Building social connections for older LGBTQ+ adults
Official title: DP24-004, PRC Core: UCSF Prevention Research Center: Reducing social isolation among older LGBTQ+ adults
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11136807 · Data updated 2026-11-12
UCSF will bring proven peer-support and community programs to help older LGBTQ+ adults feel less lonely and more connected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U48DP006806-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136807 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are older LGBTQ+ adults who feel socially isolated or lonely and are willing to join peer-support or community activities.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not LGBTQ+, are much younger, are unable to join community activities, or need intensive clinical care for severe mental health conditions may not benefit from these programs.
What this research studies
You would join peer-led groups and community activities that are being adapted specifically for older LGBTQ+ adults by UCSF and local partners. Community organizations will help shape the programs so they fit what older LGBTQ+ people in your area want and need. Staff will keep track of attendance, ask for participant feedback, and monitor changes in how connected and supported people feel. Successful approaches will be shared with other community groups so more older LGBTQ+ adults can access them.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce loneliness, improve emotional wellbeing, and increase access to safe, affirming community supports for older LGBTQ+ adults.
How similar studies have gone: Similar peer-support interventions have shown benefits in research settings, though widespread community scale-up has been limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramirez-Valles, Jesus — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ramirez-Valles, Jesus
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How social isolation affects aging health in schizophrenia
This project explores how being socially isolated may speed up health problems as people with schizophrenia age.
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How Social Isolation Impacts Aging in People with Schizophrenia
This study looks at how social isolation affects aging and health in people with schizophrenia to see if loneliness and lack of social contact worsen medical problems as they grow older.
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How social isolation affects aging health in schizophrenia
A patient-friendly look at how being socially isolated might influence aging and health in people with schizophrenia.
-
The effect of social isolation on aging health in people with schizophrenia
This study explores how being socially isolated may speed up aging-related health problems in people with schizophrenia.
-
UCSF Prevention Center to Reduce Loneliness in older LGBTQ+ adults
A center at UCSF will partner with communities to reduce loneliness and social isolation among LGBTQ+ adults ages 60 and up.
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Genetic and brain factors behind how people respond to social isolation
A study to understand why some individuals respond differently to social isolation by looking at genes and brain circuits.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.