Boston OAIC Leadership
Shalender Bhasin, M.D.
Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Download Dr. Bhasin’s biosketch
Dr. Shalender Bhasin, MD is is a Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, and Chief of the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition at Boston Medical Center. He serves as the Director of the NIA-funded Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center for Function Promoting Therapies. Dr. Bhasin obtained his medical education at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India. He subsequently received his residency training at Northwestern University Medical School and fellowship training in Endocrinology and Nutrition at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Dr. Bhasin is an internationally recognized endocrinologist with expertise in function promoting anabolic therapies, androgen biology and clinical trials of testosterone. He chaired the Endocrine Society’s Expert Panel for the development of Guidelines for Testosterone Therapy. He serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He serves as the Chair of the Endocrine Society’s Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee and as a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism Subspecialty Examination. His laboratory provided the first unequivocal evidence of the anabolic effects of androgens in humans, demonstrated that androgens regulate differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, and invoked the activation of Wnt target genes through beta-catenin-TCF-4 pathway. He is a translational researcher, supported by several NIH-funded grants for over 20 years, and has been the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards.
Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Download Dr. Bhasin’s biosketch
Dr. Shalender Bhasin, MD is is a Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, and Chief of the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition at Boston Medical Center. He serves as the Director of the NIA-funded Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center for Function Promoting Therapies. Dr. Bhasin obtained his medical education at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India. He subsequently received his residency training at Northwestern University Medical School and fellowship training in Endocrinology and Nutrition at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Dr. Bhasin is an internationally recognized endocrinologist with expertise in function promoting anabolic therapies, androgen biology and clinical trials of testosterone. He chaired the Endocrine Society’s Expert Panel for the development of Guidelines for Testosterone Therapy. He serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He serves as the Chair of the Endocrine Society’s Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee and as a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism Subspecialty Examination. His laboratory provided the first unequivocal evidence of the anabolic effects of androgens in humans, demonstrated that androgens regulate differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, and invoked the activation of Wnt target genes through beta-catenin-TCF-4 pathway. He is a translational researcher, supported by several NIH-funded grants for over 20 years, and has been the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards.
Roger Fielding, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Download Dr. Fielding’s biosketch
Roger A. Fielding, PhD, of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, is Director and Senior Scientist of the Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia (NEPS) Laboratory, Professor of Nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Dr. Fielding is an internationally known researcher who studies the underlying mechanisms contributing to the age-associated decline in skeletal muscle mass, the resultant impact on function, and the potential role of exercise and physical activity on attenuating this process.
Dr. Fielding has a strong record of NIH funding and oversaw the development of the interventions for the LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions for Elders) Pilot study and served as the Chair of the LIFE Intervention and Operations Committee. He also is a co-investigator and chair of the Body Composition Analysis committee for the NIA-funded “Calerie” trial.
Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Download Dr. Fielding’s biosketch
Roger A. Fielding, PhD, of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, is Director and Senior Scientist of the Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia (NEPS) Laboratory, Professor of Nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Dr. Fielding is an internationally known researcher who studies the underlying mechanisms contributing to the age-associated decline in skeletal muscle mass, the resultant impact on function, and the potential role of exercise and physical activity on attenuating this process.
Dr. Fielding has a strong record of NIH funding and oversaw the development of the interventions for the LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions for Elders) Pilot study and served as the Chair of the LIFE Intervention and Operations Committee. He also is a co-investigator and chair of the Body Composition Analysis committee for the NIA-funded “Calerie” trial.
Alan M. Jette, P.T., Ph.D., F.A.P.T.A.
Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Download Dr. Jette’s biosketch
Alan M. Jette is Professor of Health Policy & Management at Boston University’s School of Public Health and directs Boston University’s Health & Disability Research Institute He is Research Director for the New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center based at Boston University Medical Center and serves as Director of the Boston University Post Doctoral Research Fellowship in Rehabilitation Outcomes and Effectiveness Research.
He received a BS in Physical Therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1973 and his MPH (1975) and Ph.D. (1979) in Public Health from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Jette’s is an internationally recognized expert in the measurement of function and disability. He has developed numerous instruments that assess function and disability and has published numerous articles on these topics in the rehabilitation, geriatrics, and public health literature. Dr. Jette’s current research interests include the measurement, epidemiology, and prevention of disability, and the development and dissemination of contemporary outcome measurement instruments to evaluate the quality of health care.
Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Download Dr. Jette’s biosketch
Alan M. Jette is Professor of Health Policy & Management at Boston University’s School of Public Health and directs Boston University’s Health & Disability Research Institute He is Research Director for the New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center based at Boston University Medical Center and serves as Director of the Boston University Post Doctoral Research Fellowship in Rehabilitation Outcomes and Effectiveness Research.
He received a BS in Physical Therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1973 and his MPH (1975) and Ph.D. (1979) in Public Health from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Jette’s is an internationally recognized expert in the measurement of function and disability. He has developed numerous instruments that assess function and disability and has published numerous articles on these topics in the rehabilitation, geriatrics, and public health literature. Dr. Jette’s current research interests include the measurement, epidemiology, and prevention of disability, and the development and dissemination of contemporary outcome measurement instruments to evaluate the quality of health care.
Rebecca A. Silliman, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Download Dr. Silliman’s biosketch
Rebecca A. Silliman, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Chief of the Section of Geriatrics at Boston University Medical Center (BUMC), has had 17 years of continuous federal research grant support, with a focus on chronic illness care in older adults. She is a leader in the field of Geriatric Oncology and serves as a key mentor for trainees at all levels who are pursuing careers in aging research.
She is principal investigator of the NIA-funded Summer Institute in Geriatric Medicine for medical students; the John A. Hartford Foundation Center of Excellence In Geriatrics; and an R01 testing an intervention to increase walking in older adults. Dr. Silliman has been a co-investigator/faculty member for Boston University’s Clinical Research Training Program (CREST since its initial funding in 1999; oversees research training for Boston Medical Center’s Geriatric Medicine fellows; and is co-principal investigator of the Boston University Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH K12).
At the national level, Dr. Silliman serves as Chair of the Research Committee for American Geriatrics Society (AGS). Dr. Silliman has served as Chief of the Section of Geriatrics at BUMC since 2000 and was selected as a John A. Hartford Geriatrics Leadership Scholars Program awardee in 2004. She has extensive study section experience and currently serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.
Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Download Dr. Silliman’s biosketch
Rebecca A. Silliman, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Chief of the Section of Geriatrics at Boston University Medical Center (BUMC), has had 17 years of continuous federal research grant support, with a focus on chronic illness care in older adults. She is a leader in the field of Geriatric Oncology and serves as a key mentor for trainees at all levels who are pursuing careers in aging research.
She is principal investigator of the NIA-funded Summer Institute in Geriatric Medicine for medical students; the John A. Hartford Foundation Center of Excellence In Geriatrics; and an R01 testing an intervention to increase walking in older adults. Dr. Silliman has been a co-investigator/faculty member for Boston University’s Clinical Research Training Program (CREST since its initial funding in 1999; oversees research training for Boston Medical Center’s Geriatric Medicine fellows; and is co-principal investigator of the Boston University Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH K12).
At the national level, Dr. Silliman serves as Chair of the Research Committee for American Geriatrics Society (AGS). Dr. Silliman has served as Chief of the Section of Geriatrics at BUMC since 2000 and was selected as a John A. Hartford Geriatrics Leadership Scholars Program awardee in 2004. She has extensive study section experience and currently serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.
James J. Collins, Ph.D.
Download Dr. Collins’ biosketch
J.J. Collins received a bachelor’s degree in Physics (summa cum laude; class valedictorian) from the College of the Holy Cross in 1987 and a doctorate in Medical Engineering from the University of Oxford in 1990. From 1987 to 1990, he was a Rhodes Scholar. Since 1990, he has been a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. Currently, Dr. Collins is a University Professor, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Co-Director of the Center for BioDynamics at Boston University. His research interests include: (1) systems biology – reverse engineering naturally occurring gene regulatory networks, and (2) synthetic biology – modeling, designing and constructing synthetic gene networks.
Dr. Collins has received a number of awards and honors, including the American Society of Biomechanics Young Scientist Award, the Thomas Stephen Group Prize from the Engineering in Medicine Group of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Early Career Achievement Award, Boston University’s Metcalf Cup and Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and being selected for Technology Review’s inaugural TR100 – 100 young innovators who will shape the future of technology. Dr. Collins is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Institute of Physics and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. In 2003, he received a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Award”, and in 2005, he was selected for the Scientific American 50 – the top 50 outstanding leaders in science and technology. In 2007, Dr. Collins received the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award and the Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar Award in Aging. This past year, Dr. Collins was selected as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, becoming the first BU faculty to be honored with this distinction.
