Core Faculty Research

• Assessment of health outcomes in aging and chronic disease
• Physical and cognitive function
• Health service use
• Clinical decision making
• Dynamics of health behavior change across the lifespan and prevention of violence

R01 NR012459 (PI: Albert, SM) NINR 12/23/10 – 11/30/16
End of Life in Very Old Age
Little population-based data are available to describe dying, health care choices, and clinical trajectories in persons who have reached very old age. The overriding goal of the proposed study is to provide information on a broad-based sample of elders aged 85+ in order to improve care at the end of life in advanced age.
Role: PI.

P30 AG024827 (PI: Greenspan, S) NIA 09/30/15-08/31/20
Pittsburgh Older Americans Independence Center
The goal of the Pittsburgh Pepper Center is to develop interventions tom improve function and independence in older adults with balance disorders, integrate studies of physiologic, biomechanical, and psychosocial mechanisms affecting balance with clinical studies and to foster multidisciplinary research and research training.
Role: Core PI

U48 DP001918 (PI:Newman, AB ) CDC 09/30/10-09/29/19
University of Pittsburgh Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center
Our efforts focus on the “10 Keys”™ to Healthy Aging, a prevention model developed by CHA based on 10 areas that improve quality of life as one ages. Our “10 Keys”™ Program certifies people as Community Health Ambassadors.
Role: Co-Director PI

• Physiologic, subclinical, genetic, lifestyle and behavioral factors: Associations with healthy aging, disability  and frailty.
• Osteoarthritis (especially knee OA, MRI imaging), Osteoporosis.
• Longitudinal modeling and analysis of epidemiologic data.
• Quantification and statistical assessment of degree of mediation, confounding and effect modification in epidemiologic studies
• Medical outcomes risk-adjustment methods and health services research

P30 AG024827 (PI:Greenspan, S) NIH/NIA 04/01/15 – 03/31/20
Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center Pepper (OAIC)
The overarching theme of the Pittsburgh Pepper OAIC focuses on balance and mobility of older adults. The Data Management, Analysis and Informatics Core (DMAIC) of the Pittsburgh Pepper OAIC constitutes a central source of expertise and services provided by a team of faculty and staff familiar with the theme and methods used in the Pittsburgh Pepper OAIC.
Role: Co-Investigator and member of the DMAIC

U48 DP00191 (PI:Newman,AB) CDC 09/30/14 – 09/29/19
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center
This third renewal will continue and enhance the Center for Healthy Aging focusing on promoting healthy aging within communities and establishing a new core research programs to improve mobility and preventive service use in older adults at risk for arthritis disability
Role: Co-Investigator

R01AR066601 (Co-PI: Kwoh, CK, Co-PI: Cauley, JA) NIAMS 09/15/14 – 07/20/19
Risk of Incident Knee OA and Clinical Outcomes Based on Imaging Biomarkers
The specific aims are to identify imaging biomarkers of the development of incident radiographic knee OA (ROA) earlier in the disease course; and to identify the association of imaging biomarkers with changes in pain, function and performance associated with the onset of radiographic knee OA. Ultimately, this line of research will help to identify key risk factors for the development of OA and OA structural disease progression, and to identify potential targets for preventative and/or therapeutic interventions.
Role: Co-Investigator

Completed Research Support
R01 AG028050 (PI:Strotmeyer, ES) NIA 06/15/13 – 05/31/17
Peripheral nerve decline: an underappreciated cause of injurious falls
This renewal ancillary study to the Health Aging Body Composition Study (Health ABC) is designed to define for the first time the clinical outcomes of poor peripheral nerve function including fall injuries requiring medical care, fractures, medical utilization, expenditures, and mortality in older adults to determine if peripheral nerve testing identifies older adults at high fall injury risk that may benefit from preventive efforts or exercise training to reduce falls and fractures.
Role: Co-Investigator

R01 AG027576-29 (PI: Cauley, JA) NIH 09/01/11 – 08/31/16
Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) – Pittsburgh
This is a two-year extension of the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) to analyze data, publish results, and continue scientific participation in SOF during the 4th and 5th years of the renewed 5-year study, which was previously funded for three years. The study investigates whether renal function, inflammation and vitamin D are important to maintaining and achieving high levels of function and lower risk of falls and hip fractures.
Role: Co-Investigator

HHSN26820100002 (PI: Kwoh, CK ) NIAMS 06/15/10 – 09/30/15
Pivotal OAI MRI Analyses (POMA)
The goal of this research to is identify key risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis by analyzing structural changes detectable by MRI that precede the onset of radiographic knee osteoarthritis.
Role: Co-PI

DP002657 (PI: Albert, SM) CDC 07/14/10 – 01/13/13
Comparative Effectiveness of Community-Based Falls Prevention in Pennsylvania
This public health comparative effectiveness study is a pragmatic randomized trial of Healthy Steps, a primary prevention intervention designed to reduce fall risk among seniors. Two thousand seniors who sign up for the PA Department of Aging program will be followed for 12 months in either a natural history cohort or as part of randomized assignment. The primary outcome is falls per 1000 days of physical activity.
Role: Co-Investigator

• Epidemiology of Osteoporotic Fractures and Falls
• Epidemiology of Aging, including Women’s health issues, and heart disease
• Epidemiology of Sex Hormones and Their Relationship to Chronic Disease
• Epidemiology of Breast Cancer
• Inflammation, Vitamin D and Fractures/ Osteoporosis
• Ethnic/Racial Differences in Fracture
• Sleep and its relationship to fractures, falls, physical and cognitive function and mortality

2R01-AG026463 (PI: Cauley, JA) NIA 07/01/15-06/30/19
Bone Strength Through the Menopausal Transition: Trabecular Bone Score
The proposed competitive renewal of our grant, Bone Strength Through the Menopausal Transition: Trabecular Bone Score, builds upon the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) Bone Project, a multi-site, multi-racial/ethnic longitudinal study designed to characterize the physiological and psychosocial changes that occur during the menopausal transition (MT).

