Charlotte A. Peterson, PhD, recently accepted the invitation from the Secretary of Health & Human Services to serve as a member of the National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) for a period of three years. 

The NACA meets three times a year to review and make recommendations to the Director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) regarding grant applications to support biomedical research and research training activities in aging.

In this capacity, Council members have the benefit of the technical and scientific advice of study sections who performed the initial review of the grant applications for scientific merit. Another continuing and important responsibility of the NACA is to survey the total research effort in aging and recommend action(s) necessary to stimulate emerging areas of research in aging.  

The NACA also assesses the diversity and inclusivity of NIA-funded research both in terms of grant principal investigators, as well as participation of under-served populations in clinical research.

“My research over the last 30 years has benefited greatly from NIA support,” Peterson said. “I look forward to interacting with the institute as a member of the NACA and hope to facilitate funding of innovative studies in aging."