Researcher Services
Apply to Use Our Registries | Research Team Support Services | Submit a Support Request
Apply to Use Our Registries
The Pepper Research Network on Aging (PRNA) maintains two registries that are available for Pepper-approved researchers who are conducting aging-related research at the University of Pittsburgh. These registries include the Community Research Connection (formerly the Pepper Center Research Registry) and the Platinum Senior-Living Registry.
Please contact Dr. Steven Albert at 412-383-8693 or e-mail him here, if you have questions about using the Community Research Connection or Platinum Senior Living Registry.
Researchers wanting to use either registry need to apply.
Community Research Connection
The Community Research Connection includes over 2,300 community-dwelling persons from the Pittsburgh region age 60 or older. Community Research Connection participants consent to be contacted for potential participation in Pepper-approved research studies.
Participants are followed yearly to update contact their information, mobility and balance status, and basic health information.Follow-up interview waves reach about 85% of the cohort and only 10% of the sample has been lost to follow-up. The PRNA Community Research Connection has helped over 100 studies with recruitment.
Please contact Dr. Steven Albert at 412-383-8693 or e-mail him here, if you have questions about using the Community Research Connection.
Researchers wanting to use the Community Research Connection need to apply.
Platinum Senior-Living Registry
This registry compiles lists of senior-living communities and participants ages 55+ who are willing to participate in research. We can also provide sites for researchers to conduct long-term care research in the greater Pittsburgh area at sites ranging from senior high-rises to skilled nursing facilities.
Lists of participants who may be eligible can also be provided for approved studies, and queried de-identified data sets to assist with grant proposals and IRB submissions are also available.
Please contact Dr. Steven Albert at 412-383-8693 or e-mail him here, if you have questions about using the Platinum Senior-Living Registry.
In addition to the Pepper Center, the team is part of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s (CTSI) Research Facilities & Networks Core as the Older Adult Research Network. You can learn more about the CTSI resources and OARN here.
Platinum Senior-Living Registry FAQ
I want to conduct research in a long-term care facility. Who should I contact?
Please contact Janelle Christensen at 412-692-2843 or e-mail her here.
I'm not sure if the registry will be useful for me. Can I find out how many people may be eligible at my desired site?
Yes. A queried dataset may be obtained prior to IRB approval. For example, if a researcher would like to know how many people with diabetes at a particular site may be eligible, the registry staff can provide this information.
Is there a cost to use the registry?
No. However, researchers who use the registry must state that they received support from the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center NIH Grant #s K07AG052668, P30 AG024827 and UL1TR001857 in any resulting publications, such as abstracts and manuscripts.
Will I need anything else, besides IRB approval, before I begin my project?
Yes. The Claude D. Pepper Center Long-Term Care Working Group provides oversight of the registry and needs to approve the project before use of the registry can be granted. Depending on the site, additional levels of approval may be required as described below.
When can I begin recruitment?
Recruitment can begin after the project is approved by the IRB and all required materials are submitted and approved by the registry staff. These materials include a project summary, contact information for the PI, Co-I and coordinators, IRB # when approved, and copies of any fliers and advertising materials (these materials must be IRB-approved).
I want to conduct research at a long-term care facility. Do I need approval from the site?
Yes. After the Claude D. Pepper Center Long-Term Care Working Group approves of the project, you must obtain a letter of support from the facility. The point of contact for the facility can be obtained from the coordinator Janelle Christensen. These letters must be provided to registry staff to keep on file and will also be required by the IRB as a part of your submission.
Can I conduct research with cognitively impaired participants? If so, how?
Yes. Participant assent and Power of Attorney (POA) written consent needs to be obtained for any cognitively impaired individuals.
Can I conduct research at a skilled nursing facility/nursing home?
Yes. In addition to the letter of support from the facility, a letter of approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health must also be obtained. These letters must be provided to registry staff to keep on file and will also be required by the IRB as part of your submission.
Can I choose any site I wish for my research project?
Any research conducted at a UPMC Senior Community must be approved by the UPMC QAPI Committee. The point of contact for the facility can be obtained from the coordinator Janelle Christensen. The committee reserves the right to decline usage of any facility for research purposes.
Does the registry include only UPMC facilities?
No. Many sites in the registry are not UPMC affiliates. Some of these sites have their own boards that will need to approve of the project.
Can I use multiple sites for my project?
Yes. You must obtain the appropriate letters of support and follow each individual sites protocol.
I am not a University of Pittsburgh researcher. Can I still use the registry?
Maybe. Non-Pitt researchers with a Pepper Investigator as their Co-Investigator may use the registry.
What if the site that I wish to use is not a participating site of the registry?
The registry staff will work to add the site to the registry and recruit participants for the registry at that site.
Can I use the registry if I want to conduct my study on-site at the University of Pittsburgh?
Yes. However, researchers should be aware of barriers to transportation when conducting research with older adults.
Will I need to indicate use of the registry in my IRB submission or resulting publications?
Yes. Indicate you are using the Platinum Senior-Living Research Registry (PRO1701064) in section 4.1-4.2 for recruitment methods. Usage of the registry must also be noted in all manuscripts and abstracts.
Research Team Support Services
Older Adult Community Engagement Studios (OA-CES)
Participating in an OA-CES improves the quality of research by directly engaging a panel of older adults from the community and senior living facilities in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. These events are not focus groups; they are one-time opportunities to gather feedback on research design, ensuring it aligns with the needs and perspectives of the older adults.
Facilitating connections to Senior Living Facilities
- Facilitating connections to senior living facilities enables researchers to effectively engage older adults in their research. By establishing these connections, researchers can access a pool of willing participants who can provide valuable insights and perspectives. This collaborative approach enhances the quality of research and fosters meaningful engagement with the senior community, promoting a more inclusive and representative study population.
- The Pepper Center has a relationship with 40+ facilities with a wide range of demographics
Research Design Consultation
Research design consultation involves collaborating with experts to develop a robust and effective research plan. This process includes defining research goals, selecting appropriate methodologies, designing data collection instruments, and ensuring ethical considerations. Through research design consultation, researchers can enhance the quality and validity of their studies, ultimately leading to more impactful and insightful findings.