The Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR) has selected three researchers as 2009 pilot scholars.

MCUAAAR is a collaborative research and administrative effort based at U-M and Wayne State University. Co-directors are Peter Lichtenberg at Wayne State and James S. Jackson, director of the Institute for Social Research.

“Our goal is to promote high quality, scholarly research and community-based interventions focused on health and health promotion among older racial and ethnic minority populations,” Jackson says.

The 2009 pilot scholars are Derek Griffith, assistant professor at U-M’s School of Public Health; Ronica Rooks, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado, Denver; and Florence Dallo, an assistant professor at Oakland University.

Griffith will study factors associated with diet and physical activity among older, urban African-American men. Rooks will investigate racial disparities in employment and chronic conditions among older, well-functioning black and white adults. And Dallo will examine disability and nativity status among Arab, Hispanic, and Asian Americans.

“Our pilot scholars are selected through a competitive award process,” Lichtenstein says. “Each pilot investigator receives mentoring to advance their research and facilitate publication of their results. “

For more information, go to mcuaaar.iog.wayne.edu. Additional information is available at www.rcgd.isr.umich.edu/prba/overview.htm.