U01 AG012546-20 (PI: Matthews) NIA 09/30/1994 – 06/30/2019
Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) Pittsburgh
The Department of Epidemiology participates in this multicenter, multiethnic longitudinal study to characterize the physiological and psychosocial changes occur during the menopausal transition and to observe their effects and risk factors for age-related disease.
Role: Co-Investigator

60036404UP (PI: Cauley, JA) Northwestern University 06/01/14-05/31/19
Long-term Significance of Pre-Radiographic Lesions for Knee OA
This is a subcontract for participation in grant #R01-AR065473, a long-term, longitudinal study to evaluate the clinical significance of pre-radiographic lesions in persons at higher risk for knee osteoarthritis.

R01-AR066601 (PI: Cauley, JA) University of Arizona 09/15/14-07/31/19
Risk of Incident Knee OA and Clinical Outcome Based on Imaging Biomarkers
The proposed study builds on the strengths of two ongoing studies, the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) and the Pivotal OAI MRI Analyses (POMA), an ancillary proposal to OAI. The Osteoarthritis Initiative was designed to address the lack of biomarkers for the development and progression of knee OA. Through POMA, we have utilized the OAI MRIs to identify imaging biomarkers of knee OA development and progression up to 48 prior to the onset of radiographic knee OA (ROA).

U01 AG042139-14A1 (PI:Cauley, JA) NIA 08/01/2003 – 04/31/2018
Osteoportic Fractures in Men – Mr.OS Renewal – Pittsburgh
The primary goal of the study is to determine the extent to which fracture risk in older men is related to bone mass, bone geometry, life style factors, biochemical measures, fall propensity, and other variables. This renewal will include a 4th clinic visit and a focus on Medicare linkage and defining aging related trajectories as phenotypes.

R01AG027576 (PI:Cauley, JA) NIH 09/01/2011 – 05/31/2017
Study of Osteoporotic Fractures
This proposal will continue SOF and link the comprehensive SOF database with Medicare claims data to determine if age-related trajectories in cognitive function, physical performance, BMD, body weight, and positive affect predict phenotypes of optimal aging defined by longevity, active lifespan, exceptional health span, and rates of inpatient and residential health care utilization.
2803232-S52 (PI: Cauley, JA) Cal Pac Med Ctr 09/30/2012 – 03/31/2017
Changes in Sleep and Cognition in Older Women
This is an ancillary study to the SOF study for collection of data and health outcomes for a project studying on the longitudinal relationships of sleep and cognitive function in older women.

280201005-S173 (PI:Cauley, JA) Cal Pac Med Ctr 09/16/2013-08/31/2017
Determination of Skeletal Muscle Mass by Creatine Dilution
This is a subcontract to the Mr.OS study using a novel measure of total body skeletal muscle mass to evaluate the relationship to clinical outcomes and identify men at risk of physical decline.

• Fatigability in older adults – measurement and underlying mechanisms
• Novel techniques to assess, classify, and measure physical activity levels in older adults
• Measurement of fitness in older adults
• Recruitment and conduct of multi-center clinical trials

AG055425-01 (PI:Lin F) 2017/06/01-2022/05/31
Aging, Cognition, and Hearing Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) Randomized Trial
The ACHIEVE trial aims to determine the effect of hearing rehabilitative intervention versus a successful aging control intervention on rates of cognitive decline (primary outcome measure) in 70‐ 84 year‐old cognitively-normal older adults with hearing loss. This study also aims to determine the effect of hearing rehabilitative intervention versus a successful aging control intervention on secondary outcome measures of adjudicated incident dementia, physical and social functioning, health-related quality of life, and physical activity.
Role: PI (subcontract)

R56 AG051637-01A1 (PI: Forman, D) 2016/07/01-2020/06/30
Nitrite Benefits to Mediate Fatigability in Older HFpEF Patients
The proposed project is a randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial to study oral nitrite therapy in older (≥70 years) HFpEF patients. It will 1) explore the utility of oral nitrite pills to reduce performance and perceived fatigability, improve peak oxygen uptake and increase daily activity as measured by actigraphy and 2) comprehensively delineate the mediating processes by which nitrite benefits are achieved.
Role: Co-Investigator

AG022376 (PI: Newman, AB) 2009/09/30-2017/11/30
The LIFE Study
The major goal of this project is to conduct a Phase 3 randomized, controlled trial (RCT) that will provide definitive evidence in the use of physical exercise to prevent physical and mobility disability in older persons at the University of Pittsburgh Field Center (subcontract from the University of Florida PI: Pahor).
Role: Co-Investigator/Program Director

AG023744 (PI: Newman AB) 2010/09/30-2019/08/31
Multicenter Study on Exceptional Survival in Families: The Long Life Family Study
This is a renewal of an investigation of the exceptional survival of families in the Long Life Family Study (LLFS) cohort to examine the genetic influences associated with exceptional longevity and healthy aging.
Role: Co-Investigator

