Translating research into the community is one of the IOA’s core missions. On July 15, 2026, over 45 Pepper Registry participants and enthusiastic community members joined the inaugural session of the Age Well Academy. Held at the Straughn Center, the Age Well Academy is a community seminar series communicating research into healthy aging practices that adults can utilize in their daily lives. Karyn Esser, PhD, Co-Director of UF Older Americans Independence Center and Professor at the Department of Physiology and Aging, led the seminar.
“Keeping Time as We Age” focused on how your lifestyle choices can be used to leverage your body’s internal clocks to support healthy aging. Attendees took home a brochure summarizing content from the session’s presentation, as well as flyers for actively recruiting studies and a copy of the most recent THRIVE newsletter.
In the words of our interim director, Todd Manini, PhD, “Ultimately, our success is measured not only by scientific discovery, but by how well we turn knowledge into real-world solutions that improve function, support independence, and enhance quality of life for older adults.” The Age Well Academy is committed to making the knowledge discovered and refined at the Institute into something the public can take home.
Titled Nutrition, Pain, and Aging, the next Age Well Academy session will be led by Larissa Strath, PhD, on October 5, 2026.
