About the Initiative
The Alicia and Yaya Initiative in Global Aging Research was launched at UMB in 2023, with the generous support from Dr. and Mrs. Marco Chacón. Named after two incredibly important women in Dr. Chacón’s life, the Initiative aims to promote bidirectional research, partnerships, and learning between UMB and UCR in the fields of aging and gerontology.
Costa Rica is home to one of the world’s five Blue Zones, regions with statistically high life expectancies and centurions compared to global averages. As an official member of the Age-Friendly University Global Network and home to the Center for Research on Aging, UMB shares both UCR and CISG’s interest in the Costa Rican Blue Zone in relation to aging and gerontology research. With Dr. Chacón’s generous support, UCR, UMB and CISG are able to facilitate aging and gerontological research between UCR and UMB through the Alicia and Yaya Initiative in Global Aging Research.
Comprised of two elements – the Alicia and Yaya Fellowship Program and the Alicia and Yaya Grant Funding Program – the Alicia and Yaya Initiative in Global Aging Research is open to students, faculty, staff, and scholars currently associated with either UMB or UCR. The goal of the Initiative is to support international, comparative, and bidirectional approaches to aging research with an emphasis on fostering independent scholars who will take aging research into the future enhanced by this unique collaboration.
If you have any questions regarding the Alicia and Yaya Initiative, please reach out to Michelle Sullivan to set up a consultation.