Core Structure
The UTMB OAIC is organized into the following cores:
Leadership/Administrative Core
James S. Goodwin, M.D.
Core Leader
Director, Sealy Center on Aging
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
- Provides leadership, direction, and coordination for all core facilities and other aging initiatives at UTMB.
- Recruits new and established investigators interested in aging research.
- Represents UTMB at national events and collaborates with other Pepper Centers.
Research Career and Development Core
James S. Goodwin, M.D.
Core Leader
Director, Sealy Center on Aging
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
- Promotes development of the next generation of aging research leaders through direct financial support and structured mentoring.
- Participates in interdisciplinary conferences, other didactic training, networking activities, and access to infrastructure support.
Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core
Blake Rasmussen, Ph.D.
Core Leader
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
- Facilitate innovative and methodologically rigorous research that enhances the understanding of the etiology and mechanisms of sarcopenia in aging.
- Incorporate new technologies into aging research, stimulate translational research.
Metabolism Research Core
Elena Volpi, M.D., Ph.D.
Core Leader
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
- To make mass spectrometry analysis available for all Pepper OAIC projects.
- Assists investigators in all aspects of tracer methodology necessary to study metabolism in elderly individuals.
Proteomics and Genomics Core Facility
John Papaconstantinou, Ph.D.
Core Leader
Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Provide state-of-the-art experimental resources.
- Participate in the development of new procedures that will facilitate understanding of the molecular, genetic and biochemical mechanisms of sarcopenia associated with aging.
Recruitment and Measurement Core
Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, Ph.D.
Core Leader
Professor, Division of Rehabilitation Sciences
- Provide expertise and resources to recruit subjects to complete studies that are proposed by OAIC investigators
- Coordinate and conduct health screenings, physical exams, functional status assessments, and performance-based (e.g., muscle strength) testing required to achieve the goals of the OAIC.