Mentoring in Endocrine and Cardiometabolic Abnormalities in Cancer and Aging

PROJECT SUMMARY
Shehzad Basaria, MD, an Associate Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology in the Division of Endocrinology,
Diabetes, & Metabolism at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, submits this application
for a K24 Mid-Career Development award to provide protected time to mentor trainees in Patient-Oriented
Research (POR) in Endocrine aspects of Gero-Oncology. Dr. Basaria is one of the few endocrinologists
worldwide specializing in endocrine and cardio-metabolic disorders in older men with cancer and androgen
deficiency. He will pursue additional training to hone his mentoring skills in order to build on his established
record of mentorship and foster the research careers of early investigators.
Candidate: Dr. Basaria is a highly productive clinical researcher in the field of Endocrinology, Aging and
Cancer. Since 2003, he has been continuously NIH-funded to investigate: i) endocrine and cardio-metabolic
complications of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with prostate cancer (PCa), ii) benefits and risks
of androgen replacement in older men, and iii) endocrinology of aging. He has conducted his investigations
using NIH-supported infrastructure, including RO1s and R21 grants, data from the Baltimore Longitudinal
Study of Aging (BLSA), the InChianti Study, and the Boston Pepper Center for Function-Promoting Therapies.
With his uncommon skill set and strong POR program in Endocrinology and Gero-Oncology, he has been a
sought-after collaborator and mentor at Brigham/Harvard and at national and international institutions.
Mentoring Plan/Environment: This application will leverage the extensive training resources at
Brigham/Harvard, including the Center for Clinical Investigation, the Brigham Research Institute for Clinical and
Translational Research, and T32 training grants in a variety of specialties. It will also draw on the unparalleled
resources of the Boston Pepper Center and other funded studies to serve as a platform for POR trainees at
multiple levels.
Research Plan: The novel research supported by this K24 award will make significant contributions to the
1A) The
impact of ADT-induced profound hypogonadism and the resulting decline in muscle mass on physical function,
1B) The impact of ADT on fat infiltration of skeletal muscles and the association of this deterioration in muscle
quality on physical function, and 2) The mechanisms by which testosterone replacement improves Cancer-
Related Fatigue in older men with cancer.
understanding of the impact of androgen deficiency in older men with cancer in three major areas:
These novel aims will build on the ongoing work in Dr. Basaria's
current R01s, explore new hypotheses, and expand opportunities for trainees.

Grant Number: 5K24AG070078-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Shehzad Basaria