CACHE: Bringing together aging, health, and the environment to protect older adults
Official title: CACHE: Supporting Interdisciplinary Inclusion of Context in Aging and Health Research
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11447651 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to strengthen an aging-and-environment platform that helps researchers study how extreme weather affects older adults with chronic conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $684,507 |
| NIH project number | 1R33AG104567-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447651 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (generally 65+ and very old individuals) with chronic conditions who live in areas prone to extreme weather.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not engaged in aging-related research or not affected by environmental stressors may see indirect benefits only.
What this research studies
This project updates and expands CACHE, a collaborative hub that connects clinicians, gerontologists, public health experts, and environmental scientists to study how weather-related events affect aging and chronic illness. It builds infrastructure for interdisciplinary projects, data sharing, and training, so researchers can develop practical strategies to protect older adults during heat waves, floods, and storms. By fostering new partnerships and providing access to data and open tools, it seeks to translate environmental changes into actionable guidance for improving care and safety for seniors. The effort emphasizes real-world impact by aligning researchers with community needs and policy considerations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better preparation and responses to extreme weather for older adults with chronic disease.
How similar studies have gone: Past work shows the value of interdisciplinary platforms in accelerating aging and environmental health research, with growing engagement and data sharing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunter, Lori M. — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Hunter, Lori M.
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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.