Table 2:
Topics, Speakers and Take Away Themes
| Topic | Speaker | Key Take Away Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Biology of Aging | ||
| Pillars of Aging | Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD, National Institute on Aging | • Importance of studying resilience, as well as decline • Variability and complexity among older adults • Need for the FDA to specify aging mechanisms and multimorbidities as indications for treatment and endpoints for clinical studies |
| Inflammation | Jeremy Walston, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine | |
| Metabolism | Nick Musi, MD, Barshop Institute | |
| Resilience | George Kuchel, MD, UConn Health | |
| Interventions | ||
| Translation: Bench to Bedside | Thomas Rando, MD, PhD, Stanford University | • Need for flexibility and taking advantage of unexpected developments |
| Trials: Phase I and II | James Kirkland, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic | |
| Trials: Phase III | Nir Barzilai, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine | |
| Geroscience R24: Research Strategies, Barriers, Opportunities | ||
| Pre-Clinical: Developing therapeutics targeting aging mechanisms | James Kirkland, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic | • Target big picture outcomes. • Clinical trials should include older people, particularly those who are frail or have multiple morbidities, and embrace heterogeneity. • Need for infrastructure, including assistance with preparing investigational new drug applications, to facilitate translation of basic science discoveries to the clinic |
| Research Methods and Strategies | ||
| Pragmatic Trials | Marcel Salive, MD, MPH, NIA Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology | • Prioritizes comparing clinically relevant alternatives in diverse study populations from real-world practice settings • Increasing opportunities for pragmatic trial designs in frailty, disability, and multiple chronic co-morbidities since <15% of guidelines are based on high-quality evidence |
| Finding Research Questions | Josie Briggs, MD, NIA Aging Research for the Specialties | • Focus questions on conventional wisdom and the supporting evidence • Incomplete knowledge stems from inadequate biological understanding, inappropriate outcome measures, insufficient high-quality data, or efficacy data with limited external validity or heterogeneous effects, as well as failure to weigh potential harms with benefits • The Precision Medicine Initiative® offers opportunity to inform a broad variety of research studies and a transformational approach to diversity |
| The Continuing Value of Clinician Investigators | Evan Hadley, MD, Director of the National Institute on Aging | • Specialty clinical investigators remain essential to better understanding the role of aging mechanisms in age-related conditions, the bidirectional interactions of multimorbidities, earlier targeting of chronic disease or risk factors as prevention, and development of appropriate performance and outcome measures to inform payment reform |
| Junior Investigator Resources | ||
| Large Databases: Pros/Cons/Limitations | Joachim Ix, MD, MAS, University of California-San Diego | • Existing dataset projects can increase collaborative research productivity with potential for ancillary studies • Large epidemiological studies often have topic-oriented working groups and statistical support to provide advice on ideas, manuscripts, and career • Disadvantages include administrative complexities, limited data and sub-samples, and intellectual property rights – how investigators are approached is key |
| Baltimore Study of Longitudinal Aging | Stephanie Studenski, MD, PhD, National Institute on Aging | • Established as a lifelong cohort study of normative aging in 1958 with updates in 2004 and 2011 to characterize various aspects of the aging process and interactions through biannual (ages 60–79) or annual assessment of core and advanced measures • Endpoints include life expectancy, health longevity, mobility, cognitive impairment, and frailty • Aims to be responsive to emerging research questions in aging with opportunities for translational studies |
| Health and Retirement Study (HRS) | Alex Smith, MD, University of California-San Francisco | • HRS includes biennial surveys since 1992, ~20,000 participants • Provide focus on the relationship of financial and social status with health • Access to functional status and cognition, health services use, geographic data, and mortality |
| Career Development | ||
| Getting Started: Large Project | Dalane Kitzman, MD | • Anticipate a path filled with challenges rather than a straight path of early and sustained success • Select an important question and the answers will matter regardless of the results • “Mistakes” offer best clues from which to adapt in relentless pursuit of truth • Enjoy the journey of discovery |
| After the R03: Scaling Up Your Research Program | Robin Barr, D. Phil | • Contemplate three paths simultaneously: career development, research, and organizing a field. • These three paths are not necessarily independent • NIA career development awards include K08, K23, and Beeson K76 • Early stage investigators have a 10-point advantage in the R01 funding line provide |
| Career Development: Do’s and Don’ts | Stephanie Studenski, MD, PhD, National Institute on Aging | • Develop a graphic illustration of the conceptual framework of your science to orient “consumers” of your proposal. • Seek critical feedback on gaps in your rationale • Focus communication on the take-home message • Harness expertise of seasoned administrators to navigate your organization’s human resources game • Develop winning negotiation strategies by illustrating the value of your request for the organization and providing a clear plan for resources |