UCLA Older Americans Independence Center
                        (Pepper Center)




Pilot Research Projects and Principal Investigators - Year 01 to Present


Validation of a Kilocalorie Expenditure Questionnaire (Kalculate) Employed in a Walking Program
Year 01 (1991-92)
David A. Leaf, MD, MPH
Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine - 310-478-3711 x48336

Sleep and Behavior in the Impaired Nursing Home Resident
Years 01-03 (1991-94)
Cathy A. Alessi, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine - (818) 895-9311

Walking Disabilities in the Elderly Board and Care Population
Year 02 (1992-93)
Nancy Harada, PhD, PT
Adjunct Associate Professor - (310) 478-3711 x 42627

Non-Pharmacologic Pain Management
Year 02 (1992-93)
Bruce A. Ferrell, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine – (310) 825-8253

The Effects of a Six-Month Walking Program on Functional and Biomedical Markers of Health in Nursing Home Residents
Year 03 (1993-94)
Priscilla Gilliam MacRae, PhD
Professor of Sports Medicine, Pepperdine University - (310) 456-4162

Investigating the Bone-Trophic Mechanisms of a Weighted Vest
Year 03 (1993-94)
Gail A. Greendale, MD
Professor of Medicine - (310) 825-8253

Exploring the Prevalence of Menopausal Symptoms and Defining the Role of Estrogens and Androgens in Sexual Function Among Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Survivors
Year 04 (1994-95)
Patricia A. Ganz, MD
Professor of Public Health and Medicine - (310) 825-3181 or 310-206-1404

Gail A. Greendale, MD
Professor of Medicine - (310) 825-8253

Development of Methods in the Study of Costs, Efficacy and Satisfaction of Advance Healthcare Directives
Year 04 (1994-95)
Alexander J. Tymchuk, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences - (310) 825-0026

Prospective Validation of a Prediction Rule for Improvement Following Cataract Extraction Preparation of a Randomized Trial of Cost Effectiveness and Visual Functional Outcome After Cataract Extraction Versus Non-Surgical Care
Year 04 (1994-95)
Carol M. Mangione, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine - (310) 794-2298

Enhancement of Influenza Vaccine Immunogenicity in the Elderly
Year 04 (1994-95)
Rita B. Effros, PhD
Professor of Pathology-Laboratory Medicine - (310) 825-0748

Melatonin Levels and Sleep in Impaired Nursing Home Residents
Year 04-05 (1994-96)
Cathy A. Alessi, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine - (818) 895-9311

F. Eugene Yates, PhD
Professor, Medical Monitoring Unit - (310) 312-0553

Immunodeficiency of Aging: Replicative Senescence of T Lymphocytes
Year 05 (1995-96)
Rita B. Effros, PhD
Professor of Pathology-Laboratory Medicine - (310) 825-0748

Total Energy Expenditure and Cardiorespiratory Function in Frail Nursing Home Residents
Year 05 (1995-96)
Holden MacRae, PhD
Associate Professor of Sports Medicine, Pepperdine University - (310) 456-4278

Utility Assessment and Barriers to Randomization to Surgical vs Non-Surgical Care Among Persons With Cataract
Year 05 (1995-96)
Carol M. Mangione, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine - (310) 794-2298

Dysregulation of Cytokine Balance of Antigen-Presenting Cells in Age-Related Immune Dysfunction
Year 05 (1995-96)
Steve C. Castle, MD
Professor of Medicine - (310) 268-4671

Age Associated Changes in Lymphocyte Apoptosis Triggered by Galectin-1
Year 06 (1996-97)
Linda G. Baum, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine - (310) 206-5985

Age Defect in Antigen Presentation-T Cell Interaction to Tuberculosis
Year 06 (1996-97)
Takashi Makinodan, PhD
Professor of Medicine - (310) 478-3711 x43398

Development and Preliminary Testing of a Nutritional Intervention for Older Persons With Protein-energy Undernutrition
Year 06 (1996-97)
David B. Reuben, MD
Professor of Medicine - (310) 825-8253

Fibronectin Alternate Splice Isoforms in Osteoarthritis
Year 07 (1997-98)
John H. Peters, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine in Residence, UC Davis School of Medicine – (916) 366-5332

Preferences for Health Outcomes in Older Adults
Year 07 (1997-98)
Cathy D. Sherboune, PhD
Behavioral Scientist, Social Policy Department, The Rand Corporation - (310) 393-0411 x7216

Validation of the Alcohol-Related Problems in the Elderly Survey (ARPS): A Screening Measure for Identifying Harmful and Hazardous Drinking in Older Persons
Year 07 (1997-98)
Alison A. Moore, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine - (310) 825-8253

Effects of Oxidized Lipids on Osteogenic Potential of Marrow Stromal Cells
Year 08 (1998-99)
Farhad Parhami, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (310) 794-7846

ERT: Does it Protect Against Increase in HPA Axis Reactivity?
Year 08 (1998-99)
Teresa E. Seeman, PhD
Professor of Medicine – (310) 825-8253

