x
Leadership Administrative Core (LAC)
The Leadership/Administrative Core is responsible for the organizational, communication, budgetary, and regulatory functions of the Pepper Center.
Leadership: Jen Brach, PT, FAPTA, Steven M. Handler, MD, PhD, CMD
Working Groups: The LAC supports several working groups to enhance communication among Pepper investigators, integrate core expertise around areas of scientific focus, and foster innovative collaborative efforts. Current working groups include:
- Long-term Care Workgroup (Nace, CPOC)
- Active in COVID-19 Research
- Neuroimaging Workgroup (Rosano, ISC)
- Leadership Skills Workgroup (Strotmeyer, Wagner, Marron, REC)
- Muscle Biology and Biomarkers Workgroup (Forman, Finkel, Newman, BMAC)
- Gate Working Group (Rosso, Brach, Baillargeon)
LAC Collaboration: The LAC has fostered and coordinated the research efforts of over 80 Pepper investigators from multiple venues including the School of Medicine, Public Health, Bioengineering, Rehabilitation Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Psychiatry, Neurology, Informatics and Community Health. The LAC insures that the cores and core leaders of the Research Career Development KL2, Clinical and Population Outcomes, Integrative Systems, Data Management, Analysis and Informatics, and Pilot/Exploratory Studies cores coordinate and collaborate with each other.
- The LAC receives valuable input and direction from 4 advisory groups including 1) the External Advisory Committee (national experts), 2) the Institutional Advisory Board (multidisciplinary group of experts on aging from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC), 3) the Community Advisory Board (members from local health care agencies, IRB, local media, the registry and local leaders) and 4) the REC Advisory Committee (internal and external experts).
x
Clinical and Population Outcomes Core (CPOC)
Provides recruitment assistance, cohort study resources, and clinical research expertise to promote a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment of balance and mobility in Pepper clinical research studies. The CPOC encourages research activity with older adults in the community and long-term care and has various resources available through the Pepper Research Network on Aging.
Leadership: Steve Albert, PhD, Andrea Rosso, PhD, MPH
CPOC Resources: Pepper Research Network on Aging, Research Resources
CPOC plays a critical role in training REC investigators in the rationale and application of key methodologies in aging research. The primary focus is to ensure that all trainees are knowledgeable about the clinical syndrome of mobility impairment and falls and the rationale for clinically relevant assessment of balance. Trainees are also oriented to the potential use of existing data for preliminary or independently funded studies and in methods to promote retention. Training can include observation of methods as currently applied in ongoing studies. As part of REC activities, all basic science and non-clinical trainees are required to observe the conduct of core measures in an ongoing study. Please see the REC section of this progress report for more details.
CPOC Activities:
- Engage older adults from the community and long-term care settings in research.
- Provide access to ongoing cohort studies, specimens, clinical trials and existing databases.
- Provide expertise in clinical assessment methodology by providing a standardized set of forms to promote a common data set of core measures for mobility, balance, and falls.
- Utilize noninvasive, portable technology to examine mobility, balance, and physical activity in clinics and in the field through our novel mobile laboratory.
- Provide access to space and equipment for OAIC related studies with our SMART Center.
- Support the research training mission of the Pepper Center.
- Evaluate the functions and productivity of the Core and manage its productivity.
- Collaborate with all the other cores and units within and outside the institution for OAIC related themes.
x
Data Management, Analysis and Informatics Core (DMAIC)
The DMAIC provides centralized data management, statistical analysis services, and informatics expertise to Pepper affiliated investigators to address the unique issues involved in studying balance and mobility in older adults.
Leadership: Subashan Perera, PhD, FGSA, Charity Moore Patterson, PhD, MSPH
Study Design: We meet with Pepper investigators early in study conception to assist with:
- Data Analysis
- Data Management
- Informatics
- Center for Health Care: Data Center CTSI
- Physical Therapy Data Center
- Biomedical Informatics
- Computational and systems biology
Statistical Analysis: We use SAS as our main general purpose statistical software, and Salford Predictive Miner, Stata, SUDAAN, Solas, StatXact, LogXact, PASS, NQuery as needed for specific requirements involving classification/regression trees, frailty models, complex survey data, missing data, exact inference, and sample size/power computations.
- DMAIC is proficient in providing all standard analytic support such as general (ANOVA, ANCOVA, regression) and generalized (logistic/Poisson/negative binomial variations) linear models, generalized estimating equations and linear mixed model extensions of the above, survival analysis (Cox & frailty models), time series analysis (Box-Jenkings, ARIMA, ARCH) and multivariate methods (factor, cluster, principal component, discriminant, multivariate ANOVA analyses).
