2008 Review of the Division of Behavioral and Social Research by National Advisory Council on Aging

PUBLIC COMMENTS WELCOME

National Institute on Aging Council Review of the Division of Behavioral and Social Research (BSR)

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) is currently undertaking its quadrennial review of the Division of Behavioral and Social Research. The purpose of the review is to assess whether the overall performance and more importantly, the future trajectory of research being promoted and supported by the Division are appropriate.

Previous reviews of the BSR were conducted in February 1998, May 2000, and May 2004. The 2004 Review Committee, chaired by Ronald Lee, produced a report (PDF, 114K) recommending several directions for BSR-sponsored research and training.

The 2008 Review Committee (MS Word, 28K), co-chaired by John Cacioppo and Alan Garber, includes current and former members of the Council, and other distinguished scientists with research interests relevant to BSR. The Committee conducts the review, reports to the Director of NIA and the Council, and prepares a written report. While the report is addressed to the Council, it is influential in determining BSR scientific priorities and improving programs.

Subcommittees have been formed to consider special issues in nine research topic areas, each chaired by a member of the Review Committee:

1. Genetics
2. Demography, Social Epidemiology, Sociology of Aging
3. Health Disparities
4. Behavioral and Community Interventions
5. Cognitive Interventions
6. Medicare, Health Services, and Long Term Care
7. Psychology of Aging
8. Satellite Health Accounts
9. Social Neuroscience and Neuroeconomics

The Review Committee welcomes input from the research community and other interested parties about both past and future activities.

• What are the most promising directions or priorities for new investment?
• Which areas are less promising and should be deemphasized or else weaker and need strengthening?
• How can BSR promote training and development of new scholars in fields that are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary? Is BSR attracting adequate numbers of high quality individuals to pursue research careers in fields of relevance to BSR?

Submission Guidelines: Comments are welcome until December 2008, but for timely consideration by the full Review Committee, please forward your comments to Rose Li, the Executive Secretary of the NACA Review of DBSR (see submission contact information below) by September 20, 2008. Public comments will be shared with the Review Committee members, as well as NIA staff. If you prefer to keep your identity confidential, please prominently indicate this in your message, and your comment(s) will be forwarded without identifiers. All submissions will be handled to maintain your privacy and comply with requests for anonymity to the extent possible.

Email: rose@roseliassociates.com

Mail: Rose Maria Li, MBA, PhD
Executive Secretary
NACA Review of DBSR
6202 Melvern Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817

FAX: 866-234-3160