Older adults with cancer often face higher rates of treatment complications, emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Yet it’s unclear whether interventions tailored for aging patients can improve survival or reduce health care costs.

A faculty member at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis is working to address that gap — and his effort has earned him top recognition from the University of California.

Assistant Professor Alex Fauer received the Early Career Faculty Research Excellence Award from the UC Office of the President.

The award includes a one-time $50,000 allocation in the 2026-27 academic year to support his research project: “Survival Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of a Geriatric Assessment-Guided Model of Supportive Care for Older Adults with Cancer.”

The competitive award honors promising early career faculty whose research shows strong potential to improve lives and shape the future of their fields.

Improving outcomes for older adults with cancer

Fauer‘s research focuses on improving care for aging patients with cancer, one of the fastest-growing patient populations in the United States. His work examines how geriatric assessment-guided supportive care — including coordinated symptom management, care planning and family support — can improve survival, reduce emergency visits and hospitalizations, lower treatment complications and better align care with patients’ goals and quality of life.