Related Stories

Forecasting Future Supply of Pediatric Subspecialties: Addressing Misalignment with Population Health Needs Paul Lanier speaks to WUNC about NC’s youth mental health New NC Workforce Blog: racial/ethnic diversity trends New NC Workforce Blog: 2022 racial/ethnic diversity Erin Fraher Presents to 2024 NCIOM Legislative Policy Fellows

National Institute on Aging Awards $4.1M Grant to Laura Hanson

Posted by

Laura Hanson

Dr. Laura Hanson

Dr. Laura Hanson, UNC Professor Geriatric Medicine and Medical Director of Palliative Care has been awarded a new $4.1 million dollar grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

With this award, the NIA funds the first major clinical trial of comprehensive dementia-specific palliative care. The ADRD Palliative Care (ADRD-PC) trial will enroll hospitalized patients with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their family caregivers, and follow them after discharge to improve supportive care in the community.  Trial sites include the University of North Carolina, University of Colorado, Indiana University and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Hanson notes that “Millions of Americans have late-stage Alzheimer’s and related dementias, causing suffering due to loss of awareness of self and family, progressive dependency, physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms, and physical, emotional and financial strain for caregivers.  While specialty palliative care has been proven to improve outcomes for other serious illnesses, it is rarely offered to patients with dementia and their families.”