UF1 AG051197-01 (PI: Becker, J) 2016/06/01-2020/05/31
Connectomic of Brain Aging and Dementia
This project will acquire brain imaging data using the Human Connectome Project (HCP) LifeSpan protocol in order to address questions related to alterations in brain structural and functional connectivity in aging and dementia.
Role: Co-Investigator

Completed Research Support
AG044474 (PI: Rosano, C) NIH/NIA 2014/04/01-2018/05/31
Ultra-high-field Neuroimaging in Elderly after a two-year Exercise Intervention
This project examines whether the physical activity (PA) related effects previously reported in the hippocampal formation of younger elderly exist in very old and frail adults for periods of time beyond 1 year and whether these effects are stronger for the dentate gyrus. The study will 1) quantify the relationship of PA with Ultra High-Field brain markers; 2) quantify the relationship of memory and processing speed with Ultra High-Field brain markers; 3) explore the role of Ultra High Field markers in explaining brain response to PA.
Role: Co-Investigator

AG03407 (PI: Morone, N) 2010/06/01-2015/05/31
Effectiveness of a Mind-Body Program for Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain
The goal of this randomized, education controlled clinical trial is to examine the role of a mind-body program and its effect on chronic low back pain as it relates to physical function in 300 older adults. Role: Co-Investigator (PI of Epidemiology Subcontract)

HHSN271201100605P (PI: Glynn, NW) 2010/08/29-2013/08/31
Validation of Accelerometers in Older Adults
The goal of this project was to examine how well accelerometry data collected from the hip versus wrist reflect a given program of activities, including tasks that emphasize either whole body or upper body movement.
Role: Principal Investigator

• Measuring and reducing drug-related problems in the elderly
• Determining racial differences in drug use in the elderly
• Drug use and geriatric syndromes

IIR 14-297 (PI: Gellad) VA HSRD 02/01/15-03/31/18
Safety of Opioid Use Among Veterans Receiving Care in Multiple Health Systems
The goal of this mixed methods study is to describe the patterns of opioid use from VA and non-VA sources among Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, and to understand the determinants and health consequences of dual use
Role: Co-investigator

IIR 14-306 (PI:Thorpe, C) VA HSRD 04/01/16-03/31/19
De-intensifying Unnecessary Medications in VA CLC Residents Nearing End of Life
The proposed work aims to better understand the prescribing of chronic medications to older veterans residing in VA CLCs
Role: Co-Investigator

IIR 15-115 (PI: Weiner) VA HSRD 04/01/16-03/31/19
Factors and Outcomes Associated with Inappropriate Prescribing of Phosphodiesterase-5-Inhibitors for Pulmonary Hypertension
The proposed work aims to better understand a form of potentially inappropriate prescribing and to intervene to reduce this problem in veterans
Role: Co-Investigator

R18 HS023779 (PI: Nace) AHRQ 04/01/15 03/31/18
Improving Outcomes of UTI in LTC Facilities: The IOU Study
This award will result in the conduct of a randomized controlled trial to improve the quality of antibiotic prescribing in older nursing home patients with cystitis and development/dissemination of educational toolkits
Role: Co-Investigator

P30AG24827 (PI: Greenspan) NIA 09/30/04-08/30/19
Pittsburgh Older Americans Independence Center
The overall goal of the Pittsburgh OAIC is to foster optimal balance and mobility and reduce injurious falls among older Americans.
Role: Senior investigator/Core Director

N/A (PI: Thorpe, C) Donoghue Foundation 11/01/17-10/31/19
De-prescribing of Anti-dementia Medications
The objective of this study is to determine if nursing home residents have ACHEI and/or memantine discontinued and the impact on health outcomes
Role: Co-Investigator

Completed (Selected)
IIR 12-379 (J Thorpe) 06/01/14-11/30/17
VA HSR&D Dual Use of Medicare Part D and Unsafe Prescribing
This project aims to improve the safety and appropriateness of prescribing for Veterans with dementia who are dually eligible for VA and Medicare Part D pharmacy benefits by examining the extent of medication seeking outside VA, identifying the reasons Veterans with dementia seek medications outside the VA, and identifying potential mechanisms by which dual use impacts prescribing safety and outcomes.
Role: Co-investigator

N/A (Hanlon) 01/01/15-12/31/16 Donoghue Foundation
Cumulative CNS medication dosage and serious fall injuries
The objective of this study is to determine if nursing home residents taking higher cumulative doses of CNS medications have a greater risk of serious fall injuries compared to those taking no/lower doses?
Role: Principal Investigator

• Epidemiology of CVD
• Epidemiology of breast cancer
• Epidemiology of aging
• HIV and chronic diseases
• Dementia Preventive medicine
• Rheumatoid arthritis and CVD

