People
About Us
At the Implementation Science in Aging Research Lab, our mission is to advance and improve the health and well-being of older adults through cutting-edge research and innovative practices. Our work is centered around several key focus areas: enhancing patient-physician communication and promoting shared decision-making, and studying the best methods to integrate evidence-based healthcare practices into real-world settings. By focusing on these critical aspects of healthcare, we aim to create a more effective healthcare system for aging populations. Our team works closely with healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations to ensure our research is relevant and impactful.
Principal Investigator
Michelle S. Keller, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology;
Leonard and Sophie Davis Early Career Endowed Chair in Minority Aging at University of Southern California
Dr. Keller’s research is focused on using implementation science to improve outcomes for older adults. Recent projects have included developing a toolkit aimed at helping patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) with making decisions about dialysis and dialysis access, evaluating the Geriatric Fracture Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, designing and implementing interventions to deprescribe benzodiazepines in the hospital and outpatient settings, and examining barriers to the use of interpreters in the hospital.
Dr. Keller’s research has been published in peer-reviewed publications including Journal of General Internal Medicine, JAMA Surgery, the Journal of Hospital Medicine, Pain Medicine, npj Digital Medicine, Psychiatric Services, and the American Journal of Managed Care. Prior to working in healthcare, Dr. Keller worked as a journalist for publications such as the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune.
Graduate Students
Predoctoral Students
Junxian Liu, MS
Junxian Liu received his Master’s degree in Biostatistics from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Connecticut. His research interests include survival analysis and longitudinal data analysis.
Dinithi Perera, LLM
Dinithi Perera is a doctoral student at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Having completed her Bachelor and Master’s in law in the UK and US, she’s worked in clinical trials management for dementia prevention research for several years in Europe, in both academic and non-profit research institutions. Her research interests focus on diversity of participants in dementia research and its impact on advances in new treatments, and healthcare policies and strategies.
Staff
Astrid Cook
Lab Assistant
Astrid joined the Trojan family in 2018, initially serving as an administrative assistant in the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology’s Business Services office. With a strong background in design, administrative support, and project management, Astrid quickly demonstrated her versatility and dedication. Her exceptional performance led to a promotion to Facilities Coordinator, where she played a pivotal role in several renovation projects and collaborated with various vendors on design initiatives. In April 2024, Astrid transitioned to her current role as Administrative Assistant II, supporting Dr. Ailshire and Dr. Keller, while continuing her support in project management with the Business Office. She remains enthusiastic about continuing her journey at USC and growing with her new teams.
Aani Nagaiah
Student Worker
Aani Nagaiah is an undergraduate student at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, majoring in Human Development and Aging with a minor in News Media and Society at the Annenberg School of Journalism. She is the co-founder of Our Ode To You, a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings creative arts and music programming into memory care communities through teen volunteers.
Her interests center on dementia care, health equity, and community-engaged research, particularly in underresourced and minoritized aging populations. Aani is especially interested in how patient-centered interventions, communication, and culturally responsive approaches can improve dementia identification, care experiences, and quality of life for older adults and their families.