Asian Americans are the fastest growing group of older adults in the country, increasing by 68% from 2000-2018. However, less than 1% of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding in the last 10 years has focused on U.S. Asian populations, with only 3-5 total funded NIH grants each year focused on U.S. Asian older adults. The Rutgers Asian RCMAR, led by Dr. William Hu, Dr. Bei Wu, Dr. Steve Crystal, and Dr. Cui Yang, has received $3.4 million in funding from the NIH to address this gap in research.

The goals of the Center are to:

1. Understand the cross-ethnic variations in the social, cultural, and behavioral mechanisms of trauma, stress, and resilience across U.S. Asian populations;
2. Explore the differential health outcomes associated with trauma, immigration, and mechanisms of resilience in U.S. Asian populations; and
3. Support early-career researchers through funding, education, and training, and build community capacity to address health disparities and improve health outcomes.

2020 Plan: Collaborator Map (US)

The Rutgers Asian RCMAR is part of the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research.

As part of the Rutgers Institute for Health, the Asian RCMAR is part of a world-class research university and hospital system. The Asian RCMAR has built networks of academics, scientists, and community partners around the nation. These relationships facilitate innovative and cutting-edge research and aid the dissemination of findings to practitioners, policy makers, and community members.

Current Rutgers Asian RCMAR Projects Include:

• Assessing the effects of extreme heat and medications on health outcomes in Asian older adults.
• Using virtual reality technology to facilitate intergenerational reminiscence to improve emotional well‑being among U.S. Asian older adults.
• Developing culturally appropriate interventions to increase cancer screening in U.S. Asian populations.
• Implementing a health-related social needs (HRSN) screening tool among Asian adult patients to identify the prevalence of social needs such as food insecurity, transportation barriers, utility needs, interpersonal safety, housing, trauma, and resilience.
• Identifying risk and protective factors and culturally acceptable coping resources for LGBT U.S. Asian older adults.