‘Hallmarks of Aging’ a topical dynamo at 2nd SOAR in DOM Forum

Nov. 17, 2025
David Mogollon, Communications Manager, Department of Medicine

With a third more attendees than the first forum, the Department of Medicine’s second Sharing Opportunities & Achievements in Research (SOAR in DOM) event focused on aging research as a thematic challenge.

[| Luke Szweda, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Cardiology and Sarver Heart Center, speaks with a student about her research at the Department of Medicine’s 2nd SOAR in the DOM research forum, hosted Nov. 6 at the BIO5 Institute.]

| Luke Szweda, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Cardiology and Sarver Heart Center, speaks with a student about her research at the Department of Medicine’s 2nd SOAR in the DOM research forum, hosted Nov. 6 at the BIO5 Institute.

David Mogollon, Department of Medicine

The second SOAR in DOM Forum was a raging success Nov. 6 at the BIO5 Institute, according to its chief organizer, Janet Funk, MD, the University of Arizona Department of Medicine’s vice chair for research and a professor in the Division of Endocrinology.

[Image of flyer for SOAR in DOM Forum, 11.6.25]

The forum’s acronym, which stands for Sharing Opportunities & Achievements in Research, surely met the standard, she said.

“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive — many attendees reported making valuable new connections and generating fresh research ideas,” Dr. Funk said. “We were also proud to recognize several students and early-career scientists, our future biomedical research leaders, with research achievement awards. The event concluded with our now-traditional raffle, a crowd favorite.”

She noted this go-round — as opposed to the initial forum held in April — the event was given a topical theme for research posters and presentations that focused on “The Hallmarks of Aging.”

[Department of Medicine Vice Chair for Research Janet L. Funk, MD, MS, a researcher in the Division of Endocrinology, welcomes attendees at the second SOAR in DOM research forum. The first was held in April and a third is planned for February 2026.]

Department of Medicine Vice Chair for Research Janet L. Funk, MD, MS, a researcher in the Division of Endocrinology, welcomes attendees at the second SOAR in DOM research forum. The first was held in April and a third is planned for February 2026.

David Mogollon, Department of Medicine

In full support, Mindy Fain, MD, chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, or GGP Division, and director of the U of A Center on Aging, the faculty, fellows, residents and students who participated far exceeded her expectations. She complimented Dr. Funk and DOM Chair James K. Liao, MD, on the forum.

“Drs. Liao and Funk should be applauded for their vision of bringing together researchers to share expertise and build community around key themes in health and wellness. The SOAR Hallmarks in Aging event, in partnership with the GGP Division and Center on Aging, was a tremendous success! We had a great turnout of amazing faculty and students, all engaged in innovative and impactful aging research to improve the health of older adults. What an exciting environment to share expertise, network and begin new collaborations.”

As part of our ongoing SOAR in DOM Research Forum series — created to strengthen research collaborations and networking for DOM researchers — a new themed research format was introduced at the November 6, 2025, session, focused on the Hallmarks of Aging.

The event began with an introductory presentation by Dr. Fain, who set the stage by highlighting key challenges and opportunities in the field of aging research. This was followed by a series of brief “idea-sparking” presentations. These featured 16 invited U of A faculty, from both within the DOM and across the university, that was kicked off by Dr. Liao. A professor in the Division of Cardiology, he presented on “ROCK and its role in inflammation, fibrosis and vascular disease.” The session provided opportunities for researchers to share their research interests on aging-focused or aging-adjacent topics. A lively networking session followed, featuring poster presentations by trainees from various U of A research groups.

Oral presentations

[Janko Nikolich, MD, PhD, formerly the College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Immunobiology chair and co-director of the U of A Center on Aging and now associate dean of research for the College of Medicine – Phoenix, talks about his research focus: Aging, Infections, Immunity and Inflammation. ]

Janko Nikolich, MD, PhD, formerly the College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Immunobiology chair and co-director of the U of A Center on Aging and now associate dean of research for the College of Medicine – Phoenix, talks about his research focus: Aging, Infections, Immunity and Inflammation.

David Mogollon, Department of Medicine

Presenters (other than Dr. Fain, Funk and Liao), and their DOM division, College of Medicine – Tucson or U of A business units, included: Asaithamby Aroumougame, PhD (Division of Cardiology and Sarver Heart Center); Prabhu Arunachalam, PhD (Department of Immunobiology); Siyang Cao, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering); Kristian Doyle, PhD (Department of Immunobiology); April Ehrlich, MD, MHS (GGP Division); Joshua Farr, PhD (Division of Rheumatology); Joseph Finkelstein, MD, PhD (GGP Division, U of A Telemedicine Program, and U of A Cancer Center); Yann Klimentidis, PhD (Center for Applied Genetics & Genomic Medicine); C. Kent Kwoh, MD, MACR (Division of Rheumatology and U of A Arthritis Center); Bonnie LaFleur, PhD (BIO5 Institute, Center for Biomedical Informatics & Biostatistics and College of Pharmacy); Bernardo Lemos, PhD (College of Pharmacy & Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center); Janko Nikolich, MD, PhD (College of Medicine – Phoenix associate dean of research); Luke Szweda, PhD (Division of Cardiology and Sarver Heart Center); and Kassandra Bruner, on behalf of Jennifer Stern, PhD (Division of Endocrinology).