- Informatics: DMAIC is available to provide informatics support to Pepper investigators. We assist with capabilities of various databases of the UPMC Health System, MARS, and falls data warehouse. We will assist in merging data across different databases using multiple identifiers; and de-identify the data for research using appropriate methods. Through access to these databases, we provide capabilities for real-time event surveillance such as falls, adverse drug event monitoring and adverse event monitoring in clinical trials.
x
Integrative Systems Core (ISC)
The Integrative Systems Core provides state of the art facilities that support research spanning neuroimaging, biomechanics, physiology, and biology.
Leadership: Caterina Rosano, MD, MPH, Mark Redfern, PhD
ISC Resources: The ISC provides skills and techniques to foster understanding of biomechanical, structural, functional, physiological and biological influences on age-related mobility and balance. We have expertise with techniques such as Neuroimaging, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Biomechanics, and Gait Analysis.
We strive to provide a comprehensive, individualized career development program to prepare future investigators to become leaders in mobility, balance, and aging research. All of the pilot projects that are supported by the ISC, involve at least one other core (DMAIC, REC, PESC, CPOC, BMAC). The ISC interacts with the CPOC to develop assessment tools that are accessible in the clinic and community. The ISC interacts with the DMAIC regarding formats for data entry, pre- processing of data, data quality control, interpretation of findings and novel analytic techniques for complex data. The ISC interacts with REC by providing consultation and training on various instrumentation, and laboratory techniques. The ISC helps REC members apply for small REC pilot funds and interacts with the PESC by providing pre-award consultation, cost estimates and access to key laboratory facilities. The ISC interacts with the BMAC for translational studies.
x
Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core (PESC)
The Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core promotes and supports innovative multidisciplinary research related to balance, mobility, and aging. The PESC partners with other groups [i.e., Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Aging Institute].
Leadership: Daniel Forman, MD, Aditi U. Gurkar, PhD
The Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) promotes and supports innovative multidisciplinary research related to balance, mobility, and aging. The PESC encourages supplements to ongoing studies by funding new and ongoing studies, informing investigators of opportunities for pilot funding supplements, and promotes innovative techniques and methods.
The PESC has partnered with the CTSI and the Aging Institute to increase individual pilot projects.
Investigator: Rocha
Topic: Small molecules to prevent mobility decline
Investigator: Rogers
Topic: Remote physical activity intervention
Investigator: Scheunemann
Topic: Social determinants of health, functional status and health care utilization
Investigator: Torres-Oviedo
Topic: Gait automaticity and locomotor adaptation
Investigator: Farsijani
Topic: Dietary protein, gut microbiome and mobility
x
Research Education Component (REC)
The Research Education Component of the Pepper Center supports the development of independent investigators who wish to conduct age-related balance and mobility disorders research. These investigators will have expertise in basic, translational, and clinical approaches and will lead and participate in collaborative multidisciplinary projects.
REC Leadership: Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH
Scholar Programs and Opportunities for Young Investigators
Novice Scholars: This program engages trainees in the research area of balance, mobility and aging early in their development by offering research opportunities in a supportive and enthusiastic environment. The Novice candidates also provide a pipeline for future Pepper Scholars.
- Candidates must have an interest in some aspect of balance, mobility, and aging, a sponsoring mentor who is involved in the OAIC and defined research goals, including a research project in a related area.
- Trainees at this initial level must have funding from an existing institutional program. Trainees may come from any of the age-related T32 training grants, the Hartford Center of Excellence, physicians on other funded research training tracks within their specialties, or doctoral or postdoctoral trainees from the Schools of Public Health, Nursing, Allied Health, or Engineering.
Pepper Scholars: The Pepper Scholar program supports junior faculty trainees who have achieved an initial level of expertise and productivity in an area related to balance, mobility, and aging while they seek their first independent funding.
- Candidates will generally have completed the bulk of initial didactic training in research methods, have completed and published initial research projects, have a sponsoring mentor and mentoring team, and have a training plan with specific goals and milestones, including a specific research project and plan for submitting a proposal for independent funding.
- All Scholars must spend at least 75% time in research and are expected to have an individualized training plan that utilizes the resources of the CTSI – ICRE. Scholars will complete an Individualized Develop Plan annually and review with their mentoring team.
