builds coalitions of diverse organizations and individuals to bring visibility and support to aging research;
- Encourages greater funding for the National Institutes of Health and other public health agencies;
- Promotes greater private sector research efforts which compliments public funding;
- Advocates for more research dollars to go to age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and Parkinson's, as well as better scientific understanding of the aging process;
- Sponsors, with help from donor friends, the Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholars in Aging Research Program, the largest non-governmental fellowship award to stimulate research, teaching and practice of geriatric medicine in the U.S.; and
- Leads the charge to ensure increased training in geriatrics for all healthcare providers.
Enhancing Lives
The Alliance...
- Conducts grassroots education campaigns for health professionals and the public on diseases which disproportionately effect the elderly, such as congestive heart failure, incontinence, macular degeneration and high blood pressure;
- Conducts studies and surveys that examine important medical, behavioral and social issues associated with longevity, including a widely-quoted survey of American's attitudes toward health and aging;
- Serves as a clearinghouse for reliable information on the health and well-being or older people, and on trends associated with that group; and
- Creates and disseminates health education materials to consumers in a variety of formats.