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Research Day on Aging and Health

FIU Modesto Maidique Campus | Friday, May 2, 2025
Graham Center Middle Ballroom
11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

The Benjamin Leon Center for Geriatric Research and Education and the College of Medicine are holding a full-day seminar discussing and exploring ways of improving the quality of life for older adults.

Register Now

  • 8

    Topics

  • 10

    Speakers

  • 100+

    Attendees

Conference Agenda

TimeSession & Speaker
8:00 -
8:30 a.m.

Registration and Welcome Breakfast

8:30 -
8:45 a.m.

Introductory Remarks
Juan C. Cendan, M.D.
Dean, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Senior Vice-President for Health Affairs
Florida International University

Luis O. Fernandez, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Leon Medical Centers

8:45 -
9:35 a.m.

Leveraging Metabolomic Measurements to Gain Actionable Insights Into Aging & Frailty
Reyhan M. Westbrook, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology
Johns Hopkins University

9:35 -
9:55 a.m.

Cannabidiol and the Aging Brain: Implications for Autophagy
Myosotys Rodriguez Martinez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Florida International University

9:55 -
10:45 a.m.

Age-related change in sleep-disordered breathing in middle aged and older adults
Naresh M. Punjabi, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Division Chief, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine

10:45 -
11:00 a.m.

Connecting Disciplines, Advancing Solutions: Leveraging FIU's Population Health Initiative to Support Research on Aging
Mariana Sanchez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Assistant Chair, Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
Associate Director, Center for Research on U.S. Latinos HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA)
Director, FIU Population Health Initiative
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
Florida International University

11:00 -
11:50 a.m.

Empowering Communities in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia
Carl V. Hill, Ph.D., MPH
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Alzheimer's Association

11:50 a.m. -
1:00 p.m.

Poster Set-up and Lunch

  • Poster set-up: 11:00 a.m. -
    Noon
  • Poster session: Noon -
    1:00 p.m.
1:00 -
1:50 p.m.

Physical Resilience: Concepts, Measurement, and Clinical Relevance
Qian-Li Xue, Ph.D.
Center on Aging and Health
Johns Hopkins University

1:50 -
2:40 p.m.

Marianna Baum, Ph.D., RD
Distinguished University Professor
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work
Florida International University

2:40 -
3:05 p.m.

Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease: Research in Progress
Sabrina Sales Martinez, MS, Ph.D., RDN
Associate Professor, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work
Florida International University

Alexandra Briceño, MS
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition
Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work

3:05 -
3:45 p.m.

Exposome Impact on Brain Health from Neurodevelopment to Neurodegeneration
Roberto Lucchini, M.D.
Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
Florida International University

3:45 -
4:30 p.m.

Reception and Poster Award Ceremony

  • Award Ceremony: 4:00 -
    4:15 p.m.
  • Reception Concludes: 4:30 p.m.

Poster Session Information

  • Abstract Submission Guidelines

    Deadline

    • Abstracts must be submitted by April 28, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
    • Abstracts should be submitted via email to Kimberly Justin (kjustin@fiu.edu).
      • Please note submissions are intended to provide poster judges with additional time to review research and are not part of the pre-selection process for poster acceptance.

    Award Categories

    • Undergraduate: Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate (bachelor’s or associate) degree program.
    • Graduate: Individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree and are currently pursuing a graduate-level degree.
    • Postdoctoral Fellow: Individuals engaged in research following the completion of their doctoral studies.

    Abstract Format

    • Title: Maximum of 30 words.
    • Authorship: List all authors and their affiliations directly below the title.
    • Body: Structured abstract with the following subheadings: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
      • Word limit: Maximum of 250 words.
      • Font: Arial, size 11 pt.
  • Review Criteria for Awards

    Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

    • Relevance to aging research
    • Rigor of research methods
    • Clarity and interpretation of results
    • Implications for aging and health
    • Quality and effectiveness of the poster presentation
  • Poster Guidelines

    Format

    • Size: Maximum dimensions of 3 ft x 4 ft (36 in x 48 in) to fit on the poster boards.
    • Content: Posters should include the title, author list, affiliations, background/introduction, methods, results, and conclusions. Visual elements such as graphs, images, and charts are highly encouraged to enhance clarity.

    Poster Set-Up and Presentation

    • Set-Up: Posters must be set up on May 2, 2025, between 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
    • Presentation Time: 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM.
    • Presenter Expectations: Presenters must remain at their posters during the session and be prepared to give a concise (2–4 minute) summary of their work to both judges and attendees.

    Poster Award Ceremony

    The ceremony will take place between 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm

About Benjamin Leon Center

The Benjamin Leon Center for Geriatric Research & Education is committed to developing and implementing novel approaches to advance and promote active aging, frailty prevention, and health care delivery to older adults in primary clinical care and community settings through translational epidemiology research and geriatrics and gerontology education. The Center, housed in the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, was established thanks to a generous gift from the Benjamin Leon Jr. Family and Leon Medical Centers.

Explore the Benjamin Leon Center

Committed to Making a Difference

The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (FIU Medicine) is the only medical school in Florida to increase NIH funding last year.

The 2024 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research ranks FIU Medicine #107 in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding and #39 in anatomy and cell biology research funding. Among public universities, we hold the #69 spot nationwide.

Our new partnership with Baptist Health will further enhance our clinical research opportunities. 

Learn more about FIU's College of Medicine

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