Past Research Support: Active Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Women (1983-2012) NHLBI Cardiovascular Health Study Events Follow Up (2005-2010) University of Washington Clinical Trial/Observational Study of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) (2005-2010) NHLBI Hormone Therapy, Estrogen Metabolism and Risk in the WHI (2007-2009) NHLBI Reduction of Triglycerides in Women on Hormone Therapy (2007-2009) Ginkgo Biloba Prevention Trial in Older Adults (2005-2010) Rheumatoid Arthritis and Risk of CVD and Total Mortality Epidemiology of Heterogeneity in type 2 Diabetes Epidemiology of Putative Genuine Genetic Variants: The WHI Dynamic of Health, Aging and Body Composition (1996-2004) NIA Ginkgo Biloba Prevention Trial in Older Individuals (1999-2005) NCCAM Co-Investigator CDC Prevention Research Center (Center for Healthy Aging) (2005-2009) Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (2006-2012) Epidemiology of CHD of Men Aged 40+ in US, Hawaii and Japan (2008-2012) Cardiovascular Disease in HIV Infected and Uninfected Veterans (2009-2011) Predictors of Alzheimers Disease in Mild Cognitive Impairment (2008-2012)

• Obesity
• Adipose tissue deposition
• Metabolism (i.e. diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, fatty liver, hypertension)

R01 DK097084-01 (PI: Miljkovic, I)            NIDDK           2013/09/19-2018/07/31
Ectopic adiposity in black men with high type 2 diabetes risk
This study takes advantage of the unique resource of archived computed tomography (CT) scan image files from over 1500 black men to analyze changes in myosteatosis over more than 6 years, and characterize the natural history of changes in myosteatosis with aging in black men, and the temporal relationship of these changes with glucose and insulin homeostasis. In addition, we will obtain new CT measures of visceral, liver, abdominal muscle and pericardial adiposity, and will test for their independent and combined association with measures of glucose and insulin homeostasis.
Role: PI

Global Health Faculty Grant, University of Pittsburgh Center for Global Health
(PI: MILJKOVIC, IVA)            01/01/2017-12/31/2017
Longitudinal assessment of skeletal muscle fat infiltration in three racially/ethnically diverse populations
This project uses the wealth of existing data from three longitudinal cohorts of Asian Indian, Afro-Caribbean, and Caucasian men, including unique and valuable archived computed tomography (CT) scan image files of lower leg skeletal muscle composition obtained at two time points.
Role: PI

Completed Research Support
R03 DK092348-01 (PI: Miljkovic, I)            NIDDK           2011/09/05-2013/08/31
Association of Type 2 Diabetes with Liver and Muscle Adiposity in Black Men
This pilot study investigates abdominal visceral, subcutaneous, muscle, and liver adipose tissue accumulation, measured by computed tomography, and their association with type 2 diabetes in 100 black men with and 200 black men without diabetes in the Tobago Bone Health Study Cohort.
Role: PI

K01 DK083029-01 (PI: Miljkovic, I)            NIDDK           2008/09/15-2013/08/31
Epidemiology and Genetics of Skeletal Muscle Composition
This Career Development Award provided the applicant with specialized training in computed tomography imaging methods, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue physiology and metabolism literature, laboratory based high-throughput genotyping methods, and with field experience. The research component investigates ethnic differences in skeletal muscle composition, its relationship to type 2 diabetes and related metabolic outcomes, and longitudinal changes in skeletal muscle composition with aging in 300 men of African ancestry in the Tobago Bone Health Study Cohort.
Role: PI

R-152 (NHLBI’s Resequencing Grant) (PI: Miljkovic, I)  NIH/ NHLBI   2010/05/01-2010/12/31
Resequencing of Fatty Acid Binding Protein Genes in a Population of African Ancestry
This project developed a comprehensive inventory of sequence variations in the coding regions of FABP4 and FABP5 genes in a population-based sample of 1910 African ancestry men. The study also determined the phenotypic effects of FABP4 and FABP5 sequence variations on multiple cardio-metabolic traits, including skeletal muscle adipose tissue infiltration.
Role: PI

F32 HL083641-01 (PI: Miljkovic, I)        NHLBI        2006/05/01-2008/04/30
Genetics of Lipoproteins in Afro-Caribbean Families
This individual Post-doctoral Fellowship investigates the genetics of lipoproteins in multi-generational families of African ancestry.
Role: PI

G-64 (NHLBI’s Genotyping Grant) (PI: Miljkovic, I) NIH/NHLBI     2006/05/01-2007/12/31
Multi-marker haplotype analysis of less conventional lipid-relevant genes in multigenerational families of African origin
This study investigated the association between lipoproteins and 15 candidate genes which have not been previously investigated in populations of African ancestry.
Role: PI

2005-5, Obesity and Nutrition Research Center, University of Pittsburgh
(PI: Miljkovic, I)                       2005/01/01-2005/12/31
Genetics of Obesity and Metabolic Related Phenotypes in Large, Multigenerational African Families
This study investigated the extent to which genes and environmental covariates contribute to obesity and related metabolic phenotypes within multigenerational families of African ancestry.
Role: PI

• Subclinical atherosclerosis: associations with aging, disability and frailty
• Sarcopenia and disability
• Healthy aging and longevity

T32 AG000181 (PI: Newman, AB) NIH/NIA 1989/09/04-2021/04/30
Training in the Epidemiology of Aging
This is the renewal of a training program which enrolls individuals who are well-trained in a relevant scientific discipline and provides them with theoretical instruction and practical field experience in epidemiological aging research. The training experience is customized to the background and interests of the individual trainee while capitalizing on the rich and diverse research opportunities available in the epidemiology of aging.

U48 DP005001 (PI:Newman, AB) CDC/NCCDPHP 2014/09/30-2019/09/29
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center
This third renewal will continue and enhance the Center for Healthy Aging and Population Health Prevention Research Center focusing on promoting healthy aging within communities and establishing a new core research program designed to reduce obesity and subsequent chronic disease in old age implementing a weight management intervention in the community setting.

