FAU Receives $1 Million Grant to Launch DNA-Based Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults

BOCA RATON, FL — Nearly one in four adults aged 65 and older experiences a fall each year and falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries in older Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

With 20% of Floridians aged 65 and older, these statistics are cause for concern.

A $1 million research grant recently awarded to the Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine to fund a program aimed at fall prevention is a major step in addressing the problem, university officials said in a press release.

The grant, underwritten by the Florida Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association, will fund the launch of the Geriatric Emergency Department Pharmacologic Harm Prevention Project or GREAT PHARM.

The program seeks to reduce falls and other adverse drug events among older adults by using "pharmacogenomic-guided prescribing," a personalized approach that tailors medications to an individual's genetic profile.

Pharmacogenomics uses an individual's DNA to help doctors choose the safest and most effective medications.

Many falls are preventable and closely linked to medication-related complications.

According to the CDC, 42% of people aged 65 and older take five or more prescription medications daily, and 20% take 10 or more.

"Our goal with GREAT PHARM is to take the guesswork out of prescribing for older adults by using pharmacogenomics to tailor medications to each individual's genetic profile," said Richard Shih, Ph.D., principal investigator and professor of emergency medicine in FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine.

"We believe this approach will significantly reduce adverse drug events — especially serious outcomes like falls — and improve how patients feel day to day. This isn't just about reducing harm; it's about enhancing quality of life and empowering physicians with precise, evidence-based tools to make safer, more effective prescribing decisions."