Dr. Chen Receives
$3 Million in Grant Funding
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Receives Grants |
 Zhao
Chen, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division of
the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, has recently been awarded two
R01 research project grants by the National Institute on Aging.
The first grant is on “Anemia and Its Relationship with Sarcopenia, Physical Function and Mortality.” The second is a five-year project worth over 3 million dollars entitled “Biomarkers and Genetic Factors Related to Sarcopenia in Women.” Both grants are extremely competitive. Congressman Raul M. Grijalva has sent a personal congratulation letter to Dr. Chen saying “you should take pride in this recognition."
In the first study, the causes and health
sequelae of anemia in multiethnic groups of older women will be investigated. Anemia
in the elderly is highly prevalent, functionally significant and prognostically
important. The prevalence of anemia varies by ethnicity, providing evidence for
significant race-ethnicity related health disparity. However, the understanding
of the pathophysiology, natural history, and racial and ethnic disparities of causes
and health outcomes of anemia among the elderly is very limited. Dr. Chen’s research
will help fill in these knowledge gaps and redefine anemic cutoff points for older
women from different ethnic backgrounds.
In the second project, Dr. Chen’s group
will assess biological and environmental risk factors for sarcopenia (low skeletal
muscle mass) among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic white elderly women. Skeletal muscle
is the primary determinant of age-related differences in strength and energy expenditure
contributing to frailty and declines in basal metabolic rates in men and women.
Loss of skeletal muscle mass in the elderly increases an individual’s risk for bone
loss, falls, insulin insensitivity, and diminished aerobic capacity with aging.
Hispanic women are at higher risk for sarcopenia in comparison to non-Hispanic white
women.
Dr. Chen’s study is considered highly significant and will make a great
contribution to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment on muscle loss by understanding
the contribution of inflammatory and growth factors, genes, and gene and environment
interactions to the development of sarcopenia.
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If you are a member of the media and would like more information about this story, please contact
Lorraine Varela, at (520) 626-7083 or
varelal@email.arizona.edu. |
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