Designed for teams of two researchers and one community leader, Interdisciplinary Research Leaders supports engaged research, crafted and conducted by innovative teams to explore a problem and apply a solution in real time, making an immediate positive impact in their home communities.

Dr. Shevon Harvey, director of the Transdisciplinary Center for Health Equity Research and associate professor in health education, said reducing stress by setting small, measurable goals is key to improving health in the diverse, aging population.

Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, begin to emerge in midlife and continue into old age. Type-2 diabetes disproportionately affects minorities and women; it is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and the Caribbean. In addition, diabetes-related complications excessively burden minorities and women.

There are obvious benefits to physical activity (PA) throughout our lives. The need to remain physically active does not falter, as we grow older. The severity, course, and trajectory of chronic illnesses and diseases are positively impacted by participation in PA. For instance, a primary cause of disability in elders is osteoarthritis. PA is known to benefit those with osteoarthritis, as well as assist in the maintenance of the ability to complete activities of daily living. These activities i...