Young Investigators- Transitioning to Independence: This program promotes development of trainees into independent investigators by fostering experiences in leadership and collaboration with other investigators, skills supplementation as desired, and team support and feedback on proposals and manuscripts.
- Candidates have independent career awards in areas relevant to our theme. They have a sponsoring mentor related to the Pepper Center and a career training plan with specific goals and milestones, including a specific research project.
Visiting Scholar: This program is to promote development into an independent investigator by fostering experiences in leadership and collaboration with other investigators, skills supplementation as desired, and team support and feedback on proposals and manuscripts.
- Candidates have independent career awards in areas relevant to our theme.
- They have a sponsoring mentor related to the Pepper Center and a career training plan with specific goals and milestones, including a specific research project.
x
Biology of Mobility and Aging Core (BMAC)
The Biology of Mobility and Aging Core (BMAC) is a new Core within the Pepper Center. It has been established to facilitate the translational gap from basic research at the bench to the clinic, by providing Pepper Center investigators unprecedented access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, resources, and intellectual and technical expertise in aging biology and translational science.
Leadership: Toren Finkel, MD, PhD, Stacey Rizzo, PhD
The Biology of Mobility and Aging Core (BMAC) is a new Core within the Pepper Center. It has been established to facilitate the translational gap from basic research at the bench to the clinic, by providing Pepper Center investigators unprecedented access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, resources, and intellectual and technical expertise in aging biology and translational science. The BMAC will foster collaborations of clinicians and basic scientists in order to better enable in-depth interrogation of pathways linking aging “hallmarks” with age-related phenotypes and healthspan indicators. This will ultimately enable clinical trials of novel interventions to preserve mobility and balance in aging populations.
The goal of this new core is to promote both basic-to-human and human-to-basic translation. The BMAC builds on the momentum of the Aging Institute, created several years ago with support from Pitt/UPMC. The BMAC will provide an engine of discovery and innovation to guide and enhance our clinical and translational efforts. Specific emphasis includes using basic science approaches to uncover novel biomarkers that might aid in the treatment of age-related alterations in mobility and balance. Moreover, the BMAC will assist in the development and characterization of innovative pre-clinical animal models that can be used to mechanistically explore the fundamental basis of age-related changes in mobility, gait and balance. Other aspects in which the BMAC will function will be to provide guidance on the use and interpretation of various ‘omic’ technologies. For instance, the BMAC will aid Pepper investigators in the appropriate use of various molecular tools such as single cell RNAseq and metabolomics, which might provide valuable mechanistic insight to complement various ongoing clinical and translational endeavors.
The BMAC will also help Pepper investigators who might wish to pursue any of a number of high throughput screening approaches including whole genome CRISPR-based screens or screens of diverse chemical libraries. Such screens are envisioned to be essential to uncover new molecular targets or novel therapies that might, for instance, improve age-related muscle function. Finally, the BMAC will catalyze our Team Science efforts, as a way of accelerating the adoption of a ‘common language’ between basic, translational and clinical scientists.
About Us
Our Mission
The University of Pittsburgh Pepper Center advances scientific discovery to maintain and restore independence for older adults.
The goal of the University of Pittsburgh Pepper Center is to increase scientific knowledge that will lead to better ways to maintain or restore independence to older persons. We strive to promote this independence by optimizing balance and mobility and reducing injurious falls through disciplined inquiry and translational research. We train young investigators from multiple disciplines within a vibrant intellectual and collaborative environment and serve as a resource and partner to other investigators, institutions, and the public.
Pepper Cores
Pittsburgh Pepper Center is powered by seven cores that provide the infrastructure, expertise, and resources necessary to drive innovation in aging and mobility research.
LAC
Leadership Administrative Core
The LAC is responsible for the organizational, communication, budgetary, and regulatory functions of the Pepper Center.
CPOC
Clinical and Population Outcomes Core
The CPOC rovides recruitment assistance, cohort study resources, and clinical research expertise to promote a multidisciplinary approach to the assessment of balance and mobility.
DMAIC
Data Management, Analysis and Informatics Core
The DMAIC provides centralized data management, statistical analysis services, and informatics expertise to Pepper investigators.
ISC
Integrative Systems Core
The ISC provides state of the art facilities that support research spanning neuroimaging, biomechanics, physiology, and biology.
PESC
Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core
The PESC promotes and supports innovative multidisciplinary research related to balance, mobility, and aging.
REC
Research Education Component
The REC supports the development of independent investigators who wish to conduct age-related balance and mobility disorders research.
