Pilot Projects
NIMLAS is pleased to announce the 2025 call for pilot project proposals. Please click on this document to review details about the proposal process. Any questions about this call for pilot project proposals should be directed to [email protected].
All pilot projects below are tagged with colored shapes corresponding to the major thematic research areas of NIMLAS. Specific critical topics for future research that the particular product within each area is addressing are provided in text next to the colored shapes.
Data collection methods for improving representation
Addressing increasing attrition rates
New measurement technologies
Consent to additional data collection
Improving measurement in longitudinal studies of aging
Spring 2026
Matt Diemer: Enhancing the Performance and Efficiency of Cognitive Assessments in Aging Research with Item Response Theory.
NIMLAS Topics: Measuring Cognition , Mode Effects and Cognition , Measurement Error
Emma Nichols: Ambulatory Cognitive Functioning in Diverse Contexts: Piloting New Measurement Modalities for Assessing Cognition in an LMIC Setting.
NIMLAS Topics: Measuring Cognition , Mode Effects and Cognition , Differential Effectiveness of New Technologies , Motivation for New Technologies
Yuan Zhang: Leveraging Machine-Learning and Prediction-Powered Inference for Dementia Research in Aging Surveys of Diverse Populations.
NIMLAS Topics: Agentic AI and Machine Learning , Mode Effects and Cognition , Measuring Cognition , Measurement Error
Fall 2024
Crystal Ng and Kira Birditt: Positive Activities and Well-being among Dementia Care Dyads: A Pilot Test of a Scalable Positive Activity mHealth App (co-funded with MiCDA).
NIMLAS Topics: Differential Effectiveness of New Technologies , Technology Gaps
- 2026 NIMLAS Plenary Presentation (PowerPoint)
Catherine Garcia: Measuring Aging-Related Neighborhood Characteristics in Puerto Rico using Google Street View.
NIMLAS Topics: Paradata
Hanyu Sun: Informed Consent and Cognitive Tests with Older Adults through Live Video and Prerecorded Video Interviewing.
NIMLAS Topics: Differential Consent , Mode Effects and Cognition
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PDF)
Emily Mroz: Harnessing Technology for Collecting and Analyzing Caregiving Narratives.
NIMLAS Topics: Differential Effectiveness of New Technologies , Technology Gaps
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PDF)
- 2026 NIMLAS Plenary Presentation (PowerPoint)
Fall 2023
Imke Herold, Yuri Pettinichi, and Arne Bethmann: Investigating Consent Rates for Linking Survey and Administrative Data in a Multilingual, Multinational, and Multicultural Context.
NIMLAS Topics: Differential Consent
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PDF)
- April 2025 Progress Report (PDF)
- Share Working Paper, October 2025 (PDF)
Joseph Lariscy: Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Personally Identifiable Information Reporting and Longitudinal Mortality Follow-up among Older Americans.
NIMLAS Topics: Differential Attrition
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PowerPoint)
Neil Alexander: Sensor-Assessed Clinic versus Home Gait Measures in At-Fall Risk Older Adults.
NIMLAS Topics: Differential Effectiveness of New Technologies , Technology Gaps
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PDF)
- February 2026 Progress Report (MS Word)
- 2026 NIMLAS Plenary Presentation (Google slides)
Fall 2022
Michal Engelman: Diversity, Aging, and Inclusion in the Midwest: Opportunities for New Directions (DIAMOND).
NIMLAS Topics: Recruitment Across Contexts
- DIAMOND Presentation NIMLAS 2.8.2023 (PDF)
- Final Project Report (PDF)
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PDF)
Florian Keusch and Bella Struminskaya: Measurement of Physical Activity in older adults through Data Donation (MPADD).
NIMLAS Topics: Data Donation
- MPADD Presentation NIMLAS 2.8.2023 (PDF)
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PDF)
- Keusch, F., Struminskaya, B., Mulder, J., Jongerius, S. Data Donation as a Method to Measure Physical Activity in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Web Survey Assessing Consent Rates, Donation Success, and Bias. J Med Internet Res 2025;27:e69799, doi: 10.2196/69799, URL: https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e69799, PMID: 41004250. NIMLAS Topics: Data Donation
Colleen Peterson: Wearables Employment in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research (WEAR) – Development of Guidelines for Device Selection and Participant Protocols.
NIMLAS Topics: Differential Effectiveness of New Technologies , Technology Gaps
- WEAR Presentation NIMLAS 2.8.2023 (PDF)
- Final Project Report (Word)
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PDF)
- Peterson, C. M., Louis, R. M. S., & Flannagan, C. (2025). Enhancing enrollment and adherence in long-term wearable research on dementia: Qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis. JMIR Aging, 8(1), e63768. https://doi.org/10.2196/63768. NIMLAS Topics: Differential Effectiveness of New Technologies
Christian Vazquez: Adaptation of eHealth Learning Intervention for Aging Spanish-dominant Latinos.
NIMLAS Topics: Survey Translation , Respondent Engagement
- NIMLAS Plenary Dec 2024 (PowerPoint)
- Vazquez CE, Mauldin RL, Mitchell DN, Ohri F. Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Using eHealth for Information Seeking in the United States: Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study With 3 Time Points Using Health Information National Trends Survey Data. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Aug 14;26:e54745. doi: 10.2196/54745. PMID: 39141905; PMCID: PMC11358649. Publication 1
- Final Project Report (PDF)