Download Dr. Collins’ biosketch
J.J. Collins received a bachelor’s degree in Physics (summa cum laude; class valedictorian) from the College of the Holy Cross in 1987 and a doctorate in Medical Engineering from the University of Oxford in 1990. From 1987 to 1990, he was a Rhodes Scholar. Since 1990, he has been a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. Currently, Dr. Collins is a University Professor, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Co-Director of the Center for BioDynamics at Boston University. His research interests include: (1) systems biology – reverse engineering naturally occurring gene regulatory networks, and (2) synthetic biology – modeling, designing and constructing synthetic gene networks.
Dr. Collins has received a number of awards and honors, including the American Society of Biomechanics Young Scientist Award, the Thomas Stephen Group Prize from the Engineering in Medicine Group of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Early Career Achievement Award, Boston University’s Metcalf Cup and Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and being selected for Technology Review’s inaugural TR100 – 100 young innovators who will shape the future of technology. Dr. Collins is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Institute of Physics and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. In 2003, he received a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Award”, and in 2005, he was selected for the Scientific American 50 – the top 50 outstanding leaders in science and technology. In 2007, Dr. Collins received the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award and the Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar Award in Aging. This past year, Dr. Collins was selected as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, becoming the first BU faculty to be honored with this distinction.
Ravi Jasuja, Ph.D.
Small Animal Resource Core Leader
Download Dr. Jasuja’s biosketch
Ravi Jasuja received his Bachelor’s degree in Technology from the Indian institute of Technology, Delhi , PhD from the University of Hawaii, Manoa with Dr. Randy Larsen and conducted his postdoctoral research with Dr. Shahid Khan (at Albert Einstein College of Medicine) and Dr. Frank Ferrone (at Drexel University).
Dr. Jasuja is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Endocrinology section and the director of Metabolic Phenotyping Core. His research interests include: 1. Biophysical characterization of ligand-specific conformational dynamics in Androgen Receptor 2. Mechanisms of tissue-specific action of androgens on muscle, bone, prostate adipose tissue remodeling by circulating androgens in animal models and development of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators.
Small Animal Resource Core Leader
Download Dr. Jasuja’s biosketch
Ravi Jasuja received his Bachelor’s degree in Technology from the Indian institute of Technology, Delhi , PhD from the University of Hawaii, Manoa with Dr. Randy Larsen and conducted his postdoctoral research with Dr. Shahid Khan (at Albert Einstein College of Medicine) and Dr. Frank Ferrone (at Drexel University).
Dr. Jasuja is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Endocrinology section and the director of Metabolic Phenotyping Core. His research interests include: 1. Biophysical characterization of ligand-specific conformational dynamics in Androgen Receptor 2. Mechanisms of tissue-specific action of androgens on muscle, bone, prostate adipose tissue remodeling by circulating androgens in animal models and development of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators.
Monty Montano, Ph.D.
Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core Leader
Download Dr. Montano’s biosketch
Monty Montano received his BA in biochemistry from U.C. Berkeley, his PhD in genetics from Stanford University and conducted his postdoctoral work at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Montano is currently a principal investigator in the Department of Medicine, in the sections of infectious diseases and molecular medicine. The Montano laboratory is broadly interested in the identification of biomarkers for immune – muscle interaction in infection, muscle wasting diseases and aging. Research initiatives in the Montano laboratory include analysis of the interaction between host immune factors (e.g., macrophages) and muscle stem cell remodeling during HIV associated muscle wasting, and the molecular phenotyping of aging and the identification of biomarkers for anabolic response. The laboratory utilizes tools in molecular virology, quantitative analysis of gene and protein expression, and genome-wide microarray analysis to better understand genotypic and phenotypic associations with human health and disease.
Dr. Montano is currently (2007-2012) the principal investigator of a NIAMS-sponsored R01 research grant entitled, “Macrophage-Muscle Precursor Cell Interactions in the Context of HIV Infection.” He is also a principal investigator in one of the PESC pilot projects entitled, ”Biomarkers for anabolic response.”
Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core Leader
Download Dr. Montano’s biosketch
Monty Montano received his BA in biochemistry from U.C. Berkeley, his PhD in genetics from Stanford University and conducted his postdoctoral work at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Montano is currently a principal investigator in the Department of Medicine, in the sections of infectious diseases and molecular medicine. The Montano laboratory is broadly interested in the identification of biomarkers for immune – muscle interaction in infection, muscle wasting diseases and aging. Research initiatives in the Montano laboratory include analysis of the interaction between host immune factors (e.g., macrophages) and muscle stem cell remodeling during HIV associated muscle wasting, and the molecular phenotyping of aging and the identification of biomarkers for anabolic response. The laboratory utilizes tools in molecular virology, quantitative analysis of gene and protein expression, and genome-wide microarray analysis to better understand genotypic and phenotypic associations with human health and disease.
Dr. Montano is currently (2007-2012) the principal investigator of a NIAMS-sponsored R01 research grant entitled, “Macrophage-Muscle Precursor Cell Interactions in the Context of HIV Infection.” He is also a principal investigator in one of the PESC pilot projects entitled, ”Biomarkers for anabolic response.”
Thomas Travison, Ph.D.
Biostatistical Design and Analysis Core Leader
Download Dr. Travison’s biosketch
Tom Travison is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biostatistics at the Boston University School of Medicine and School of Public Health, and Chief Biostatistician in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition at Boston Medical Center. He received his BA (1997) in Mathematics from Skidmore College and his PhD (2002) in biostatistics from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, with concentration in the epidemiology and biostatistics of aging. He was previously Senior Research Scientist at New England Research Institutes (NERI) and lead statistician on the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) and Boston Area Community Health / Bone Study. He is currently a Chief Investigator on the North West Adelaide Health Study and Florey Adelaide Male Aging Studies, and an International Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Sydney’s ANZAC Research Institute.
Dr. Travison’s research interests include age-related changes in circulating sex steroid concentrations and their influence on body composition, bone health and downstream morbidity in older adults. With colleagues at the MMAS he reported the first evidence of twenty-year secular changes in androgen concentrations in older American men. He is the recipient of research and teaching awards, and a former chair of the NERI Institutional Review Board.
Biostatistical Design and Analysis Core Leader
Download Dr. Travison’s biosketch
Tom Travison is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biostatistics at the Boston University School of Medicine and School of Public Health, and Chief Biostatistician in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition at Boston Medical Center. He received his BA (1997) in Mathematics from Skidmore College and his PhD (2002) in biostatistics from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, with concentration in the epidemiology and biostatistics of aging. He was previously Senior Research Scientist at New England Research Institutes (NERI) and lead statistician on the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) and Boston Area Community Health / Bone Study. He is currently a Chief Investigator on the North West Adelaide Health Study and Florey Adelaide Male Aging Studies, and an International Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Sydney’s ANZAC Research Institute.
Dr. Travison’s research interests include age-related changes in circulating sex steroid concentrations and their influence on body composition, bone health and downstream morbidity in older adults. With colleagues at the MMAS he reported the first evidence of twenty-year secular changes in androgen concentrations in older American men. He is the recipient of research and teaching awards, and a former chair of the NERI Institutional Review Board.
Amy Wagers, Ph.D.
Download Dr. Wagers’ biosketch
Amy Wagers received her Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis from Northwestern University in 1999, and then worked as a postdoctoral fellow studying stem cell biology in the laboratory of Dr. Irving Weissman in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Section on Developmental and Stem Cell Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. She is also a Principal Faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and serves on its Executive Committee.
Dr. Wagers is a recipient of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award, the Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award, the WM Keck Foundation Distinguished Young Scholar Award, and the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. Her current research focuses on defining the factors and mechanisms that regulate the migration, expansion, and regenerative potential of adult blood-forming and muscle-forming stem cells.
Download Dr. Wagers’ biosketch
Amy Wagers received her Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis from Northwestern University in 1999, and then worked as a postdoctoral fellow studying stem cell biology in the laboratory of Dr. Irving Weissman in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Section on Developmental and Stem Cell Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. She is also a Principal Faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and serves on its Executive Committee.
Dr. Wagers is a recipient of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award, the Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award, the WM Keck Foundation Distinguished Young Scholar Award, and the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. Her current research focuses on defining the factors and mechanisms that regulate the migration, expansion, and regenerative potential of adult blood-forming and muscle-forming stem cells.
Last updated: 2-15-2012
What's New?News & EventsPublications |