Research posters

Out of 26 entries, research poster award winners and their topics included:

  • Research Excellence Award | Esther Qui – “Does BACE1 inhibition impair recovery from stroke in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease”

  • Research Excellence Award | Haw-Chih Tai – “The role of ROCK in vascular aging”

  • Excellence in Graduate Research Award | Andrew Khalil – “Epigenetic reprogramming of hematopoietic stem cells promotes chronic inflammation in aging”

  • Excellence in Graduate Research Award | Catherine Xia – “Glucagon receptor agonism ameliorates obesity-induced hypercholesterolemia in aging mice”

  • Excellence in Graduate Research Award | Shuai Yang – “Hearing loss and loneliness in the development of impaired cognition and dementia in the All of Us cohort”

The agenda includes the full list of poster presenters and their topics.

In all, there were more than 65 attendees at the forum, up from the 50 who attended April’s SOAR in DOM Forum. Dr. Funk expects the next forum will be in February. Additional details to come in December with a save-the-date announcement.

ALSO SEE:
“SOAR in DOM Forum promotes greater exchange in growing DOM research community” | Posted April 29, 2025

(Photos courtesy of David Mogollon, Department of Medicine)

For more photos from the SOAR in DOM Forum – Hallmarks of Aging, see this link.

MINI-PHOTO GALLERY
Click images to enlarge and for captions:

[Department of Medicine Vice Chair for Research Janet L. Funk, MD, MS, a researcher in the Division of Endocrinology, welcomes attendees at the second SOAR in DOM research forum. The first was held in April and a third is planned for February 2026.]
[Mindy Fain, MD, chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine and director of the U of A Center on Aging, lays out the “Opportunities and Challenges in Aging Research.” ]
[Department of Medicine Chair James K. Liao, MD, a professor in the Division of Cardiology, presents on “ROCK and its role in inflammation, fibrosis and vascular disease.”]
[Department of Medicine Chair James K. Liao, MD, a professor in the Division of Cardiology, presents on “ROCK and its role in inflammation, fibrosis and vascular disease.”]
[The BIO5 Institute’s Bonnie LeFleur, PhD (left), Center on Aging director Mindy Fain, MD (to LeFleur’s left), and others listen to presentations at the 2nd SOAR in DOM Forum, which focused Nov. 6, 2025, on the Hallmarks of Aging. ]
[Joseph Finkelstein, MD, PhD, a faculty member in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, and director of the Arizona Telemedicine Program, talks about “Early prediction of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias using real-world electronic health records.”]
[Luke Szweda, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Cardiology, discusses “Metabolic Determinants of Heart Disease in the Aging Population.”]
[Karolina Perez, a fourth-year medical student, explains her and her partner, Aditi Galande’s research on “Th2 Immunity and Diseases of Aging,” noting Th2 immunity — a type of immune response crucial for fighting extracellular parasites like helminths, but also responsible for allergic reactions such as asthma and atopic dermatitis — evolves with age and impacts disease presentation across the lifespan.]
[Jennifer Kraszewski talks about her research on how “Sex-Specific Responses to Physical Activity Reveal Links to Amyloid and Synaptic Pathways in the UK Biobank,” with geriatrician Mindy Fain, MD, who also is director of the U of A Center on Aging.]
[Greg Gilles, a research technician at the U of A Arthritis Center, and center director Kent Kwoh, MD, also former chief of the Division of Rheumatology, discuss Greg’s poster on “Multiplanar MRI Quantification of Effusion-Synovitis: Reliability and Potential Investigative Utility for Inflammation-Mediated Knee Conditions.”]
[Arthritis Center associate director Zong-Ming Li, PhD, a professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Orthopaedic Survery, looks at a poster on “Biologic Therapy Promotes In-Vitro Muscle Repair Following Volumetric Muscle Loss Injury,” by Eli Lefkowitz.]
[Janet Funk, MD, stands next to Esther Qui, whose poster, “Does BACE1 inhibition impair recovery from stroke in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease,” earned her a Research Excellence Award at the SOAR in DOM Forum hosted Nov. 6 at the BIO5 Institute. Her research mentor Kristian Doyle, PhD (Department of Immunobiology) is at her left]
[Andrew Khalil (center) earned a Excellence in Graduate Research Award for his poster, “Epigenetic reprogramming of hematopoietic stem cells promotes chronic inflammation in aging.” He’s bracketed by SOAR in DOM Forum hostess Janet Funk, MD, and his research mentor Prabhu Arunachalam, PhD (Department of Immunobiology).]
[Holding an Excellence in Graduate Research Award, Shuai Yang (center) won for his poster, “Hearing loss and loneliness in the development of impaired cognition and dementia in the All of Us cohort.” To either side of him are DOM Forum hostess Janet Funk, MD, and his research mentor Yann Klimentidis, PhD (Center for Applied Genetics & Genomic Medicine).]
[Haw-Chih Tai, whose poster, “The role of ROCK in vascular aging,” won him a Research Excellence Award at the SOAR in DOM Forum, Nov. 6 at the BIO5 Institute, stands next to forum organizer Janet Funk, MD, vice chair of research for the Department of Medicine. ]
[Catherine Xia, proudly holds her Excellence in Graduate Research Award for her poster, “Glucagon receptor agonism ameliorates obesity-induced hypercholesterolemia in aging mice,” with SOAR in DOM Forum organizer Janet Funk, MD, standing to her left.]

Contacts

David Mogollon
mogollon@arizona.edu
520-626-1137