BMAC
Biology of Mobility and Aging Core
The BMAC facilitates the translational gap from basic research at the bench to the clinic.
What is the Pittsburgh Pepper?
The Pittsburgh Pepper: Past, Present, and Future
Presented by Dr. Susan Greenspan, Pittsburgh Pepper Center Director for the 2021 Pepper Seminar Kickoff on September 20th, 2021.
Leadership
The Pittsburgh Pepper Center brings together decades of experience in clinical research, patient care, and academic innovation to drive our mission forward.
Jennifer Brach, PhD, PT, FAPTA
Pepper Center Principal Investigator
Steven M. Handler, MD, PhD, CMD
Pepper Center Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine →
Medical Director, Healthy Home Lab, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Assoc. Chief of Staff, Geriatrics and Extended Care, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS)
Director, VISN
Susan L. Greenspan, MD
Pepper Center Senior Advisor
Director, Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center
Anne B. Newman, MD, MPH
Pepper Center Senior Advisor
Clinical Director of the Aging Institute of Pitt/UPMC
Director, Center for Aging and Population Health
Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology, Professor of Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Elsa S. Strotmeyer, PhD, MPH
Leader, Research Education Component
Associate Professor of Epidemiology →
Director, NIH/NIA Epidemiology of Aging Training Program, Center for Aging and Population Health
Daniel E. Forman, MD, FAHA, FACC
Leader, Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core
Chair, Section of Geriatric Cardiology, Divisions of Geriatrics and Cardiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Director, Emerging Therapeutics, Aging Institute, University of Pittsburgh
read more ...
Director of Translational Research, Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Director of Research, Whole Health, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation and VA Coordinated Transitional Care (C-TraC), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Aditi U. Gurkar, PhD
Co-Leader, Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Aging Institute →
Steven Albert, PhD, MS
Leader, Clinical and Population Outcomes Core
Andrea Rosso, PhD, MPH
Co-Leader, Clinical Populations Outcomes Core
Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Clinical and Translational Science Institute →
Caterina Rosano, MD, MPH
Leader, Integrative Systems Core
Professor and Vice Chair for Research,
Associate Director for Clinical Translation, Aging Institute
Mark Redfern, PhD
Co-Leader, Integrative Systems Core
Professor, Bioengineering, Otolaryngology, Industrial
William Kepler-Whiteford Professor of Bioengineering
Subashan Perera, PhD, FGSA
Leader, Data Management, Analysis and Informatics Core
Charity Moore Patterson, PhD, MSPH
Co-Leader, Data Management, Analysis, and Informatics Core
Toren Finkel, MD, PhD
Leader, Biology Mobility and of Aging Core
Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Division of
Director, Aging Institute of UPMC and Pitt
Nicholas Beckwith III and Dorothy B. Beckwith Chair in Translational Medicine
Stacey Rizzo, PhD
Co-Leader, Biology of Mobility and Aging Core
Associate Professor,
Geriatrics Division and Aging Institute
Director, Preclinical Phenotyping Core
Pepper Scholars
The Pepper Center promotes the development of new investigators through a multilevel progressive training program including career development activities, education and training opportunities, and support for pilot research.
The Research Education Component (REC) provides various levels of support to Novice Scholars, Pepper Scholars, Young Investigators, and Visiting Scholars.
Novice Scholars
This program engages trainees in the research area of balance, mobility and aging early in their development by offering research opportunities in a supportive and enthusiastic environment. The Novice candidates also provide a pipeline for future Pepper Scholars.
Candidates must have an interest in some aspect of balance, mobility, and aging, a sponsoring mentor who is involved in the OAIC and defined research goals, including a research project in a related area.
Trainees at this initial level must have funding from an existing institutional program. Trainees may come from any of the age-related T32 training grants, the Hartford Center of Excellence, physicians on other funded research training tracks within their specialties, or doctoral or postdoctoral trainees from the Schools of Public Health, Nursing, Allied Health, or Engineering.
Pepper Scholars
The Pepper Scholar program supports junior faculty trainees who have achieved an initial level of expertise and productivity in an area related to balance, mobility, and aging while they seek their first independent funding.
Candidates will generally have completed the bulk of initial didactic training in research methods, have completed and published initial research projects, have a sponsoring mentor and mentoring team, and have a training plan with specific goals and milestones, including a specific research project and plan for submitting a proposal for independent funding.
All Scholars must spend at least 75% time in research and are expected to have an individualized training plan that utilizes the resources of the CTSI – ICRE. Scholars will complete an Customized Career Development Plan annually and review with their mentoring team.
