Arizona Center on Aging Awards Biology of Aging Pilot Research Grant Funds
The UA Arizona Center on Aging (Co-Directors, Janko Nikolich, MD, PhD and Mindy J. Fain, MD) awarded over $100,000 of Biology of Aging (BAR) research pilot grants, launching a new and exciting research initiative to address the basic biology of aging and its impact upon the clinical care and well-being of older Americans. This five-year, $100,000/year pilot grant program is designed to encourage new and seasoned investigators to apply their expertise to key research questions in aging; to promote collaborative, multidisciplinary research by attracting UA investigators from different colleges and departments; to enable researchers to collect sufficient preliminary data in order to pursue additional major support through other funding mechanisms ; to allow exploration of innovative and creative directions; and to enhance the reputation of UA in aging research.
Optimal leveraging of the BAR funds will jump-start new and exciting research programs to address the basic biology of aging. Awards, ranging from $20,000 to $37,000 were made to UA basic science research teams, each representing at least two different departments or centers, including health care units. In all, a total of four grants were awarded, from a competitive selection.
Distributing the awards at the ceremony, Leslie Tolbert, PhD, UA Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Graduate Studies said, "The awards will support research that builds on a culture of collaboration, innovation and translation. We are very pleased to support the Center's research efforts to improve the quality of life and functional longevity of older adults in Arizona."
Awardees include:
PIs: Drs. Felicia Goodrum, Giovanni Bosco and Kenneth Knox; Nuclear dysorganization and viral persistence as coordinated drivers of aging in humans
PIs: Drs. Hua Xu and Zhao Chen; Reduced Phosphate absorption is associated with development of osteoporosis in an old population
PIs: Drs. Steve Goldman and Mohamed Gaballa; Thymosin 4 mediated cardiac protection after myocardial infarction
PIs: Drs. Tsu-shuen Tsao, William Montfort and Craig Stump; Biology of Aging Adipose Tissue
The University of Arizona, Arizona Center on Aging (ACOA) is an Arizona Board of Regents designated Arizona Health Sciences Center of Excellence. The ACOA is building research programs that bring together multidisciplinary experts across the research continuum, where cutting-edge basic research approaches are being combined with clinical research programs to bring the bench to the bedside, and back again. We offer collaborators assistance with aging research development and training across the research spectrum. Our major emphasis is on fostering basic research in age-related problems of inflammation, immunity, bone, muscle and fat biology. These problems may manifest as heart and vascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis or frailty – common problems in older adults. Our goals are to understand how to intervene to reduce the development and consequences of these illnesses and to promote health and wellness of older adults.
More information at: http://aging.medicine.arizona.edu/ or email: Jane Mohler, MPH, PhD jmohler@aging.arizona.edu or Anne Wertheimer, PhD awertheimer@aging.arizona.edu