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The Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials Training Program
Zachary Baker, Emily L. Mroz, Jean S. Kutner, Kathryn Ilonka Pollack, Christine Ritchie, Ana‐Maria Vranceanu. Innovation in Aging, 2025-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract The Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials Training Program (DEM-PCCT) is a 10-month intensive program designed to equip early- and mid-career researchers with the skills necessary to design and conduct clinical trials in the dementia palliative care space. The program integrates large cohort-wide meetings, monthly small-group mentoring, and a five-day in-person institute. Scholars receive hands-on training in trial methodology, grant writing, and research ethics while building a strong professional network. A core component is the development of a competitive funding proposal for a dementia-related palliative care clinical trial. Since its inception, 53 scholars across three cohorts have completed DEM-PCCT. Of these, a growing number have secured funding, initiated collaborations, contributed to dementia palliative care research, and increased confidence and comfort with conducting clinical trials (p<.05). This presentation highlights two concrete examples of submissions to the National Institute on Aging: (1) the first author’s R01 application, currently under review, and (2) the second author’s K22 application, which has been successfully funded. Both applications marked first-time submissions for the Principal Investigators, underscoring the program’s role in fostering emerging researchers. DEM-PCCT’s success is driven by several key elements: a) Structured mentorship providing individualized guidance, b) Access to previously funded trial materials and methods, allowing scholars to build on successful frameworks, c) Regular deadlines and peer feedback to ensure steady progress toward grant submission, and d) Statistical mentorship, a unique feature often missing from other dementia training programs. As part of a broader symposium, this talk will examine how DEM-PCCT differs from other programs.
Key findings
- Of these, a growing number have secured funding, initiated collaborations, contributed to dementia palliative care research, and increased confidence and comfort with conducting clinical trials (p<.05).
- This presentation highlights two concrete examples of submissions to the National Institute on Aging: (1) the first author’s R01 application, currently under review, and (2) the second author’s K22 application, which has been successfully funded.
- Both applications marked first-time submissions for the Principal Investigators, underscoring the program’s role in fostering emerging researchers.
- DEM-PCCT’s success is driven by several key elements: a) Structured mentorship providing individualized guidance, b) Access to previously funded trial materials and methods, allowing scholars to build on successful frameworks, c) Regular deadlines and peer feedback to ensure steady progress toward grant submission, and d) Statistical mentorship, a unique feature often missing from other dementia training programs.
- As part of a broader symposium, this talk will examine how DEM-PCCT differs from other programs.
Why it matters
This abstract describes a 10-month training program to equip early- and mid-career researchers to design and conduct clinical trials in dementia palliative care. Since its inception, 53 scholars across three cohorts have completed it, with some securing funding and reporting increased confidence and comfort with conducting clinical trials.
Study details
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 34/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Innovation in Aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Innovation in Aging: journal h-index 48 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Ana‐Maria Vranceanu: h-index 50 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Massachusetts General Hospital: institution h-index 2,057 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 34 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Baker, Z., Mroz, E. L., Kutner, J. S., Pollack, K. I., Ritchie, C., & Vranceanu, A. (2025). The Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials Training Program. Innovation in Aging. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.1510
Vancouver
Baker Z, Mroz EL, Kutner JS, Pollack KI, Ritchie C, Vranceanu A. The Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials Training Program. Innovation in Aging. 2025. doi:10.1093/geroni/igaf122.1510.
BibTeX
@article{baker2025-5d919ce7,
author = {Baker, Zachary and Mroz, Emily L. and Kutner, Jean S. and Pollack, Kathryn Ilonka and Ritchie, Christine and Vranceanu, Ana‐Maria},
title = {{The Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials Training Program}},
journal = {Innovation in Aging},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/geroni/igaf122.1510},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.1510}
}
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