Research Education Component  Featured Image

Core Leader: Gary Gerstenblith, MD; Co-Leader: Esther Oh, MD, PhD

The primary purpose of the Research Education Component (REC), formerly known as the Research Career Development Core (RCDC), is to increase the workforce of experts dedicated to scholarship on frailty and its translation into strategies to increase independence in older adults. The REC accomplishes this by identifying and selecting outstanding junior faculty investigators to pursue frailty-related discovery and by providing them with the comprehensive support necessary to develop independent research careers focused on such discovery. The core provides mentorship, salary support, research resources and a community of scholarship to its primary awardees to assist their pursuit or solidify their emergence as independent investigators.

Overall, the REC provides both a focus for frailty- and aging- related training activities for junior investigators from the entire University, as well as more extensive support, training and mentorship to a select few whose careers we can pivotally aid, and who will emerge as aging and frailty focused independent investigators who will translate their expertise across disciplines and lead research in whose applications will improve independence in older adults. This facilitates the junior investigators’ ability to apply basic research findings to clinical investigation and interventions, translate clinical findings into mechanistic studies, disseminate the results of clinical investigation to the health provider and broader community, and acquire the leadership and communication skills required to become academic leaders with independent research careers who can easily work across disciplines to create the highest quality, frailty-focused science. The specific aims of the REC are:

  • To identify, attract, and select for career development support a diverse and interdisciplinary group of junior investigators from across JHU with the greatest potential to become outstanding research leaders focused on frailty and how to ameliorate it, and on maintaining independence with increasing age.
  • To provide the research infrastructure and salary support to these junior investigators so as to enable them to successfully bridge the critical transition to independent research leadership and grant funding.
  • To provide each supported individual with mentorship individualized to his or her needs and to monitor the progress of the research project and career development.
  • To develop for each supported individual a program of subject-area, methodological and leadership training needed to equip them to excel in their career goals, and promote its successful completion. To provide an academic home and an intellectual ‘stimulus zone’ for supported faculty as well as postdoctoral fellows, pre-doctoral students, and junior faculty working on frailty-related projects.

REC-Supported Junior Faculty Investigators and Projects:

07/01/2023-06/30/2024 (Year 21)

  • Laskow, Thomas: “T-cell senescence markers, physical frailty, lack resilience in the face of a clinical stressor, and cytokine signatures linked to adverse surgical outcomes.”
  • Wang, Qinchuan: “Oxidative activation of CaMKII (ox-CaMKII) promotes chronic inflammation to drive frailty and premature death in aging.”
  • Blinka, Marcela: “Design and evaluation strategies to improve uptake of and adherence to physical activity interventions in PACE.”

07/01/2022-06/30/2023 (Year 20) 

  • Hladek, Melissa: “Using Human-Centered Design to Adapt CAPABLE as a Prehabilitation Intervention for Adults with Frailty Awaiting Kidney Transplant.”
  • Keceli, Gizem: “Dissecting the Mechanisms Whereby Tryptophan Metabolites Alter Myocardial Function.”
  • Laskow, Thomas: ““Physical Frailty, Inflammation, and Response to Clinical Stressors.”
  • Nidadavolu, Lolita: “Identifying mechanisms by which circulating-cell free DNA contribute to increased TNFR1 in frailty.”
  • Pena Dias, Jenny: “Alterations in the gonadal axis and frailty in aging men with HIV.” [Note: support ended early due to K award]
  • Rowan, Nicholas: “The implications of olfaction with frailty, a population-based and exploratory investigation.”
  • Wang, Qinchuan: “CaMKII oxidation links oxidative stress to inflammation, frailty, and premature death.”

07/01/2021-06/30/2022 (Year 19) 

  • Hladek, Melissa: “Using Human-Centered Design to Adapt CAPABLE as a Prehabilitation Intervention for Adults with Frailty Awaiting Kidney Transplant.”
  • Keceli, Gizem: “Dissecting the Mechanisms Whereby Tryptophan Metabolites Alter Myocardial Function.”
  • Nidadavolu, Lolita: “Identifying mechanisms by which circulating-cell free DNA contribute to increased TNFR1 in frailty.”
  • Phillip, Jude: “Development and validation of dynamic cell-based biomarkers of healthy ageing.”
  • Rowan, Nicholas: “The implications of olfaction with frailty, a population-based and exploratory investigation.”

