Core Structure
The UTMB OAIC is organized into the following cores:
Leadership/Administrative Core
Elena Volpi, M.D., Ph.D.
Core- Leader
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
James S. Goodwin, M.D.
Co-Leader
Director, Sealy Center on Aging
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Tony DiNuzzo, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Assistant Professor, Deparment of Internal Medicine
Jean Freeman Ph.D.
Tracking and Evaluation Leader
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
Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, IT Ph.D.
Core Leader
Professor, Division of Rehabilitation Sciences
James S. Goodwin, M.D.
Core Co-Leader
Director, Sealy Center on Aging
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Kyriokos Markides Ph.D.
Co-Leader
Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health
- 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
Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Melinda Sheffield-Moore, Ph.D.
Core Co-Leader
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
James S. Goodwin, M.D.
Core Co-Leader
Director, Sealy Center on Aging
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.
Clinical Research Resource Core
Glenn
Ostir, Ph.D.
Core Leader
Professor, Division of Internal Medicine
Elizabeth Protas PT, Ph.D.
Core Co-Leader
Dean, School of Health Proffessions
- 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.
Muscle Biology Resource Core
Elena Volpi, M.D., Ph.D.
Core Leader
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
John Papaconstantinou, Ph.D.
Co Leader
Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Provide state-of-the-art experimental resources.
- 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.
- Participate in the development of new procedures that will facilitate understanding of the molecular, genetic and biochemical mechanisms of sarcopenia associated with aging.