Research
Below we list the current and recent research studies the PNI Research Lab is involved in.
Stress, Immunity, and Emotion Regulation in Aging (SIERA) Study
The purpose of the parent SIERA Study is to link daily life – especially the amount of quality of different daily experiences- to biological changes that may be important for physical health, particularly immune health in older adults. By doing this study, we hope to understand what personal characteristics and experiences make older adults either vulnerable or resilient in terms of their physical and mental health and ability to be resilient in the face of stressors.
Most recently, we received new funding to follow up with SIERA participants in the SIERA-Lifespan Study. The purpose of this study will be to examine how factors across the lifespan, such as socioeconomics, relationship factors, and stressors, affect later-life health.
Funded by: National Institute on Aging
Steve Manners Research Development Award
Epigenetic Aging & Cognitive Health: A Pilot Study
This pilot study leverages an ongoing longitudinal cohort of middle-age adults from the Adult Health and Behavior (AHAB) project to examine whether and to what degree cognitive function and epigenetic age change over the length of the 10-16 year follow-up provided by this cohort, and provisionally test in a subset of participants whether changes in epigenetic aging predict cognitive decline over the length of the follow-up.
Funded by: Pitt Momentum Funds
Psychosocial Factors and Accelerated Biological Aging in Diverse Older Adults
This pilot study leverages participants from the Stress, Immunity, and Emotion Regulation in Aging (SIERA) Study to examine whether “social hallmarks” of aging, such as experiencing adverse psychological states and being a member of a minority group, predict accelerated biological aging using epigenetic age. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Michael Kobor, University of British Columbia.
Funded by: CRISP (CTSI’s Research Initiative for Special Populations) Pilot Award