NIA-NIH Leadership Award: Integrative Research and Education in Bio-gerontology
The aims of this proposal are to strengthen/ promote research and education/training in gerontology among the faculty and students in the biological and health sciences on the University of California at Berkeley campus (UCB). This present initiative, designed to create a comprehensive and better integrated training in biogerontology, is particularly opportune at the present time when scientists at UCB, in association with those at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) are planning a synergistic and cross-fertilizing re-organization of the biological and health sciences. Built on the existing UCB/LBNL strengths, the planned training will integrate molecular, cellular and organismic biology with physico-chemical/engineering and behavioral/socio-economic sciences under the overall theme of "Environmental and Genetic Influences of Aging." With this multidisciplinary target, the present goal is to expand and coordinate current activities as well as to create new opportunities in gerontological research and training. UCB brings to the study of aging an approach that most medical schools cannot marshal as their major focus is on specific diseases and their treatments. Although aging makes us vulnerable to disease and injury, research into the processes responsible for aging itself remains neglected. By integrating the efforts of cell and molecular biologists, structural and computational biologists, geneticists, physiologists, nutritionists and public health professionals, who are UCB/LBNL intellectual assests and resources, this program will foster multidisciplinary research and training in aging. Early entry in such a program will provide the next generation of scientists with a solid biologic basis from which to branch towards further gerontology/geriatrics specialization.
Given the eager intellect of the UCB student body, this program intends to stimulate career choices in gerontology at an earlier (undergraduate) training stage and continue to offer opportunities for further training at graduate and postdoctoral levels.
The principal investigator proposes; 1) to coordinate a strong undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral training program by stimulating faculty, students and administration awareness/commitment to biogerontology, 2) to recruit UCB students in the program at an early stage of their academic program and motivate them to persist in their chosen career, and 3) to enlist the academic and administrative support necessary for the program to flourish and progress.
Key Personnel
P.S. Timiras UC Berkeley
Principal Investigator T.L. Cole UC Berkeley Research Coordinator B.N. Ames UC Berkeley Committee Member G.A. Brooks UC Berkeley Committee Member J. Campisi Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Committee Memberr J.L. Napoli UC Berkeley Committee Member L. Packer UC Berkeley Committee Member W.A. Satariano UC Berkeley Committee Member
Progress on NIA-NIH K07 Leadership Award
Supporting research and education in aging at BerkeleyOver the past six months, we have made good progress in the preliminary steps to establishing a Gerontology program here at the University of California, Berkeley. The following summarizes our efforts thus far:
COURSES:
Identified the requirements of an American Cultures course and the people on the American Cultures Committee for considering the addition of age as an "American culture." Such a course would provide an introduction to aging for undergraduate students potentially unexposed to the experience of aging in American society otherwise. We have also solicited suggestions from Professor Troy Duster, Sociology Department, who previously headed the Committee on American Cultures and requested an appointment with Dr. Choy, the current head of American Cultures.
Explored the possibility of a comprehensive university wide web site on aging by speaking with the appropriate organizing staff and potential contributors. This website would aid prospective students interested in aging research on the Berkeley campus and would serve as a tangible network for existing faculty.
Sponsored IDS 114A, Molecular and Cell Biology of Stress and Aging, in association with the Buck Institute on Aging and Center for Research and Education in Aging (CREA). Further information on the course and outlines of the lectures can be found on this website.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Scheduled meetings and spoke with a number of Deans and half of the faculty members we highlighted as interested in the field of aging, gratefully accepting suggestions, exploring areas of potential collaboration, and gauging areas and corresponding people particularly invested in implementing a Gerontology program.
Thanked regional politicians for their support of aging research which enabled us to receive the KO7 Leadership Award and secured particular enthusiasm from Senator Vasconcellos who agreed to make appearances and advocate on our behalf.
Submitted a proposal and researched the New Academic Initiatives, attending an informational and preparing and networking with the administration for submission of a multi-disciplinary Gerontology initiative in the next call for proposals.
RESEARCH:
Corresponded with other KO7 Award recipients at universities throughout the US to discuss the successes and challenges they faced in completing the goals of their grants.
Began a small study to assess and document student interest in Gerontology, thereby strengthening our efforts for a multi-disciplinary graduate Gerontology program and undergraduate Gerontology minor.
GRANTS:
Announced KO7 Leadership Award Pilot Grants and Fellowship and awarded two.
