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Media Inquiries

If you need expert sources for aging research, data on aging health, or compelling advocacy efforts for better aging health, please contact:

Katie Riley
Vice President of Communications
[email protected]
(202) 688-1229

The Alliance at a Glance

The Alliance for Aging Research is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the narrative to achieve healthy aging and equitable access to care. The Alliance strives for a culture that embraces healthy aging as a greater good and values science and investments to advance dignity, independence, and equity.

Rich History

For 35 years, the Alliance has guided efforts to substantially increase funding and research for healthy aging issues.

LEadership

The Alliance is led by experts in healthy aging and health policy. The commitment our leadership drives our mission.

Coalitions

The Alliance has partnered with over 40 organizations to campaign for advancements in healthy aging.

Education

The Alliance develops and distributes educational materials that raise awareness around age-related illness.

Advocacy

The Alliance for Aging Research advocates for access to research, innovation, and quality care for everyone as they age.

IMPACT

The Alliance critically advances healthy aging research by implementing a multi-faceted approach to advocacy.

News & Updates

The Healthy Aging Blog

Profile

The Alliance for Aging Research is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the pace of scientific discoveries and their application to vastly improve the universal human experience of aging and health. The Alliance believes advances in research help people live longer, happier, more productive lives and reduce healthcare costs over the long term.

For more than 35 years, the Alliance has guided efforts to substantially increase funding and focus for aging at the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration; built influential coalitions to guide groundbreaking regulatory improvements for age-related diseases; and created award-winning, high-impact educational materials to improve the health and well-being of older adults and their family caregivers.

The Alliance for Aging Research is proud to share with you our 2021 impact report, Heartbreak and Hope: Meeting the Needs of Older Americans.

Our Mission

Leading the way to a healthier, more dignified aging experience for all.

Our Vision

A culture that respects aging as a greater good and values investments that advance independence, dignity, and equity.

Our History

The Alliance for Aging Research was founded in 1986 by Daniel Perryit to advance the science of aging and health in order to help people live longer, healthier lives.

By the mid-1980s, it was apparent that the “Greying of America” was real. With advances in prevention and better treatment of heart disease, stroke, and better health overall, the nation found itself facing an unprecedented and unexpected increase in numbers of older Americans.

Health costs were also soaring and lawmakers of every political stripe faced the dilemma of how to pay for Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans benefits and other programs for growing numbers of people.

Republicans and Democrats alike began to ask: How do we manage unprecedented costs for elder care? How will we respond when the largest generation in history begins to retire and needs even greater medical and long-term care?

The best answer, of course, is always to learn, to discover, and to innovate. 

Better solutions emerging from medical science have the power to prevent, delay the progression of, and more effectively treat diseases and disabilities in older patients, like cardiovascular conditions, musculoskeletal disabilities, vision loss, diabetes, cancer, and dementia.

In our initial discussions with folks on Capitol Hill, it was widely assumed that this type of research already enjoyed the backing of the most powerful of all voices in the Capitol: the so-called “gray lobby” of senior citizen organizations.

But that was not the case. The established, well-known lobbies that speak for older people had very different, albeit important, priorities—namely,the benefits and services their current members receive in the here and now. Investments in biomedical research often take many years before tangible benefits emerge, and vocal champions for foundational research are needed. We had to start something new. And so, the Alliance for Aging Research was founded. 

The success of this nonprofit group over the past three and a half decades proves it is possible for a committed few, with passion and vision, to make a difference so that we all might enjoy longer, healthier lives.. 

Watch our video to learn more about the Alliance’s history.

Historical collage of image from the Alliance, show key figures who helped shape it's existence.
Historical collage of images from the Alliance's recent past.

FAQ

Find the answers to frequently asked questions about the Alliance for Aging Research.

What is the Alliance for Aging Research’s mission?

The Alliance for Aging Research is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the pace of scientific discoveries and their application to vastly improve the universal human experience of aging and health. Learn more about the Alliance’s mission, vision, values, and history.

Is the Alliance a 501(c)(3) charitable organization?

Yes, the Alliance for Aging Research is a fully tax-exempt charitable organization as defined under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS’s Internal Revenue Code. The Alliance’s IRS Determination Letter and its tax identification number is 54-1379174.

For more information, please visit: Financial Reports & Funding.

How is the Alliance funded?

The Alliance receives funding from corporations, foundations, non-profit organizations, and individual donors. We are transparent about our partnerships, activities, and funding and received the 2022 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar). We provide this in-depth information on our programs and how they are funded, while also safeguarding independence in our policy positions and health education work.

For more information, please visit: How We’re Funded.

How can I support the Alliance?