U01 AG023744 (PI: Newman AB) NIH/NIA 2014/06/01-2019/05/31
Long Life Family Study: University of Pittsburgh Field Center
This is the renewal of an investigation of the exceptional survival of families in the Long Life Family Study (LLFS) cohort. A second examination of the families will be conducted to discover genetic and environmental factors that contribute to healthy aging. These studies could lead to the discovery of new pathways and potential therapeutic/prevention targets affecting healthy aging and longevity.

R01 AG023629 (PI:Newman, AB) NIH/NIA 2011/09/01-2017/05/31
Exceptional Survival: Trajectories to Functional Aging (CHS All Stars)
This is the renewal of a study investigating functional aging, or disability-free survival by examining long-term survivors of the Cardiovascular Health Study to determine the likelihood of maintaining function, identifying the trajectories that distinguish those destined to do well, and define the importance, independence and interactions of physiologic predictors of function.

P30 AG024827 (PI: Greenspan, S) NIH/NIA 2014/09/01-2020/06/30
Pittsburgh Older Americans Independence Center
Dr. Newman is Co-Principal Investigator of the Pittsburgh site and Co-Leader of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC), currently in bridge funding. The Leadership/Administrative Core, which is responsible for the organizational, communication, budgetary and regulatory functions, and the Integrated Systems Core, which is responsible for providing access to cohort studies, and developing new clinical assessment protocols.

U01 AG029824 (PI: Grimm, R) Minn Med Res Found./NIA 2009/09/15-2017/01/31
ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly
Dr. Newman is Principal Investigator of the Pittsburgh site. The study is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of aspirin in primary prevention in healthy people aged 70 years and over to determine whether the potential benefits of low dose aspirin to extend the duration of disability free life in an aging population will outweigh the risks of severe bleeding in this age group. U01

AG050499 (PI: Pahor, M) Univ. of Florida 2015/09/01 – 2018/06/30
ENRGISE (ENabling Reduction of low-Grade Inflammation in SEniors)
Dr. Newman is Co-Principal Investigator of the Pittsburgh Site. The University of Pittsburgh will be one of the clinical centers for the Trial of Exercise for Aging Muscle (TEAM). The Department of Epidemiology has extensive experience conducting longitudinal studies and exercise trials in older populations and have worked previously with the San Francisco Coordinating Center (SFCC) at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) and is well equipped to recruit and retain a study population that will allow the goals of this important study to be addressed.
Co-Investigator

R01 GM097471 (PI:Yende, S) NIH/NIGMS 2012/06/01-2017/05/31
Late Cardiovascular Consequences of Septic Shock
This project aims to determine circulating levels of inflammatory molecules during recovery from a severe infection as well as its relationship with subsequent development of a heart attack or stroke. The study will also determine whether, for an infection, different treatment strategies implemented during the hospital course alter levels of inflammatory molecules after hospital discharge.

R01 AG027576 (PI: Cauley, JA) NIH/NIA 2011/09/01-2018/05/31
Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) – Pittsburgh
This project will continue the prospective Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) and link the comprehensive SOF database with Medicare claims data to determine if age-related trajectories in cognitive function, physical performance, bone mineral density, body weight, and positive affect predict phenotypes of optimal aging defined by longevity, active lifespan, exceptional health span, and rates of inpatient and residential health care utilization.

UF1 AG051197 (PI: Becker, J) NIH/NIDDK 2016/02/25-2020/05/31
Connections of Brain Aging and Dementia
This project will acquire brain imaging data using the Human Connectome Project (HCP) LifeSpan protocol in order to address questions related to alterations in brain structural and functional connectivity in aging and dementia.

U01 DK057002 (PI: Jakicic, JM) NIH/NIDDK 2013/09/01-2021/01/31
Action for Health in Diabetes Extension (Look AHEAD) Study Research Project
This renewal examines whether intensive lifestyle intervention relative to diabetes support and education has long term legacy effects on increased lifespan and reduced health care costs and also on key dimensions of healthy aging: less fraility, reduced diabetic microvascular complications, and improved quality of life.

U01 AG042139 (PI: Cauley, JA) NIH/NIA 2013/08/01-2018/04/30
Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (Mr.OS)
This is the second renewal of a study to quantify the determinants of fracture in elderly men. The primary goals of this next phase of MrOS are to identify the determinants and characteristics of musculoskeletal aging trajectories; identify men at increased risk of adverse outcomes; improve understanding of optimal aging; and discover new targets for preventing fractures, declines in activity, disability, increases in health care utilization and placement in long-term care.

UM1 CA182876 (PI: Yuan, J) NIH/NIA 2014/09/16-2019/08/31
Cancer Epidemiology Cohorts in Shanghai and Singapore
This project is for continued observational follow-up of two Asian cohort databases, the Shanghai cohort which was established in 1988 and the Singapore cohort which was established in 1993. The overall goal is to conduct research to evaluate how environmental and lifestyle exposures, and genetic susceptibility together affect cancer incidence, mortality and clinical outcomes including aging.

