Designated Research Scholar Award in Geriatric Gastroenterology

2009 Designated Research Scholar Award in Geriatric Gastroenterology

Rohit Loomba, MD, MHSc

University of California, San Diego
Sex-specific effect of alcohol and obesity and adipocytokines in geriatric fatty liver disease in a prospective population-based cohort: Rancho Berardo Study

It is a great privilege and an honor to be chosen by an expert panel comprising of top scientists and researchers in the field of gastroenterology for the designated AGA research scholar award in geriatric gastroenterology for 2009. This is the best encouragement and stimulus a junior investigator can expect to receive to boost the early stages of their career. This career development award will provide an excellent jumpstart to my own career in academic gastroenterology and hepatology. As a young investigator, recognition of our research efforts and academic potential are extremely important, and encourages our growth and development as future academic leaders. Support from the AGA Foundation coupled with promising research from junior faculty is mutually rewarding and ensures continued advancement of our field. My proposed study will aid me get preliminary data to obtain funding from National Institutes of Health to understand the effects of alcohol, obesity, and adipocytokines on outcomes related to fatty liver disease in elderly. I am grateful to the AGA Foundation and the Research Awards Panel for giving me the opportunity to succeed. I sincerely hope to keep the Research Scholar Award traditions of good quality research and future career development to an independent research program my highest priority. I would like to acknowledge all my mentors: Dr. Tetri during my residency, Drs. Liang and Hoofnagle during my liver fellowship, and Drs. Barrett-Connor, Brenner, Lavine and Carethers at UCSD - without their guidance and mentorship it would be difficult to imagine this achievement.

2008 Recipient

Richard Saad, MD

University of Michigan
The differences in physiologic mechanisms underlying chronic constipation in elderly versus younger adults with constipation

I am honored to be the recipient of the 2008 AGA Foundation Designated Research Scholarship Award in Geriatric Gastroenterology. I would like to thank the American Gastroenterological Association and its Foundation of Digestive Health and Nutrition for extending this generous award to me. The funds from this scholarship will provide vital support at this early stage of my academic career.

I have come to recognize the growing problem of functional bowel disorders in the elderly, particularly that of chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Studies addressing the pathophysiology, treatment approach and outcome measures for such disorders in the elderly are severely lacking. Much of what is known is extrapolated from a younger adult population. My initial research will be focused on defining the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying chronic constipation in the elderly and assessing the correlation of such physiologic findings with other clinical parameters including symptoms and physical exam findings. I anticipate that the data acquired from this study will enable me to formulate future clinical outcome studies assessing constipation and irritable bowel syndrome in the elderly.

In addition to these clinical studies, I intend to pursue further formal training in the area of clinical research design and statistical analysis. The knowledge gained from this clinical research and additional training will provide me with the necessary fundamentals for an independent clinical academic career in geriatric gastroenterology.

2007 Designated Research Scholar Award in Geriatric Gastroenterology

Neena Abraham, MD

Baylor College of Medicine
Shared Decision Making for NSAID and Cardioprotective Drug Prescription Among Older Adults

I am delighted to be the inaugural recipient of the AGA/GRG Dedicated Research Scholar Award in Geriatric Gastroenterology. My research agenda is focused on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and their impact on clinical gastrointestinal outcomes. Concomitant prescription of NSAIDs and cardioprotective medications precipitate substantial morbidity and mortality among the geriatric population. his prestigious award, funded by Sucampo Pharmaceuticals in partnership with the T. Franklin Williams Scholars Program, provides personal salary support to continue my investigation of patient and physician preferences for NSAID prescription in the face of multiple co-morbidities. My objective is to contribute to evidence-based medicine by conducting methodologically rigorous clinical research to improve the medical decision-making process that surrounds the safer prescription of NSAIDs. Without this award, I would be unable to step away from full-time clinical work and pursue clinical research.

I am indebted to the American Gastroenterological Association and its Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition for selecting me as a 2007 recipient of a Research Scholar Award.