There are a number of ways you can contribute directly to our work. Your support will help us advocate for increased funding and focus for aging research at federal health agencies; engage older adult patients and family caregivers to improve medical research and development; build influential coalitions to guide groundbreaking regulatory improvements for age-related diseases; and create award-winning, high-impact educational materials to improve the health and well-being of older adults and their family caregivers.

Learn more about how to support the Alliance as an individual donor or a corporate sponsor.

Is the Alliance registered and/or rated by any of the Charity Watchdogs?

Yes, the Alliance has been rated a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator and received the 2022 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar).

What type of policy issues does the Alliance work on?

The Alliance works on a wide range of policy issues that support healthy aging and access to high-quality care. Throughout our history, we have supported additional funding for age-related diseases at the National Institutes of Health and have focused on ensuring the patient voice is heard and prioritized as the FDA evaluates therapeutics.

The Alliance also works to ensure policies support patients facing chronic disease, as well as their caregivers. In support of this goal, the Alliance has advocated for high-quality nursing home care, accurate measurements of care quality, paid family leave for caregivers, and access to therapeutics that benefit patients through improved outcomes and quality of life, expanded lifespan, and reduced recovery time. The Alliance also works throughout all relevant policy initiatives to examine health inequities and reduce barriers to equitable treatment for all.

Are there ways for me to get involved in the Alliance’s policy work?

Your voice is important! Patients can get involved in our work multiple ways, including by messaging their elected officials through our advocacy action center. The Alliance also connects with patients on policy initiatives in specific disease states.

Additionally, we encourage patients, caretakers, clinicians, and researchers to consider applying to participate in our Talk NERDY to Me training program, which provides training on patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) and the clinical trials process in order to shape future research.

What percentage of my donation goes to program services?

Out of every dollar the Alliance receives, 90 cents goes directly to the Alliance’s health programs, patient engagement, and advocacy work. We are committed to utilizing the valuable resources donors have given us in the most cost-effective ways possible. Our financial statements are thoroughly vetted annually by independent auditors to ensure that all contributions are maximized to benefit our mission. By keeping administrative costs low, more funding goes to our advocacy, aging and health, and other initiatives.

How does the Alliance decide what issues to work on?

The Alliance is an independent patient advocacy organization focused on advancing continued research and policy reforms that support healthy aging. We strongly value our editorial independence; all decisions on policy positions and priorities are at the sole discretion of Alliance staff.

The Alliance believes that working with other organizations toward aligned policy goals helps to amplify and expand the impact of the patient voice. As a result, we often partner with allied organizations to achieve patient-centered reforms.

Who can I reach out to for media inquiries?

For all media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

How can I stay healthy as I age?

Whether you’re looking for information on preventing disease, have been diagnosed with one of the diseases that many of us face as we age, or provide care for someone; having reliable information is critical. The Alliance creates resources that aim to empower all of us to take charge of our health to live longer, happier, more productive lives.

What aging and health topics do you have information on?

The Alliance has resources on healthy aging, prevention, and a number of diseases and conditions that disproportionately impact older adults like valve disease, sarcopenia, and vision loss.

Does the Alliance ever work with patients and family caregivers?

Yes! The Alliance recognizes that older adult and family caregiver engagement in decision-making about healthcare leads to better patient outcomes and satisfaction. This is why the Alliance leads the Talk NERDY (Nurturing Engagement in Research and Development with You) to Me program that empowers older adults, their family caregivers, clinicians, and health researchers to learn about patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) and how we can all work together to develop and implement research that answers the questions that matter most to patients. Learn about Talk NERDY to Me.

Is the Alliance a membership organization?

The Alliance is not a membership organization but produces and disseminates all of its resources, and advocates for patients, in partnership with hundreds of organizations and experts.

Who does the Alliance partner with?

Working together with patients and family caregivers, advocacy organizations, federal agencies, hospitals and health care systems, clinicians, researchers, educators, and industry allows us to capture the full potential of our shared vision.

How does the Alliance support research?

While the Alliance does not directly fund medical research, we help lead advocacy efforts for increased funding and focus on aging research at the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other federal health agencies. These increases are vital to improving the health of older adults and help us discover cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

How can I contribute content to the Alliance’s website/podcast/blog?

The Alliance does not accept content from for-profit organizations but will consider sharing resources from not-for-profit organizations. If you would like to submit content for the Alliance website, our podcast, or our blog, contact [email protected].

How can I stay updated about the Alliance’s activities?

You can follow the Alliance and our activities by subscribing to our monthly newsletter Living Longer and Loving It, reading our blog, and listening to our This is Growing Old podcast.

Ways to Give

There are many ways you can help accelerate the pace of scientific discoveries and their application to vastly improve the universal human experience of aging and health:

Platinum Transparency 2024 logo

The Alliance for Aging Research is a proud recipient of Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating Badge

The Alliance for Aging Research is proud to be rated a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator.

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