VA Medical Center
Bedford GRECC (182B)
Bedford, MA 01730
Phone: (781) 687-2927
Fax: (781) 687-3520

Affiliation:

Boston University School of Medicine

GRECC Director VISN 1:

Neil Kowall, MD

Site Director Bedford Division:

Peter Morin, MD, PhD

Associate Director for Research:

Richard Fine, PhD

Associate Director for Education and Evaluation:

Kathy Horvath, PhD, RN

Associate Director for Clinical Programs:

Alireza Atri, MD, PhD

New England GRECC Research:  Aging with long term disability, Pathopsychological mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, chronic disease epidemiology, cardivascular physiology and pharmacology.

Accomplishments: 
The New England GRECC serves elderly Veterans in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island. The GRECC has two sites- the Bedford Division and the Boston Division. In fiscal year 2009 both divisions of the New England GRECC published 77 peer reviewed papers, provided 9,720 person hours of geriatric education, and expended $5,113,358 in research awards. Current research interests include: studying the mechanical, physical, and biochemical changes in the structure and function of neurons in Alzheimer’s disease; studying age related non-Alzheimer neurodegenerative diseases; managing advanced Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias; the structure and function of the brain in age related disease; studying the structural and functional risks of cognitive disorders; the origins of chronic disease and aging; factors that affect chronic disease in populations interventions to prevent it; cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology; patient safety outcomes; brain rehabilitation from age related disease; end of life care; Traumatic Brain Injury; elderly patients prescribed multiple medications.

Health Services: Decision Support Technology
End-of Life Care Assessment in Dementia

Education: Nursing and allied health, outreach teaching activities, formal education programs, Gerontological Nurse Followship Programs, consultation in geriatrics education consultation in grants writing workshop.

Clinical: Behavioral changes in the elderly, respite care, family support groups and dementia study units.