• Neuroepidemiology
• Disability
• Gerontology
• Aging
• Neuroimaging

3P30AG024827-13S1  (PI:Greenspan)   2017-2020
Administrative supplement to Pittsburgh Older Americans Independence Center (FOA #: PA16-287)
This administrative supplement supports a developmental pilot study led by Dr Rosano, with the collaboration of Drs. Bohnen and Narendran. It is hypothesized that higher dopaminergic system integrity will predict community mobility improvements in 10 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment who are participating to a behavioral strategy-based intervention. This pilot uses the MRI/PET scanner to simultaneously measure nigrostriatal dopaminergic transmission via DTBZ, connectivity of dopaminergic rich striatal projections, and cerebral small vessel disease. Community mobility is measured via Actigraph-GPS technology, before and after the intervention, for up to 1 year after the end of the intervention.
Role: Pilot PI

Aging Institute (PI:Rosano)              2017-2019
Neuromolecular Pathways of Community Mobility Improvement in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment
This project expands the above pilot study (3P30AG024827-13S1) by adding MRI/PET scans and community mobility measures in 10 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment who are participating to a behavioral strategy-based intervention.
Role: PI

P30 AG024827-06 (PI:Greenspan)      NIA          2015 -2020
Pittsburgh Older American Independence Center- Integrated System Core
My Core is responsible for providing access to cutting-edge methodologies to study central and peripheral causes and determinants of mobility limitations, developing new assessment protocols, and supporting recruitment, retention and research.
Role: Core Leader

1 R01 AG044474-04 (PI: Rosano/Aizenstein) NIA       2014-2018 (NCE)
Ultra-high-field neuroimaging in elderly after a two-year exercise intervention
The project will examine whether the physical activity related effects previously reported in the hippocampal formation of younger elderly exist in very old and frail adults for periods of time beyond 1 year and whether these effects are stronger for the dentate gyrus by applying 7-Tesla technology.
Role: Co-PI

R01AGO23651 (PI:Ganguli)              NIA            2016-2021
Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Prospective Community Study
This renewal will continue the dementia assessment of the myHAT cohort, as well as enrich the cohort with a younger group of participants.
Role: Co-I

1UH2AG056925 (PI:Colon-Emeric/Whitson)          NIA          2017-2019
Physical Resiliences: Indicators and mechanisms in the elderly (PRIME) collaborative
The application focuses on resilience in three systems that are central to older adults’ overall health: musculoskeletal, cognitive, and immune. The central hypothesis is that resilience to physical stressors is influenced by biological mechanisms at the molecular level.
Role: External Advisory Board Member

R01MH111265 (PI:Aizenstein)                     NIMH      2016-2021
High Performance Imaging for Assessment of Small Vessel Disease in Older Adults with Depression
This project combines in vivo neuroimaging technology at 7 Tesla and postmortem histological exams to quantify the microvascular pathology underlying depression in older adults.
Role: Co-I

R01HL127107 (PI: Novelli)           NINDS              2016-2021
Neurovascular determinants of cognitive function in adults with sickle cell disease
This project tests a new paradigm of microvascular dysfunction-related Cognitive impairment in Sickle Cell disease with state-of-the-art neuroimaging technology at 7 Tesla.
Role: Co-I

R37 DK034818-30 (PI: Orchard)            NIDDK             2014-2019
Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) Phase II: Renewal
This is an extension of the Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications study with a focus on the roles of glycemic, oxidative and inflammatory stress along with women’s health issues and an evaluation of skin advanced glycosylation end products as a complication predictor.
Role: Co-I

Completed Research Support
1 U13 AG041613-01 (PI: Rosano)        NIA               2012-2015
Aging, the Central Nervous System, and Mobility in Older Adults
This proposal funds a series of three international conferences to encourage collaborations among experts in complementary fields of aging, cognitive neuroscience, neurology, neuroimaging, biomedical engineering, neuropsychology, and epidemiology.

1 R01 AG037451-01A1 (PI: Rosano)       NIA           2011 -2017
Resilience to mobility impairment: neural correlates and protective factors
This is a neuroepidemiological study to identify the brain characteristics and risk factors that are correlated with maintenance of good mobility in the face of structural brain abnormalities. The focus is on lower accrual of brain microstructural abnormalities as potential correlates of resilience, due to slower longitudinal accrual of cardiometabolic risk factors.

3R01AG037451-05S1 (PI: Rosano)          NIA          2015-2016
Resilience to mobility impairment: neural correlates and protective factors
This is a supplementary award to the above grant to extend the study of resilience with a focus on processing of multimodal imaging markers.

R21 DK107926-01 (PI:Rosano)                 NIDDK       2015-2017
Retinal Imaging Markers of Cognition in Adults with T1D
This study will examine relationships, both cross-sectionally and change over time, between neurocognitive complications (e.g., brain imaging markers, psychomotor speed, cognitive impairment) with measures of retinal vascular health (e.g., retinal vessels diameter, retinopathy) in middle-aged adults with childhood onset Type 1 Diabetes.

