The Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging
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The goal of The Center is to promote research and teaching into the multifaceted aspects of late life: social, economic, and health related. Many of our activities focus on promoting understanding of quality of life and of the 'subjective well-being' phenomenon and its determinants. In addition, an essential part of our work is the development of new research tools which contribute to increasing our understanding and enhance knowledge in a variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, gerontology, geriatrics, physiology, biology, medicine, sociology of health, psychology, and interdisciplinary research between these fields.
Older adults in Israel are a uniquely heterogeneous population comprised of mainly Jewish immigrants from more than a hundred countries, about 180,000 Holocaust survivors, and Israeli born citizens (Arabs and Jews). Since culture plays a significant role in perceptions of health, function, health-related behaviors and subjective well-being, studies conducted on the various culturally different population groups are of utmost importance for enhancing evidence-based implementation of appropriate intervention programs. One of the ways to achieve this goal and improve quality of life in elderly persons is to conduct interdisciplinary research and then introduce beneficial research findings and new policies and practices by providing evidence-based information to Israel's Ministries and other Israeli authorities, policymakers, service providers (public and private), the professional community, and the public.
The Center was established in the year 2000 with the goal of fostering a synergistic environment for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and education in Geriatrics and Gerontology. Over the past two decades the Center has gone from strength to strength encouraging academics from various disciplines to work together fruitfully. The Center’s location within the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) campus, and its affiliation with the nearby Soroka University Medical Center, ensures access to a rich variety of departments and other resources relevant to research in aging.
The CMRA also houses ILC-Israel, a member of the International Longevity Center Global Alliance (ILC-GA). The CMRA has been awarded membership to the Global Ageing Research Network (GARN) of International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics and has been designated one of the network’s Collaborating Centers.
Director of the CMRA: Prof. Itzik Melzer PhD, PT
Associate Director of the CMRA and President, ILC Israel: Prof. A. Mark Clarfield MD FRCPC
Previous Director of the CMRA and ILC Israel: Prof. Sara Carmel (head of the CMRA 2004 to 2021)
First head of the CMRA: Prof. Amiela Globerson
