Muslim older adults continue to experience health inequities in older age. We created a research advisory board led by and housed in the Council for Muslims on Aging Gracefully (CoMAG) to empower community-driven aging research in Muslim communities. The goal is to foster research that is relevant and sensitive to the needs of these communities, particularly in addressing issues like Islamophobia and its impacts on mental and physical health. This approach helps improve the quality and relevance of research, builds trust, and ensures that research results are used to advocate for effective programs and policies.

The project outcomes will be an autonomous community advisory board that meets the needs of Muslim communities and a toolkit of the board development process. This will help strengthen Muslim communities’ involvement in research, foster new collaborations, and support the creation of effective aging policies and programs. The toolkit will address a gap in knowledge on participatory ways to work with Muslim communities on aging research initiatives.

Project Dates: 2024-2026

Funders: CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grant – Institute Community Support