R01 DK089028-04 (PI:Rosano)                 NIDDK      2010-2016
Imaging biomarkers of accelerated brain aging in Type-1 Diabetes (NCE March 2016)
This research quantifies the nature, severity and risk factors of brain abnormalities in the ongoing longitudinal Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications cohort study as adults with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are increasingly more likely to develop brain abnormalities in addition to multiple micro- and macro-vascular complications

• Brain aging and community mobility
• Brain factors in resilience to age-related decline
• Environmental influences on mobility

1K01AG053431-01 (PI: Rosso) NIA 09/01/2016-08/31/2020
Environmental Challenges and the Aging Brain: Implications for Community Mobility
This career development award proposes to assess age-related changes in the brain that may be a key determinant of the ability to remain mobile in complex community environments through utilization of an observational study design that incorporates community-based environmental challenges and real-time functional brain imaging while participants are walking.
Role: PI

1 R21 AG054666-01 (PI: Rosso) NIA 09/30/2016-09/29/2018
Cognitive Decline, Brain Aging, Physical Environment, and Mobility
This proposal aims to understand better the environmental contributors to mobility limitations that could be the target of future population-level prevention strategies. In particular, we aim to understand how age-related cognitive declines can make some individuals more vulnerable to the mobility-limiting aspects of their environments. This will be accomplished with retrospective assessment of neighborhood walkability in an existing observational cohort study.
Role: PI

P30 AG024827 (PI: Greenspan) NIA 06/01/2017-05/31/2018
Pittsburgh Pepper Pilot: Neuroimaging Motor Skill, Learning and Adaptation for Walking
This pilot study assesses neuroimaging of the neural circuitry underlying motor skill and efficiency in walking before and after a task-oriented motor learning exercise intervention demonstrated to improve walking efficiency. It uses fMRI and functional connectivity analyses and fNIRS during challenged walking tasks.
Role: Co-PI

Completed Research Support
KL2 TR000146 (PI: Reis) NIH/NCATS 9/1/2014-8/30/2016
Clinical Research Scholars Program, The University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute – Clinical Research Scholars Program Project Title: Neural Mechanisms of Community Mobility in Older Adults
The primary focus of the CTSI is to develop, nurture, and support a cadre of highly trained clinical and translational scientists. Through integration and innovation, the CTSI will excel in the development of new biomedical knowledge and the translation of that knowledge from the basic and preclinical research settings to individuals, communities, and health practice. The purpose of the KL2 is to support the early career development of clinical researchers from a variety of disciplines engaged in all types of clinical research.
Role: Scholar

P30 AG024827 (PI: Greenspan) NIA 2015
Pepper Pilot Developmental Project: The Aging Brain and Environmental Negotiation in Older Adults
The focus of this award is to develop real world challenges in the laboratory setting for use in studies that further our understanding of mobility control while being exposed to stimuli and challenges that are similar to those experienced in the community. This work will allow us to better understand the neural mechanisms of community mobility of older adults and identify potential targets for future interventions.
Role: PI

R01 AG037451-01A1 (PI: Rosano) NIA 05/01/2011-04/30/2016
Resilience to mobility impairment: neural correlates and protective factors
This is a longitudinal neuroepidemiological study to identify the brain characteristics and risk factors of older adults who have maintained good mobility in the face of substantial structural brain abnormalities.
Role: Co-I

• Cardiovascular epidemiology
• Diet and its association with atherosclerosis, vascular stiffness and amyloid deposition in the brain
• Soy isoflavones and microbiome in atherosclerosis and amyloid in the brain
• Omega-3 fatty acids and adaptive immunity in atherosclerosis and amyloid in the brain
• International epidemiology focusing on Japanese population

1RF1AG051615-01 (PI: Sekikawa, A)        NIA             05/15/2016 – 04/30/2019
Omega-3, isoflavones & amyloid deposition in cognitively normal elderly Japanese
The grant is to examine the association of amyloid deposition in the brain in Japanese elderly aged 80-89
years old with normal cognition with midlife blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids and isoflavones.
Role: PI

Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (A) 15H02528 from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science,
and Technology Japan (PI: Katsuyuki Miura) 04/01/2015-03/31/2018
Subclinical atherosclerosis and brain in Japanese women
The study aims to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis and brain structural MRI in a population-based samples
of Japanese women.
Role: Collaborator

Completed Research Support
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (No. 24390174) by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
(PI: Yoshihiro Miyamoto) 04/01/12-03/31/16
Common risk factor of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery arteriosclerosis in men
The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and
coronary calcification in the Suita Study
Role: Collaborator

R01 HL68200-01 (PI: Sekikawa, A) NHLBI Dates 09/05/2003 – 02/28/2014
Epidemiology of CHD of Men Aged 40+
The study examines population-based samples of 1,000 men aged 40-49 (300 Caucasians and 100 blacks,
300 Japanese Americans, and 300 Japanese), to test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in the
extent and severity of subclinical atherosclerosis across these populations.
Role: PI

Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (A) 25253046 from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Japan (PI: Hirotsugu Ueshima) 04/01/2013-03/31/2017
A follow-up study on prognosis, progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in a Japanese general population
The study aims to complete the follow-up study of the Shiga Epidemiologic Study of Subclinical Atherosclerosis
and to associate the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis with novel biomarkers including metabolomics
and LOX-1 ligands containing apolipoprotein B (LAB).
Role: Collaborator

• Skeletal muscle aging
• Molecular epidemiology of skeletal muscle aging, physical function and mobility
• Body composition remodeling and its effects on physical function and mobility
• Prevention of mobility disability and prolonging years of active life expectancy

5P30AG024827-13    (Co-PIs:Greenspan & Newman)    7/1/2017-6/30/2019
The University of Pittsburgh is home to an NIA-funded Claude D. Older Americans Independence Center.
Role: Pepper Scholar

Completed Research Support (past 3 years)
T32 AG000181           (PA:Newman) NIA                        9/1/2014-9/1/2017
This is an NIA supported training grant with a focus on advanced training in the Epidemiology of Aging.
Role: Post-Doctoral Scholar

