Geriatrics and Gerontology Research

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

UW Section of Geriatrics and Gerontology

Brief Summary of Research Programs in Aging

 

The UW Section of Geriatrics and the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) of the Madison VA Medical Center support extensive interdisciplinary, translational research programs involving the study of age-associated diseases, their treatment and prevention strategies, and care management plans targeted to improve the lives of millions of older adults. The UW and GRECC faculty sponsor several internationally renowned research programs in aging, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and aging, caloric restriction, falls, osteoporosis, sleep disorders in the elderly, older women’s health, transitional care and health services research. Each program is supported by numerous peer-reviewed grants from various resources, including the NIH (RO1, PO1, T32, Beeson Award, K23), the Department of Veterans Affairs (Merit Review grants), the State of Wisconsin, various philanthropic organizations (i.e., the Hartford Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, Helen Bader Foundation) and the pharmaceutical industry. Currently, the total research funding for the Section of Geriatrics exceeds $59 million. Training and mentoring junior investigators in research methodology is a Section and GRECC priority enhanced by affiliation with the John A. Hartford Center of Excellence in Geriatric Education and several NIH training grants.

In addition to investigator-initiated grants, the Section sponsors several prestigious institutes and centers supporting aging research, including the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), NIH-funded Aging and Cancer Center (PI: Weindruch), the John A. Hartford Foundation-funded Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine and Education (PI: Asthana), the DHHS-funded Center of Excellence in Women’s Health Research (PI: Carnes), the Wisconsin Comprehensive Memory Program (PI: Asthana), the Osteoporosis Clinical and Research Center, and the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute (PI: Sager). 

Below is a brief description of major research programs sponsored by the UW Section of Geriatrics and the Madison GRECC:

 

The Wisconsin Comprehensive Memory Program (WCMP):

Under the leadership of Sanjay Asthana, MD, the Section sponsors a nationally-recognized, well-funded, translational research program in Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses. The program is supported by numerous grants from the NIH, VA, philanthropic foundations, and the pharmaceutical industry, and formed the basis for a recently funded P50 ADRC. The major focus of numerous ongoing research studies in the WCMP relate to various aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, including its neurobiology (Drs. Atwood, Puglielli), preclinical diagnosis (Drs. Sager, Johnson), prevention (Dr. Carlsson), and treatment (Drs. Asthana, Gleason).

   

Caloric Restriction:

Under the leadership of Richard Weindruch, PhD, the major focus of this internationally-renowned laboratory-based research program is to investigate the potential effects of caloric restriction and oxidative stress on aging and age-associated illnesses. The program involves molecular biology studies on postmitotic tissues, including heart, skeletal muscles and the brain. Dr. Weindruch and his collaborators have published several seminal research papers, and are at the forefront of caloric restriction research involving non-human primates and rodents. Research support for the program has been received from various resources, including the NIH, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), philanthropic foundations and the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Cancer and Aging:

Under the auspices of the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center and the leadership of Richard Weindruch, PhD, the Section sponsors a nationally recognized translational research program in aging and cancer. With funding from the NIH, the Aging and Cancer Center supports novel studies examining the biology of various age-related cancers, and has developed animal models to examine the pathobiology of cancers common in the elderly. The center also supports various clinical studies evaluating the potential adverse effects of medical comorbidities on care of older cancer patients, as well as issues related to psychosocial health and pain and palliative care.

 

Osteoporosis:

The major objective of this preeminent research program is to understand the pathophysiology and treatment of bone disease using various clinical investigative and basic science approaches. Under the leadership of Neil Binkley, MD, the major focus of numerous ongoing clinical studies in this program is to characterize the potential beneficial effects of alendronate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin K on bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover. The basic science studies focus on the PHEX/Phex gene cloning, mutations, and tissue localization. Similar to others, this program is also supported by several peer-reviewed grants and those from the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Falls and Gait Disorders:

Under the nationally-recognized leadership of Jane Mahoney, MD, this program focuses on various clinical studies evaluating the pathophysiology and potential interventions to reduce the incidence and consequences of falls among older adults in both an inpatient and community setting. The program is supported by several peer-reviewed grants including those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State of Wisconsin.

 

Dysphagia:

JoAnne Robbins, PhD, the Associate Director-Research of the Madison VA GRECC, leads this preeminent program that conducts novel research in the pathobiology, prevention and treatment of dysphagia in older adults. Among others, the current focus of research in this program is on dysphagia associated with common illnesses, including stroke and dementia. The program is supported by several peer-reviewed research grants from the NIH, the VA, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Older Women’s Health:

The UW Section of Geriatrics sponsors 1 of the 15 national Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health and Research. Under the leadership of Molly Carnes, MD, MS, the major objectives of this program include the implementation of an interdisciplinary research program in women’s health, health disparity, evaluation of models of health care for older women, and training of health care professionals in issues related to women’s health. Several peer-reviewed grants, including those from the NIH and the VA support this nationally recognized program.

 

Sleep Disorders in the Elderly:

Under the direction of Steven Barczi, MD, the Associate Director for Education and Evaluation at the Madison GRECC, this program investigates the potential adverse effects of sleep disorders on chronic disease, vascular status and cognitive function of older adults. Specific areas of investigation include sleep apnea, insomnia, cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies and sleep changes in dementia. Physiological research and clinical research occur in the setting of a nationally recognized VA respiratory physiology laboratory, two state-of-the-art clinical laboratories and geriatric-focused sleep clinics at both the UW (Wisconsin Sleep Center) and Madison VA. The GRECC sponsors a clinical and research fellowship in Sleep Medicine that is jointly affiliated with the UW Center for Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research within the School of Medicine.

 

Transitional Care Research:

One of the emerging areas of novel research in the UW Section of Geriatrics relates to transitional care studies. Under the visionary leadership of Amy Kind, MD, an Assistant Professor in the Geriatrics Section, the major focus of this program is to evaluate the potential adverse health consequences in the elderly of “bounce-back” admissions within 30 days of discharge from an acute setting. Additionally, the program is sponsoring studies to characterize the effects of exclusion of important mandatory information from discharge summaries from both academic and community-based hospitals.

 

Overall, the UW Section of Geriatrics sponsors both laboratory-based and translational research studies of pivotal clinical significance and relevance. These studies are supported by numerous peer-reviewed grants from the NIH and the VA, and target enhanced care for millions of elderly patients suffering from chronic disabling illnesses. A substantial infrastructure exists to train and mentor junior investigators as they pursue their academic goals. The overarching mission of the Section of Geriatrics-sponsored research program is to better understand the pathobiology of age-associated diseases, and to reduce the cost and burden of illness as well as enhance the quality of life of older adults.

Updated: 3-18-09