07/01/2020-06/30/2021 (Year 18) 

  • Ambale-Venkatesh, Bharath: “Pathways leading to frailty: a study of muscle, cardiovascular tissue, and energy utilizing whole-body magnetic resonance imaging.”
  • Lewsey, Sabra: “Understanding frailty risk factors in older individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.” (received Diversity Supplement award)
  • Phillip, Jude: “Development and validation of dynamic cell-based biomarkers of healthy ageing.”
  • Westbrook, Reyhan: “Metabolomic differences in energy utilization and Kyn/Trp metabolism pathways in mouse models of frailty: evidence-based implication for translational studies in humans.” (received K award)

07/01/2019-06/30/2020 (Year 17) 

  • Ambale-Venkatesh, Bharath: “Pathways leading to frailty: a study of muscle, cardiovascular tissue, and energy utilizing whole-body magnetic resonance imaging.”
  • Sheehan, Orla: “Frailty and compensatory mechanisms for managing treatment burden, treatment adherence, and adverse outcomes in homebound older adults.”
  • Westbrook, Reyhan: “Metabolomic differences in energy utilization and Kyn/Trp metabolism pathways in mouse models of frailty: evidence-based implication for translational studies in humans.”
  • Wu, Pei-Hsun: “Biophysical cellular characteristics in frail and non-frail older adults.”

07/01/2018-06/30/2019 (Year 16) 

  • Ambale-Venkatesh, Bharath: “Pathways leading to frailty: a study of muscle, cardiovascular tissue, and energy utilizing whole-body magnetic resonance imaging.”
  • Damluji, Abdulla: “Consequences of Frailty in Older Adults after Acute Coronary Syndrome” (received K award)
  • Sheehan, Orla: “Frailty and compensatory mechanisms for managing treatment burden, treatment adherence, and adverse outcomes in homebound older adults.”
  • Westbrook, Reyhan: “Metabolomic differences in energy utilization and Kyn/Trp metabolism pathways in mouse models of frailty: evidence-based implication for translational studies in humans.”
  • Wu, Pei-Hsun: “Biophysical cellular characteristics in frail and non-frail older adults.”

07/01/2017-06/30/2018 (Year 15) 

  • Chung, Tae Hwan: “Involvement of Kynurenine and NAD Pathways in Frailty.” (received K award)
  • Damluji, Abdulla: “Consequences of Frailty in Older Adults after Acute Coronary Syndrome”

07/01/2016-06/30/2017 (Year 14) 

  • Chung Tae Hwan: “Involvement of Kynurenine and NAD Pathways in Frailty.”
  • Hasan, Rani: “Frailty in Elderly Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) for Symptomatic Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: Impact on Outcomes, Effect of TAVR on the Frailty Phenotype, and Association with Inflammation.”

07/01/2015-06/30/2016 (Year 13) 

  • Brown, Charles: “The association between baseline frailty and postoperative delirium or functional decline after cardiac surgery, and a potential intervention to improve outcomes.” (received K award)
  • Gross, Alden: “Intersection of Domain-specific Cognitive Performance and Frailty: An Integrative Data Analysis.” (received K award)
  • Hasan, Rani: “Frailty in Elderly Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) for Symptomatic Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: Impact on Outcomes, Effect of TAVR on the Frailty Phenotype, and Association with Inflammation.”

07/01/2014-06/30/2015 (Year 12)

  • Brown, Charles: “The association between baseline frailty and postoperative delirium or functional decline after cardiac surgery, and a potential intervention to improve outcomes.”
  • Gross, Alden: “Intersection of Domain-specific Cognitive Performance and Frailty: An Integrative Data Analysis.”
  • Hasan, Rani: “Frailty in Elderly Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) for Symptomatic Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: Impact on Outcomes, Effect of TAVR on the Frailty Phenotype, and Association with Inflammation.”

07/01/2013-06/30/2014 (Year 11)

  • Agrawal, Yuri: “Vestibular impairments and postural instability, gait impairments, frailty and falls in older adults” (received K award)
  • McAdams-Demarco, Mara: “Clinical management older ESRD patients undergoing kidney transplantation (KT) through the development of adverse outcome metrics and risk prediction relevant to older adults.” (received K award)

07/01/2012-06/30/2013 (Year 10)

  • Dobrosielski, Devon: “Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention in Older Adults with Sleep Apnea”
  • Kalyani, Rita: “Hyperglycemia, Muscle Loss, and Frailty” (received K award)
  • Pustavoitau, Aliaksei: “A Prospective Cohort Study Evaluating the Use of p16INK4a Transcriptional Factor Level as a Marker of Molecular Age and Predictor of Perioperative Outcomes”

07/01/2011-06/30/2012 (Year 9)

