Translating Basic Research into Community Practice: The Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging (CITRA)

The mission of Cornell University's Edward R. Roybal Center, the Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging (CITRA) is to develop new ways to translate the findings of basic social science research into programs and policies that benefit vulnerable older persons and contribute to improved health outcomes. The overarching goal is the creation of a "research-ready" group of service agencies serving older people in New York City that can be linked to medical and behavioral investigators who seek engagement with service agencies for applied and intervention studies. The CITRA "model" consists of seven overlapping steps: (1) creation of a research-ready network of service agencies; (2) a community-based needs assessment to establish a research agenda for the program; (3) development of a pool of investigators who are available and willing to collaborate with service agencies; (4) development of a model pilot study program to connect investigators to community agencies; (5) investigator development; (6) seminars, events, and research-practice consensus workshops to facilitate researcher-community partner interaction; and (7) engaging researchers and practitioners on critical issues related to aging to invigorate and sustain the partnership.