Message from Chancellor Fox: One of UCSD’s greatest institutional strengths is the breadth and depth of faculty research on a range of important topics. Each month, Chancellor’s Corner will showcase cross-disciplinary faculty expertise in a specific area. I invite you to learn more about the work of these scholars, and I hope you share my pride in their achievements and their contributions to society.

AGING

Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
Dr. Ancoli-Israel’s research interests include the longitudinal effect of sleep disorders on aging, the effect of circadian rhythms on sleep, the use of light therapy to improve sleep and behavior in nursing home populations and fatigue in cancer. She currently has two NIH grants. The first, funded by the National Institute on Aging, examines the effect of treating sleep apnea on cognitive functioning in patients with mild-moderate dementia. More…

Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Professor,
Family and Preventive Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine
An internationally recognized expert in epidemiology, Dr. Barrett-Connor’s main focus is on the factors promoting a healthy old age. She is the founder and director of the Rancho Bernardo Heart and Chronic Disease Study, now in its 30th year, which has produced data defining causal factors for diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis as well as cardiovascular disease. Her research has focused on healthy aging and gender differences in disease, with strong emphasis on women’s health. More…

Mark W. Bondi, Associate Professor in Residence
Research focuses on (1) assessment of older adults at increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease in an effort to better detect and characterize its incipient stages, and (2) examining the role of genetic and neurobehavioral factors in recovery following traumatic brain injury. Current aging studies focus on prospectively identifying reliable patterns of neuropsychological change and altered brain structure and function in individuals at high risk for AD (i.e., those with Mild Cognitive Impairment and those with an apolipoprotein [APOE] 4 genotype). More…

William S. Cain, Professor of Surgery
The human sense of smell and the irritation sense are topics of research for Dr. Cain. His work has had application to indoor air quality, control of chemical exposure in the workplace, use of odors to warn of hazards, aging and the perception of food, and the evaluation of olfactory functioning in patients. More…

Jody Corey-Bloom, Clinical Professor
Dr. Corey-Bloom works at the forefront of clinical research on the causes and treatment of dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions associated, foremost, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Each of these diseases is tantalizingly complex in etiology and progression and in symptomatic presentation, variation, and clinico-pathological correlates. More…

Laura L. Dugan, Geriatrics Specialist
In addition to promoting healthy aging in a special diagnostic and treatment clinic for older patients, Dugan will continue her research into the molecular mechanics of aging. She is attempting to define the role of free radical oxidative injury in stroke or trauma, as well as in chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A second area of research focuses on development and characterization of a class of potent anti-oxidant compounds known as buckyballs, as potential therapy for age-related diseases. More…

Dilip V. Jeste, Estelle and Edgar Levi Chair in Aging, Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Chief, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry
Dr. Jeste’s primary areas of research are psychosis and its treatment in late life. He has conducted studies of clinical, neuropsychological and neurobiological characteristics of Late-Onset Schizophrenia, Aging of Early-Onset Schizophrenia Patients, and Psychosis of Alzheimer disease. In terms of treatments, he has published on therapeutic and adverse effects (especially tardive dyskinesia) of antipsychotics. More…

Marta Kutas, Professor,
Department of Cognitive Science and Neurosciences
Marta Kutas is a cognitive neuroscientist who specializes in brain wave patterns and relations between the brain, mind, and behavior. Her research examines how brain wave patterns affect and determine the function of language, perception, memory, and emotions. More…

Barry D. Lebowitz, Professor of Psychiatry
I have broad interests in clinical and translational studies and gene x brain x environment interactions in the course and outcome of the mental disorders of late life. The focus of much of this work has been in late-life depression. I also have had substantial experience in the design and operations of large-scale, public health oriented clinical trials and in research training and research career development. More…

Robert Sah, Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Bioengineering
Cartilage repair and tissue engineering; relationship between metabolism, composition, biomechanics and structure of cartilage during growth, aging, degeneration (osteoarthritis), and repair. Professor Sah's goal is to pave the way for successful tissue-engineered total joint replacement for people who suffer cartilage damage due to injury or aging. His research focuses on how to regenerate cartilage tissue that will not only fill defects with load-bearing tissue, but also integrate with the surrounding host tissue. More…

Jean Townsend, Lab Director,
Associate Adjuct Professor, Department of Neurosciences
The overall goal of this research is to examine the relationship between brain structural changes and cognitive function in healthy aging. We are particularly interested in how the brain regulates attention in healthy older adults. More…

** To learn more about other campus faculty scholars and areas of expertise, please visit the searchable UCSD Faculty Experts Database at: http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/facultyExperts/