  • Dobrosielski, Devon: “Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention in Older Adults with Sleep Apnea”
  • Kalyani, Rita: “Hyperglycemia, Muscle Loss, and Frailty”
  • Pustavoitau, Aliaksei: “A Prospective Cohort Study Evaluating the Use of p16INK4a Transcriptional Factor Level as a Marker of Molecular Age and Predictor of Perioperative Outcomes”

07/01/2010-06/30/2011 (Year 8)

  • Abadir, Peter : “Age Related Change in Angiotensin Receptors and Its Contribution to Chronic Inflammation” (received K23 award)
  • Dobrosielski, Devon: “Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention in Older Adults with Sleep Apnea”
  • Lin, Frank: “Hearing Loss and Frailty” (received K23 award)
  • Pustavoitau, Aliaksei: “A Prospective Cohort Study Evaluating the Use of p16INK4a Transcriptional Factor Level as a Marker of Molecular Age and Predictor of Perioperative Outcomes”
  • Roy, Cindy : “Mechanisms of anemia associated with chronic inflammation and aging in mice”
  • Wang, George: “Long-term maintenance of viral T-cell immunity and T-cell repertoire diversity in the aging immune system”  (received K23 award)

07/01/2009-06/30/2010 (Year 7)

  • Roy, Cindy : “Mechanisms of anemia associated with chronic inflammation and aging in mice”
  • Tan, Erwin: “Effect of the Baltimore Experience Corps Study on Walking Activity and the Characteristics of Walking”
  • Wang, George: “Potential targets along the pathophysiologic pathway of frailty amenable to preventive and therapeutic interventions”

07/01/2008-06/30/2009 (Year 6)

  • Roy, Cindy : “Mechanisms of anemia associated with chronic inflammation and aging in mice”
  • Tan, Erwin: “Effect of the Baltimore Experience Corps Study on Walking Activity and the Characteristics of Walking”
  • Wang, George: “Potential targets along the pathophysiologic pathway of frailty amenable to preventive and therapeutic interventions”

06/01/2007-05/31/2008 (Year 5)

  • Makary, Martin: “Frailty Syndrome in Surgical Patients”
  • Polotsky, Vsevolod: “Effect of Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia on Frailty”
  • Seplaki, Chris: “Expanding the scope of frailty research: modeling multiple physiological systems, delineation among alternative frameworks, and the social context of frailty” (received K award)
  • Varadhan, Ravi: “Identifying frailty using non-invasively measured dynamic physiological signals”
  • Weiss, Carlos: “The Relationship between Frailty and Basal Metabolic Rate”

06/01/2006-05/31/2007 (Year 4)

  • Crentsil, Victor: “L-carnitine deficiency and the development of frailty and disability in   older adults”
  • Makary, Martin: “Frailty Syndrome in Surgical Patients”
  • Seplaki, Chris: “Expanding the scope of frailty research: modeling multiple physiological systems, delineation among alternative frameworks, and the social context of frailty”
  • Weiss, Carlos: “The Relationship between Frailty and Basal Metabolic Rate”

06/01/2005-05/31/2006 (Year 3)

  • Boyd, Cynthia: “Characterization of functional decline and recovery after hospitalization”
  • Carlson, Michelle: “Characterize cognitive reserve by examining with-cognitive-tests performance decays over time”
  • Leng, Sean: “Contributions of serum IL-6 level and total/differential WBC to frailty and mortality”
  • Yuh, David: “Impact of Frailty on Outcomes in Older Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery”

06/01/2004-05/31/2005 (Year 2)

  • Boyd, Cynthia: “Characterization of functional decline and recovery after hospitalization”
  • Carlson, Michelle: “Characterize cognitive reserve by examining with-cognitive-tests performance decays over time”
  • Chaves, Paulo: “Heart Rate (HR) Variability and Complexity and Frailty Status in Older Women”
  • Leng, Sean: “Contributions of serum IL-6 level and total/differential WBC to frailty and mortality”
  • Yuh, David: “Impact of Frailty on Outcomes in Older Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery”

06/01/2003-05/31/2004 (Year 1)

  • Boyd, Cynthia: “Characterization of functional decline and recovery after hospitalization”
  • Carlson, Michelle: “Characterize cognitive reserve by examining with-cognitive-tests performance decays over time”
  • Chaves, Paulo: “Heart Rate (HR) Variability and Complexity and Frailty Status in Older Women”
  • Leng, Sean: “Contributions of serum IL-6 level and total/differential WBC to frailty and mortality”
  • Yuh, David: “Impact of Frailty on Outcomes in Older Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery”