Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the Aljoya Endowed Professor in Aging in the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, School of Nursing; an adjunct professor in the School of Public Health; and the Director of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging at University of Washington. She is nationally recognized for her leadership in promoting healthy aging for community-based older adults and for her expertise in the dissemination of evidence-based health promotion programs with a focus on physical activity interventions. She has received consistent research and training grant funding, both as PI and co-investigator, from CDC and other agencies over the past 20 years.

As a nurse scientist, she has expertise in the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based health promotion programs, a successful track record in establishing and sustaining community-based partnerships, and experience working collaboratively with community partners. As lead of the CDC-funded Coordinating Center for the Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) (2009-2014), she oversaw the development and implementation of a national research and dissemination agenda related to the public health aspects of healthy aging. Recognized as a model network, HAN built and sustained strong and collaborative partnerships with aging service agencies and leveraged funding opportunities.

Under her leadership, HAN contributed to the improved understanding of the science of dissemination and implementation and provided technical assistance and support for the evidence-based health promotion movement. As lead of the CDC-funded Coordinating Center for the inaugural Healthy Brain Research Network (HBRN) (2014-2019), the Network has established and advanced a public health research, translation, and dissemination agenda that promotes cognitive health, addresses cognitive impairment, and helps meet the needs of care partners. Additionally, under Belza’s leadership the Network is building an evidence-base for policy, communication, and programmatic interventions as well as the public and cognitive health work force.