Offices & Divisions

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The Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology supports research on health and disease in the aged, and research on aging over the human life span, including its relationships to health outcomes. DGCG comprises three major research areas, administered by its three Branches: Geriatrics, Clinical Gerontology, and Clinical Trials. Division-wide emphases include research training and career development to for investigators across a wide range of specialties to expand their capabilities to address clinical aging issues, and the application of new technologies to expand opportunities for clinical aging research.

DGCG is especially interested in facilitating clinical translational research for the development of new interventions for age-related conditions, prevention and treatment of multiple chronic conditions in the elderly, as well as studies that help to promote evidenced based geriatric care and inform policies affecting older adults. Individuals interested in discussing potential research ideas for clinical translational research on aging are encouraged to contact Dr. Chhanda Dutta.

For inquiries, potential applicants are encouraged to review the scientific areas of responsibility of DGCG staff listed below.  If you are unsure of whom to contact with regard to your proposed project, please feel free to contact the Branch Chief and he/she will direct your inquiry to the appropriate staff member.

Geriatrics Branch

The Geriatrics Branch focuses on health issues regarding the aged. Research emphases include multifactorial geriatric syndromes such as risk for falls; symptomatic problems such as pain and fatigue; various types of disability; effects and interactions of multiple chronic conditions and development of effective treatment strategies for patients with multiple chronic conditions; effects of age-related changes on clinical or functional disease outcomes or treatment responses; effects of physical activity on disease and disability in older persons; and the elucidation, diagnosis, and treatment of previously unappreciated pathologic changes in old age (e.g., sarcopenia, vascular stiffening, diastolic dysfunction). The Geriatrics Branch also supports the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs) which conduct basic and clinical research to develop more effective interventions to enhance the ability of older people to maintain independence.

Geriatrics Branch Staff and Areas of Scientific Responsibility

Basil Eldadah

• Fatigue, fatigability, pain, and palliative care
• HIV/AIDS
• Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAICs)
• T32 / T35 training grants (general geriatrics training)

Lyndon Joseph

• Musculoskeletal conditions, physical function, and disability
• Physical activity/exercise in older adults
• Anabolic agents (including testosterone)
• Frailty
• Falls and fractures
• Obesity, metabolism, nutrition, and diabetes

Marcel Salive

• Multiple chronic conditions and polypharmacy
• Infectious diseases (including vaccinations)
• Cancer
• Wound healing / skin ulcer prevention
• Urological conditions (including incontinence)
• Clinical decision making and prediction tools
• Preventative medicine
• Systems of care, quality of care, and readmissions
• Comparative effectiveness research methodology

Susan Zieman

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Anemia
• Pulmonary disease
• Renal disease
• Thyroid conditions
• Critical care / emergency care
• Delirium
• Clinical specialty liaison

Clinical Gerontology Branch

The Clinical Gerontology Branch focuses on clinically-related research on aging changes over the life span. Research emphases include factors affecting development of age-related conditions and disease risk factors (particularly for multiple age-related conditions) and interventions influencing these factors; exceptionally healthy aging (including exceptional longevity); protective factors against multiple age-related conditions; menopause and mid-life aging changes; translational human research to follow up findings from basic research on aging; long-term effects of current or new interventions that may be administered over a large part of the lifespan; and long-term effects of physical activity throughout the lifespan.

Clinical Gerontology Branch Staff and Areas of Scientific Responsibility

Chhanda Dutta

• Menopause/reproductive aging
• Role of physical activity/exercise on healthspan
• Physiological changes (e.g., cardiovascular, endocrine, metabolism, immune function, musculoskeletal) across the lifespan
• Studies of health trajectories, including risk or protective factors, across the lifespan (e.g., childhood into young adulthood, young adulthood to middle age, middle- to old-age)
• Changes in stem/progenitor cells with aging
• Juvenile protective factors

Winifred Rossi

• Genetics of Longevity
• Genetic Epidemiology
• Exceptionally healthy aging

Clinical Trials Branch

The Clinical Trials Branch plans and administers clinical trials on age-related issues. Research emphases include interventions to prevent or treat “geriatric syndromes,” disability, and complications of comorbidity or polypharmacy; trials to determine effects of interventions that influence multiple risk factors and outcomes in older persons, trials to detect age- or comorbidity-related differences in responses to interventions against conditions found in middle age and old age; interventions for problems associated with menopause and other mid- and late-life changes; interventions that may affect rates of progression of age-related declines in function in early and mid-life; and interventions with protective effects against multiple conditions.

Clinical Trials Branch Staff and Areas of Scientific Responsibility

The Clinical Trials Branch consists of Judy Hannah, Barbara Radziszewska, and Sergei Romashkan. Each staff member manages diverse areas of scientific responsibility. Please direct general inquiries to Dr. Romashkan.