Biology of Frailty Program
Key Findings/Program Goals
Ongoing Projects
Key Personnel
Contact

Overview
 Neal Fedarko, PhD, and Jeremy Walston, MD, Co-Directors
 
 Our mission is to facilitate the development of outstanding translational research addressing frailty through basic biological discovery.

The main objectives of our program are:

• To understand the biological mechanisms that underlie frailty.
• To translate that biological knowledge into clinical practice.
• To improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable older adults.

Please visit the following sites for additional program summaries and information:

• http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/geriatrics/research/Index#Biology
• http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/dome/0804/headliners5.cfm

Collaborative Opportunities: The relevant biological pathways in frailty development and progression include inflammation, immune response, senescence, as well as perturbations in hormones and cytokines. Similarly dysregulated pathways are thought to underlie cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, cancer and cognitive impairment. Many opportunities exist for collaborations between medical disciplines (cardiology, oncology, neurology and psychiatry, etc.)

Program Partners: Center on Aging and Health (COAH), The Johns Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC), Geriatrics T32 Program, Allied Geriatrics/Gerontology Research Working Groups.