# Training in the Epidemiology of Aging

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $391,559

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This proposal for the competing continuation of the University of Pittsburgh Training Program in
the epidemiology of aging, funded by the NIA since 1989, is focused on the “Epidemiology of
Musculoskeletal Decline and Disability in Aging.” The training program will include 3 pre-
doctoral and 2 post-doctoral positions in epidemiology. Our rich multidisciplinary training
environment is customized to the background of each trainee to address novel approaches in
aging research with an emphasis on cutting-edge biological and physiological methods for
epidemiology, a core discipline for research and practice in public health. Our professional
career development for strong communication and analytic methods, has resulted in trainees
that are actively recruited to postdoctoral and faculty positions within other universities, the
government, and health care. We will continue to train the next generation of research
professionals in aging epidemiology through mentored, hands-on, diverse research experiences
with well-funded leaders in the field, and formal courses. The new focus of our Aims includes: 1)
To apply the biology of aging and longevity to study usual and accelerated age-related
physiologic change with focus in Muscle, Body Composition, Mobility, and Disability;
Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis; and Falls and Fall Injuries, for the epidemiology of age-related
functional decline; 2) To advance epidemiologic and quantitative statistical methods in aging
studies with a foundation in traditional skills and emphasis on state-of-art techniques; and 3) To
use a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to epidemiology for specialty areas of Biology
of Aging and Longevity, Health Services, and Diversity, Health Equity and Social Determinants,
in defining targets for active life expectancy and prevention of disability from mid- to late life. To
develop trainee skills to lead investigator-initiated studies, we will create a Recruitment and
Measurement Core. We have several new cohort studies in the field including the Study of
Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA), a prospective, longitudinal cohort of older men and
women to obtain muscle tissue samples, biomarkers and advanced imaging of muscle related to
risk of mobility disability and another study to relate to these muscle phenotypes with bone
parameters from high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography. We are a field
site for TAME, a new randomized trial of metformin for reducing age-related multi-morbidity and
functional decline. Our training program is uniquely poised to use our existing and new research
in clinical trials and longitudinal cohort studies of aging to elucidate pathways of musculoskeletal
health and physical function, with the goal of preventing disability in the aging population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10911250
- **Project number:** 5T32AG000181-34
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Elsa S. Strotmeyer
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $391,559
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10911250

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10911250, Training in the Epidemiology of Aging (5T32AG000181-34). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10911250. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*