Translational Geroscience
Faculty and Researchers
Bruce R. Troen, M.D.
Professor and Chief, Division of Geriatrics
Director, Landon Center on Aging
Physician-Investigator, KCVA Healthcare System
Dr. Troen is a physician-scientist formally trained in geriatrics and molecular biology, a Fellow of the American Geriatrics Society, and has been a VA physician-investigator for more than 35 years. He was previously Co-Chair of the NIA/AGS conference on Osteoporosis and Soft Tissue (Muscle and Fat) Disorders, was honored in 2020 to receive a University at Buffalo Exceptional Scholar – Sustained Achievement Award, and is presently the Chair of the Veterans Affairs Endocrinology-B Study Section.
Dr. Troen joined the University of Kansas Medical Center from the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences where he was Professor and Chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Troen served as a physician-investigator with the Western New York VA Healthcare System, and Chief of Geriatric Services at Erie County Medical Center and founded the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease of Western New York and the Center for Successful Aging at the University at Buffalo.
Dr. Troen has several major foci of research: frailty, resilience, longevity/aging mechanisms, and osteoporosis, all of which result in great morbidity in older adults. He and his team have been elucidating what interventions can enhance physical performance, mobility, and cognition, particularly in those who are frail. Their study on high intensity interval training was profiled in the New York Times. Dr. Troen is the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on biomedical translational grants from the NIH and VA, and previously from the NY State Department of Health and the State University of New York.
Kenneth Seldeen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Geriatric Medicine
Dr. Seldeen is a translational gerontologist with a background in biochemistry and molecular biology with an interest in identifying healthy shortcuts to successful aging. His work includes examining the benefits of minimal exercise, nutritional supplementation, and sleep quality to enhance physical and cognitive function in animal models, as well as the expansion of those investigations in human trials.
Lee D. Chaves, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Geriatric Medicine
Dr. Chaves graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Physiology and a Ph.D. in Comparative Molecular Bioscience. His interdisciplinary doctoral program was focused on molecular biology, genetics, and immunology. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in immunology at the National Jewish Health in Denver and a second fellowship in immunology and nephrology at the University of Chicago. His current research interests are focused on the molecular genetics/epigenetics of age-related diseases and disabilities using in vitro viral transduction, cellular immortalizations, and CRISPR/dCas9 techniques.
Ramkumar Thiyagarajan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Geriatric Medicine
Dr. Thiyagarajan's goal is to understand the physiology and pathophysiology of aging and age-related chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) and to develop effective interventions to increase and retain cognitive health and healthspan. At present, he is focused on unraveling the molecular (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) underpinnings of the interactions between immunosenescence and neuroinflammation on cognition and functional capacity. In addition, he is studying the interactions of mRNA and miRNA during inflammaging and understanding the role of RNA-binding proteins in age-related neuroinflammation.
Olivia Eller, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Geriatric Medicine
Dr. Eller's research is broadly focused on how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the development of chronic pain as well as on determining if widespread improvements in mitochondrial function can reduce chronic pain. Specifically, her Department of Veterans Affairs funded research is focused on studying if the use of repeated heat treatment, an effective treatment in restoring aberrant mitochondrial function, can reduce chronic pain and sensory neuron dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. She is also studying the association of aged-induced chronic neuropathic pain and mitochondrial dysfunction. The goals of this work are to better understand this association and to determine if improving mitochondrial function in aged mice, such as with repeated heat treatment, can decrease pain and improve the health span.
Saurav Saha, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Saha studies molecular and physiological mechanisms that contribute to physical resilience, utilizing mouse models. His work explores how nicotinamide riboside and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) influence physical performance, metabolic health, and muscle function in aging. He also examines the impact of sleep deprivation on physical and cognitive performance. Using tools like Seahorse assays, western blot, RNA sequencing, and immunofluorescence, he investigates ways to enhance mitochondrial function to promote resilience and mitigate age-related decline through metabolic and epigenetic interventions.
Bhavana Sreevelu
Ph.D. Graduate Student
Bhavna studies hallmarks of aging and cellular resilience in primary human astrocytes, focusing on how these glial cells respond to stress and recover across the lifespan. Her research examines key aging-related processes such as mitochondrial function, inflammation, telomere dynamics, and senescence. Using in vitro models, she applies stressors like LPS to astrocytes at different passages to explore age-associated changes in cellular recovery and resilience mechanisms. This work aims to better understand astrocyte dysfunction in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
Maya Abuhijleh
Research Assistant
Maya supports ongoing research here by assisting with sample processing, molecular biology techniques like western blotting and DNA/RNA extraction, and data organization. She also helps with clinical trial lab work, including handling and preparing blood samples. Her role allows her to contribute to both the experimental and translational sides of aging-related research.
Ni Wang
Research Assistant
Ni supports ongoing research here by assisting with sample processing, molecular biology techniques like western blotting, histology, immunofluorescence, DNA/RNA extraction, qPCR, cDNA library preparation, animal training, behavior assessment, and statistical data analysis.
Rupadevi Muthaiah, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Dr. Rupa studies the role of microRNAs in aging-related epigenetic changes using nanopore sequencing. Her research focuses on how shifts in miRNA expression and modification may affect gene regulation over time. She works in the field of molecular neuroscience, with an interest in age-associated neurodegeneration. Her job involves RNA sequencing, data analysis, and exploring potential biomarkers of aging.