USF has awarded $1 million in seed funding to an interdisciplinary team led by Yu
Sun (Computer Science and Engineering), William Haley (Aging Studies), Tammy Allen
(Psychology), and Hariom Yadav (Neurosurgery & Brain Repair) to establish The Center
for Innovation, Technology, and Aging (CITA). This center, which includes 37 faculty
members from seven colleges, aims to transform care for individuals with Alzheimer’s
disease and related dementias (ADRD), and other vulnerable older adults with disabilities
due to other conditions such as Parkinson's disease and stroke. Since most older adults
with disabilities are cared for in the community by family members, there will be
a strong emphasis on using technology to assist family members in effectively providing
care, diminishing caregiver burden, and enabling caregivers to continue other important
roles in their lives such as employment. As part of a full spectrum approach, CITA
also aims to address the needs of the caregiving workforce.
The team is one of four CREATE awardees selected from 72 contenders to bolster USF’s
standing as a member of the Association of American Universities. "Investing in our
faculty is pivotal for tackling grand challenges and achieving our ambitious goal
of $1 billion in research funding," said Provost Prasant Mohapatra. "USF has always
aimed high, and by fostering large-scale collaborations and nurturing the innovative
spirit of our researchers, we can significantly enhance our research enterprise and
make a profound societal impact."
CITA will adopt a holistic and systems-based strategy to develop innovative monitoring, intervention, and assistive technologies, enabling safe and cost-effective at-home care and high-quality personalized care for people with ADRD and other disabilities. By bringing together expertise from multiple disciplines, the initiative addresses the complex needs of people with ADRD and their caregivers, integrating diverse perspectives and methodologies to enhance research outcomes.
CITA will also advance understanding of ADRD care and push the boundaries of AI and robotics technologies. The center’s innovations are expected to significantly improve the lives of those with ADRD, benefiting caregivers, families, and society at large. CITA is poised to become a leading innovation hub, enhancing USF's research capabilities and academic prestige.