Effects of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Alzheimer’s Disease Immunopathogenesis
Year 08 (1998-99)
Verna R. Porter, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Neurology; Chief, Division of Neurology, UCLA/Santa Monica Medical Center – (310) 319-4771

Developing Nursing Home Quality-of-Life Interventions Based on Preference and Satisfaction Measures
Year 08 (1998-99)
John F. Schnelle, PhD
Professor in Residence, Medicine – (818) 774-3080
Sandra Simmons, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (818) 774-3347

Molecular Mechanism of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Year 09 (1999-2000)
Ichiro Nishimura, DDS, DMSc, DMD
Associate Professor of Dentistry – (310) 794-7612

Parathyroid Hormone Induces Novel Primary Response Genes in Osteoblasts
Year 09 (1999-2000)
Sotirio Tetradis, DDS, PhD
Assistant Professor of Dentistry – (310) 825-5711

Biomechanics of Crashes, Injuries, and Protective Devices Among Elderly Occupants in Motor Vehicle Crashes
Year 09 (1999-2000)
Corinne Peek-Asa, PhD
Associate Professor of Public Health
Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center, University of Iowa – (319) 335-4895

Estrogen Receptor Expression and Function in Human T Cells
Year 09 (1999-2000)
Rita B. Effros, PhD
Professor of Pathology-Laboratory Medicine - (310) 825-0748

Development of an Intervention to Prevent Functional Decline among Community-residing Older Minority Adults with Diabetes Mellitus
Year 09 (1999-2000)
Carol M. Mangione, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine - (310) 794-2298

Investigating Nutritional Care Staffing in Nursing Homes
Year 09 (1999-2000)
Shan Cretin, PhD
Senior Scientist, Health Program, RAND – (310) 393-0411 x7322

Hatha Yoga to Improve Kyphotic Posture and its Complications
Year 10 (2000-2001)
Gail A. Greendale, MD
Professor of Medicine - (310) 825-8253

A Measurement Protocol of Individualized Care in Nursing Homes
Year 10 (2000-2001)
Lené Levy-Storms, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (818) 774-3347

Social Control of Health Behaviors Among Older Adults
Year 10 (2000-2001)
Joan S. Tucker, PhD
Associate Behavioral Scientist, RAND - (310) 393-0411 x7519

Estrogen/Telomerase Interaction in Normal Human T Cells Year 11 (2001-2002)
Rita B. Effros, PhD
Professor of Pathology-Laboratory Medicine - (310) 825-0748

The Effect of a Feeding Assistance Program to Improve Nutrition on Skin Health Outcomes in Nursing Home Residents
Year 12 (2002-2003)
Barbara M. Bates-Jensen, PhD, RN
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine – (818) 774-3347

The Epidemiology of Kyphosis in Older Persons: A New Geriatric Syndrome?
Year 12 (2002-2003)
Deborah M. Kado, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (310) 825-8253

Effect of Alendronate on Structural Engineering Measures of Femoral Neck Strength in the Fracture Intervention Trial
Year 12 (2002-2003)
Arun S. Karlamangla, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (310) 825-8253

The New ERA Pilot Study: Pilot Testing of an Intervention to Raise Physical Activity Levels among Community-residing Older Adults by Raising Expectations Regarding Aging
Year 12 (2002-2003)
Catherine A. Sarkisian, MD, MSPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (310) 825-8253

Cognitive Impairment in Older Primary Care Veterans: How Many Are Affected and How Often Do Physicians Evaluate or Treat?
Year 13 (2003-2004)
Joshua Chodosh, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (310) 825-8253

Effect of Senescent T Cells on Bone Physiology
Year 13 (2003-2004)
Farhad Parhami, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (310) 794-7846

Translation of Feeding Assistance Interventions Into Daily Nursing Home Care Practice
Year 13 (2003-2004)
Sandra F. Simmons, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine – (818) 774-3347


Using Information Technology to Improve Care of Vulnerable Veterans
Year 14 (2004-2005)
Constance H. Fung, MD, MSHS
Clinical Instructor of Medicine – (310) 478-3711 x40921

Therapeutic Potential of Demethylasterriquinone B1 (DAQ B1), a Small Molecule Insulin Mimetic, in Alzheimer’s Disease
Year 14 (2004-2005)
Lixia Zhao, PhD
Assistant Research Professor - (818) 891-7711 ext 7662

Improving Pain Detection among Nursing Home Residents with a Staff Management Model
Year 14 (2004-2005)
Barbara Bates-Jensen, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor of Medicine (818) 774-3347

Epidemiology of Family Conferences in Geriatric Inpatient Medical Care
Year 14 (2004-2005)
Iris Cohen Fineberg, PhD, MSW, Assistant Researcher – (310) 794-0728

Neil Wenger, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine – (310) 794-2288

Strategies to Improve Swallowing Behavior and Fluid Intake of Nursing Home Residents with Dysphagia
Year 14 (2004-2005)
Janet C. Mentes, PhD, RNCS, GNP, Assistant Professor, UCLA School of Dentistry – (310) 794-7609

Last Updated: March 3, 2006 © 2000 UCLA GeroNet