Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

Program

Research Opportunities

here are diverse research opportunities available to fellows. The emphasis is on several areas of research relevant to geriatrics: neuropeptide regulation of endocrine and behavioral function; reproductive hormones in aging males; sympathetic nervous system function; diabetes mellitus; obesity and undernutrition; endocrine aspects of energy metabolism; cardiac and exercise physiology; exercise interventions to prevent, delay or reverse frailty; mechanisms of hormone action in aging particularly molecular aspects of catecholamine responsiveness; immunologic aspects of cancer in aging; basic mechanisms of wound healing in aging; and a broad-based program in health services research and clinical epidemiology including evaluation of long-term care, medical ethics, decision analysis, sensory deficits, falls and hip fractures, and health promotion. These research activities exist within the framework of several large interdisciplinary programs within the University of Washington Health Sciences Center (see below).

The University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health have set up special training courses for research fellows. These include formal course work in biostatistics, clinical epidemiology, study design, and, for laboratory research oriented fellows, molecular and cell biology. These courses are intended to strengthen the knowledge base of fellows as they begin their research careers.

There is also a special training pathway for those interested in developing expertise in both gerontology and molecular medicine. The first year is devoted to clinical activities as described above. The second through fourth years are spent in molecular biology research. Gerontology training during the latter years is continued through attendance of a weekly outpatient clinic and participation in the weekly division conferences. The trainee will also meet regularly with a preceptor from the Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.

Fellows in the program have successfully competed for their own research awards including the Pfizer/AGS, Merck/AFAR, and Brookdale Fellowships, and VA Associate Investigatorships. Junior faculty development is available through an NIA Geriatric Academic Program Award.

University of Washington Health Sciences Center

he University of Washington Health Sciences Center is comprised of six schools: Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Community Medicine, and Social Work. These schools are frequently involved in large interdisciplinary programs which are the framework for much of the gerontological research at the University of Washington. Included in these important programs are the: Alzheimer's Disease Research Center; Center for Health Promotion in Older Adults; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center; Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in the Elderly Coordinating Center; VA Health Services Research and Development Program (emphasis on aging issues); Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies (the Cooperative has over 25,000 senior members); Gene Action in the Pathobiology of Aging Program; Northwest Geriatric Education Center; General Clinical Research Center; Diabetes Center; Lipid Research Center; and Population Center.

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