The Division of Geriatrics offers rich clinical research opportunities to staff, fellows, residents, and students.
POTENTIAL PROJECTS
Stephen J. Bonasera, MD, PhD; 559-8409 sbonasera@unmc.edu
- Age-related changes in mouse and human functional behavior (eating, drinking, physical activity)
- Age-related changes in mouse and human regional CNS gene expression and regulation
- Advanced approaches for behavioral phenotyping in mice
- Advanced approached to measure functional behaviors in ambulatory human populations and use this information for stratification and risk identification of older community dwelling persons
- Identification of genetic loci that influence age-related changes in behavior
- Age-related dysregulation of CNS signaling networks
- Basic biological mechanisms underlying delirium in mice
- Novel neuropsychological-based approaches for community screening of cognitive disorders
Recent representative papers include:
- Stereotypy
- Mobile Monitoring Proof-of-Principle
- Gait Validation
- SPECIALIZED LABORATORY/CLINICAL RESEARCH RESOURCES: Tools to assess visual impairment: Pelli-Robson Chart, ETDRS-Type Charts, D-15 Color Test, Teller Acuity Cards, Pseudo-Isochromatic Plates, Stereopsis tests.
Sixty-four station mouse home cage monitoring system with associated workstations for data quality control, classification, and analysis; 4 station rodent indirect calorimetry measurement system with integrated activity monitoring; standard behavioral phenotyping equipment including 4 chamber open field, elevated zero maze, Noldus Observer and EthoVision acquisition and analysis software; RNA purification and quantification workflow, including Qiagen TissueLyser II, Qiagen Qiacube, Thermo Nanodropper II, Agilent BioAnalyzer 2100, Eppendorf ep RealPlex RT-qPCR; Nokia N79-based cell phone data acquisition system with appropriate server software for highly secured data transmission; standard laboratory equipment (centrifuges, -80 freezer capacity, -20 freezer capacity, refrigerator capacity, electronic balances to manage milligram to gram samples, pH meter, incubators, water baths, standard molecular biology tools).
The Geriatric Clinic database contains baseline data on health, functional, cognitive and affective status on over 2500 patients. This database may be used to explore a variety of issues related to frailty and aging.