{"id":1420,"date":"2025-01-20T14:51:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T22:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gero.usc.edu\/laara\/?page_id=1420"},"modified":"2025-01-20T15:52:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T23:52:04","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gero.usc.edu\/laara\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”mission” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Our Mission<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”25″ custom_height_tablet=”25″ custom_height_phone=”25″][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]The Los Angeles Aging Research Alliance promotes age-related advances from USC, UCLA and other area organizations working to improve health and well-being across the lifespan.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default” custom_height=”25″ custom_height_tablet=”25″ custom_height_phone=”25″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”about” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

About Us<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”25″ custom_height_tablet=”25″ custom_height_phone=”25″][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]The Los Angeles Area Research Alliance (LAARA) is a collaborative network of scientists and leaders in gerontology, geriatrics, and geroscience. Representing the University of Southern California (USC), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC), and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), our alliance is dedicated to advancing the understanding of aging and improving healthspan for older adults. Through interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation, LAARA leverages the expertise and resources of three world-renowned institutions to address the complexities of aging. Our overarching mission is to extend healthy lifespan (healthspan) by cultivating and fostering all facets of geroscience research, from aging biology to clinical trials. Our vision is a world where people live long, healthy and independent lives.\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default” custom_height=”25″ custom_height_tablet=”25″ custom_height_phone=”25″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”leadership” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Leadership<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”25″ custom_height_tablet=”25″ custom_height_phone=”25″][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Jennifer Ailshire, PhD<\/span> – Professor of Gerontology and Associate Dean of Research of the USC School of Gerontology.
\n<\/span>Jennifer Ailshire, PhD – USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Cathy Alessi, MD<\/span> – <\/span>Professor of Medicine at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and Director of the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Greater LA VA Healthcare System. <\/span>
\nCathy Alessi | UCLA Profiles<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Em Arpawong, PhD, MPH<\/span> – Research Associate Professor of Gerontology and Director of the Gerontology Bioinformatics Core.\u00a0<\/span>
\nT. Em Arpawong, PhD, MPH – USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Susan Cheng, MD <\/span>– Erika J. Glazer Chair in Cardiovascular Health and Population Science, Director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging, and Director of Population Health Sciences in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. <\/span>
\nSusan Cheng Profile | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Pinchas Cohen, MD<\/span> \u2013 Dean of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and the Executive Director of the Andrus Gerontology Center. <\/span>
\nPinchas Cohen, MD – USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Eileen Crimmins, PhD<\/span> – AARP Professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and co-Director of the USC\/UCLA Center of Biodemography and Population Health.<\/span>
\nEileen Crimmins, PhD – USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Sean Curran, PhD <\/span>– Professor of Gerontology and Molecular and Computational Biology and the Vice Dean, Dean of Faculty and Dean of Research for the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California.\u00a0<\/span>
\nSean Curran, PhD – USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Sara Espinoza, MD, MSc<\/span> – Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Translational Geroscience at CSMC. <\/span>
\nSara Espinoza Profile | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

David Ganz, MD, PhD<\/span> \u2013 Professor of Medicine at UCLA and health services researcher\u00a0at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.<\/span>
\nDavid Ganz | UCLA Profiles<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Mitzi Gonzales, PhD<\/span> \u2013 Associate Professor of Neurology and Director of Translational Research for the Jona Goldrich Center for Alzheimer\u2019s Disease and Memory Disorders.<\/span>
\nMitzi Gonzales Profile | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

James Kirkland, MD, PhD<\/span> \u2013 Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Advanced Gerotherapeutics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. <\/span>
\nJames Kirkland Profile | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Jason Moore, PhD<\/span> – is Professor Chair of Computational Biomedicine. <\/span>
\nJason Moore Profile | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Nicolas Musi, MD<\/span> – Professor and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Director of the Center on Aging and Diabetes, and Vice Chair for Translational Research in the Department of Medicine at CSMC. <\/span>
\nNicolas Musi Profile | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Daniel Nation, PhD<\/span> \u2013 Professor of Gerontology and Medicine and the Merle H. Bensinger Professor in Gerontology. <\/span>
\nDaniel Nation, PhD – USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Thomas Rando, MD, PhD<\/span> \u2013 Professor of Medicine and Director of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center. <\/span>
\nThomas A. Rando, M.D., Ph.D. | UCLA BSCRC<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

David Reuben, MD<\/span> \u2013 Professor Medicine and Chief of the UCLA Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. <\/span>
\nDavid Reuben | UCLA Profiles<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Mina Sedrak, MD, MS<\/span> – Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the UCLA Cancer and Aging Program. <\/span>
\nMina S. Sedrak, MD, MS – Member Directory | UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Jonathan Wanagat, MD, PhD<\/span> – Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at UCLA and Staff Physician at the Greater Los Angeles GRECC. <\/span>
\nJonathan Wanagat | UCLA Profiles<\/span><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default” custom_height=”25″ custom_height_tablet=”25″ custom_height_phone=”25″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”mission” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Contact<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n