Young Investigators
Transitioning to Independence: This program promotes development of trainees into independent investigators by fostering experiences in leadership and collaboration with other investigators, skills supplementation as desired, and team support and feedback on proposals and manuscripts.
Candidates have independent career awards in areas relevant to our theme. They have a sponsoring mentor related to the Pepper Center and a career training plan with specific goals and milestones, including a specific research project.
Visiting Scholars
This program is to promote development into an independent investigator by fostering experiences in leadership and collaboration with other investigators, skills supplementation as desired, and team support and feedback on proposals and manuscripts.
Candidates have independent career awards in areas relevant to our theme.
They have a sponsoring mentor related to the Pepper Center and a career training plan with specific goals and milestones, including a specific research project.
REC Leadership Workshops
Workshops to foster leadership and cultural coaching are held twice monthly. Upcoming workshop topics and details can be found on our calendar page.
Current Pepper Scholars
Nami Safai Haeri, MD
Nami Safai Haeri is an Endocrinologist, Geriatrician, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. His research is primarily focused on metabolic musculoskeletal disorders in older adults. Currently, his work is aimed at examining the impact of osteoporosis medications on muscle mass and investigating the correlation between osteoporosis and sarcopenia in older adults.
Brendan McNeish, MD
Brendan McNeish is an Assistant Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh. His research interests are in the underlying causes of mobility disability in older cancer survivors. Specifically, he is interested in investigating how neuromuscular and cognitive capacities change with cancer and treatment and how they are associated with changes in balance, gait, falls, and quality of life.
Aimee Pickering, MD, MS
Aimee Pickering is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and practicing general internist in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine/UPMC. Her research broadly focuses on de-implementing low-value care in older adults. Specifically, her current work aims to apply implementation science principles to support deprescribing potentially inappropriate diabetes medications in older adults. Her ultimate goal is to extend this work to deprescribing in other clinical areas to improve harms associated with inappropriate medication use in older adults.
Marcelo Rocha, MD, PhD
Marcelo Rocha is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh, Vascular Neurologist and Director of the Neurovascular Ultrasound laboratory at UPMC. His research is focused on the regulation of cerebrovascular hemodynamics and mechanisms of ischemic tolerance to stroke and aging. His current work aims to define nitric oxide-related biomarkers of collateral capacity in older adults with large vessel occlusion stroke and related functional outcomes.
Pepper Research Network on Aging
The mission of the Pepper Research Network on Aging is to promote and foster inclusion of older adults living in the community and across the continuum of care in University of Pittsburgh research studies.
Older adults have traditionally been underrepresented in biomedical research, leading to a lack of evidence-based treatment for the population with the highest disease burden. The United States alone is home to over 40 million older adults, and adults over 65 years of age constitute 17% of Allegheny County. Due to aging of the Baby Boomer population and lack of representation of older adults in clinical research, there is a serious ethical obligation to search for advancements in care for this population through research inclusive of all adults, regardless of age and health status.
The PRNA aims to increase scientific knowledge to help maintain or restore independence in older persons by assisting University of Pittsburgh investigators with age-inclusive clinical research through partnerships between long-term care facilities, senior communities, community organizations, University partners, investigators, and physicians.
The PRNA expands knowledge about treatment of older adults through research studies ranging from double-blind clinical trials to qualitative studies about residents’ experiences in long-term care.
Our Research Registries
The PRNA maintains two registries that recruit and enroll older adults who are willing to be contacted about potential research opportunities.
Community Research Connection
The University of Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Adults Independence Center Community Research Connection has been in operation since 2005 and has enrolled over 2,200 community-dwelling adults over 60 years of age.
Over 100 studies from various University departments have used the Community Research Connection (formerly the Pepper Center Research Registry) as a resource for recruitment. Learn more about using the Community Research Connection for recruitment
Learn more about becoming a Community Research Connection
Senior-Living Registry
The Platinum Registry for Senior-Living Residents is the only one of its kind and is inclusive of the frailest older adults with the greatest co-morbidities and disabilities. This registry recruits and enrolls older adults who reside in long-term care, senior communities, senior high rises, and those who attend an adult day program. The Platinum Registry has been in operation since 2016 and has fostered relationships with over 40 facilities and their residents.
This registry also recruits senior-living facilities and adult day programs as sites for future research studies. Participating sites agree to consider hosting research programs at their facility to eliminate the barrier of transportation that is prevalent for many older adults. Learn more about using the Senior-Living Registry for recruitment.