THE DEMENTIA PALLIATIVE CARE CLINICAL TRIALS TRAINING PROGRAM - A 10-month intensive program for dementia palliative care clinical trials

Q: What is the DEM-PCCT program and who is it for?

DEM-PCCT is a 10-month intensive program for early- and mid-career researchers focused on dementia palliative care clinical trials.

Q: How does the program train participants?

It integrates large cohort-wide meetings, monthly small-group mentoring, and a five-day in-person institute, with hands-on training in trial methodology, grant writing, and research ethics.

Q: What evidence of impact does the program report?

The program reports that 53 scholars across three cohorts have completed DEM-PCCT, and many have secured funding, started collaborations, contributed to research, and increased confidence, with results reported as statistically significant (p<.05).

Q: What elements does the program identify as key drivers of success?

Key elements include structured individualized mentorship, access to previously funded trial materials and methods, regular deadlines with peer feedback, and statistical mentorship as a distinctive feature.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by jay

The Dementia Palliative Care Clinical Trials Training Program (DEM-PCCT) is a 10-month intensive training designed to prepare early- and mid-career researchers to design and conduct dementia palliative care clinical trials. The program combines cohort-wide meetings, monthly small-group mentoring, and a five-day in-person institute, delivering hands-on instruction in trial methodology, grant writing, and research ethics. DEM-PCCT supports development of competitive funding proposals, and 53 scholars across three cohorts have completed the program, with outcomes including secured funding and increased confidence.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Program overview

Training structure

Outcomes and examples

Key success elements

Program differentiation

444 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1510 THE DEMENTIA PALLIATIVE CARE CLINICAL TRIALS TRAINING PROGRAM Zachary Baker1, Emily Mroz2, Jean Kutner3, Kathryn Pollack4, Christine Ritchie5, and Ana-Maria Vranceanu5, 1. Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 2. Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 3. University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States, 4. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States, 5. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 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 abroader symposium, this talk will examine how DEM-PCCT differs from other programs.

FAQs

What is the DEM-PCCT program and who is it for?

DEM-PCCT is a 10-month intensive program for early- and mid-career researchers focused on dementia palliative care clinical trials.

How does the program train participants?

It integrates large cohort-wide meetings, monthly small-group mentoring, and a five-day in-person institute, with hands-on training in trial methodology, grant writing, and research ethics.

What evidence of impact does the program report?

The program reports that 53 scholars across three cohorts have completed DEM-PCCT, and many have secured funding, started collaborations, contributed to research, and increased confidence, with results reported as statistically significant (p<.05).

What elements does the program identify as key drivers of success?

Key elements include structured individualized mentorship, access to previously funded trial materials and methods, regular deadlines with peer feedback, and statistical mentorship as a distinctive feature.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by jay