Training surgeons to improve care for older adults undergoing surgery
Official title: Mentored Research Training in Aging and Surgery (MERITAS)
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10988295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping future surgeons learn how to better care for older adults, especially those with Alzheimer's and similar conditions, so they can provide safer and more effective surgeries for this important group of patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $403,611 |
| NIH project number | 5R38AG085422-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10988295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, especially those with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, who are scheduled for surgical procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger or do not have cognitive impairments related to aging may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on training surgical residents to better understand and address the unique challenges faced by older adults undergoing surgery, particularly those with conditions like Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The program aims to bridge the gap between surgical practice and aging research, ensuring that future surgeons are equipped with the knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes. By emphasizing health services research, the training will cover critical areas such as frailty and multimorbidity in older surgical patients. The goal is to enhance the quality of care for this growing population through improved surgical practices and research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better surgical outcomes and tailored care strategies for older adults, particularly those with cognitive impairments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that training programs for healthcare providers can significantly improve patient care outcomes, suggesting that this approach has the potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooper, Zara R — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Cooper, Zara R
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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.