U01 AG022376           (PI:Pahor)                                     2010-2014
Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study
The goal of this multi-centered randomized trial was to compare the effect of physical activity compared with health education on the prevention of major mobility disability in older adults.
Role: Graduate Student Researcher and Post-Doctoal Fellow

• Diabetes complications in older adults
• Peripheral nerve function
• Physical performance outcomes: muscle function, fall injuries and mobility
• Medicare claims linked to cohort studies
• Methods in aging epidemiology

T32AG000181-26 (PI: Newman, AB) NIH/NIA 05/01/16 – 04/30/21
Training in the Epidemiology of Aging
This is the renewal of a training program which enrolls individuals who are well-trained in a relevant scientific discipline and provides them with theoretical instruction and practical field experience in epidemiological aging research. The training experience is customized to the background and interests of the individual trainee while capitalizing on the rich and diverse research opportunities available in the epidemiology of aging.
Role: Co-Director

U01 AG012553 (PI: Brooks, M) NIH/NIA 09/15/14 – 06/30/19
Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) V
The aims of the renewal of the multicenter Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation are to characterize the natural history of reproductive aging through the late post-menopause, evaluate the impact of reproductive aging on health outcomes, and identify underlying mechanisms to link reproductive aging and health.
Role: Co-Investigator

R56 AG023629 (PI: Newman, AB) NIH/NIA 09/01/11 – 05/31/18
Exceptional survival: Trajectories to functional aging (CHS All Stars)
This is the renewal investigating functional aging, or disability-free survival in long-term survivors of the Cardiovascular Health Study will determine the likelihood of maintaining function, identify the trajectories that distinguish high function, and define the importance, independence and interactions of physiologic predictors.
Role: Co-Investigator

U01 AG042139 (PI: Cauley, JA) NIH/NIA 08/01/13 – 04/30/18
Osteoporotic Fractures in Men – MrOS Renewal – Pittsburgh
This renewal of the multicenter, prospective study of risk factors for fractures in older men has a primary goal to determine the extent to which fracture risk in older men is related to bone parameters, lifestyle, and falls.
Role: Co-Investigator

Completed Research
R01 AG028050 (PI: Strotmeyer, ES) NIH/NIA 06/15/13 – 05/31/17
Peripheral nerve decline: an underappreciated cause of injurious falls
The renewal of “Peripheral nerve function decline in an aged cohort” (2007-13), is an ancillary study to the Health Aging Body Composition Study (Health ABC) designed to determine if poor peripheral sensory and motor nerve function is associated with treated fall injuries, including fractures, and with greater total and fall-related Medicare utilization, Medicare expenditures, and mortality.
Role: Principal Investigator

R01 AG037451 (PI: Rosano, C) NIH/NIA 05/01/11 – 4/30/17
Resilience to mobility impairment: neural correlates and protective factors
This is a longitudinal neuroepidemiological study to identify the brain characteristics and risk factors of older adults who have maintained good mobility in the face of substantial structural brain abnormalities.
Role: Co-Investigator

P30 AG024827 Pilot Project (Co-PI: Strotmeyer, Co-PI: Piva) 01/01/15 – 06/30/16
University of Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Peripheral nerve function changes with exercise intervention after total knee replacement
This proposal will relate neuropathic symptoms and impaired monofilament detection to total knee replacement and physical function pre- and post-exercise intervention of 3-months.
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

UF13060 (PI: Newman, AB) University of Florida 09/30/09 – 11/30/15
Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE)
This is a multi-center randomized controlled trial to compare a moderate-intensity physical activity program to a successful aging health education program in sedentary older persons who are at risk of disability.
Role: Co-Investigator

(PI: Caserotti, P) Odense Municipality, Denmark 01/01/14 – 06/30/2015
Implementation of a sustainable active lifestyle intervention within the public health care sector Based on the EU HANC pilot study results, a high intensity power training intervention will be conducted at 5 centers in the Odense Municipality, Denmark, to improve mobility in older adults with slow gait speed.
Role: Consultant

HANC 104-1.5-11 (PI: Caserotti, P) European Union 01/01/13 – 12/31/14
Implementation of an “Active Life-style” intervention in older people with low physical function
This pilot study of the Healthy Ageing Network of Competences (HANC) was a randomized controlled trial of high intensity, 12-week power training to improve mobility in Danish older adults with slow gait speed.
Role: Consultant

360882-04770-02 (PI: Strotmeyer, ES) Temple University 09/10/12 – 06/30/14
Sleep disordered breathing and sleep architecture in obesity and type 2 diabetes
This follow-up project examined the effects of weight loss on sleep-disordered breathing in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea within the context of the Look AHEAD study.
Role: Principal Investigator

R01 DK034818 (PI: Orchard, TJ) NIH/NIDDK 06/01/09 – 05/30/14
Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) Phase II: renewal
This renewal extended the follow-up of diabetes complications to 25 years and documents morbidity risk and life expectancy as well as the roles of glycemic, oxidative and inflammatory stress, and women’s health issues.
Role: Co-Investigator

R01 DK089028 (PI: Rosano, C) NIH/NIDDK 07/01/10 – 03/31/14
Imaging biomarkers of accelerated brain aging in Type 1 diabetes
This research quantified the nature, severity and risk factors of brain abnormalities in the ongoing longitudinal Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) cohort study as adults with Type 1 Diabetes.
Role: Co-Investigator