Dr. Jingran Ji, a clinical instructor in the department of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine and investigator in the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been awarded a two-year NIH-funded GEMSSTAR award, which supports early-career physician-scientists in aging research.
The award will support Ji’s research into how cancer treatments affect physical function and quality of life in older adults with gastroesophageal cancer. While medical advances have extended survival for patients with this cancer, less is known about how the current treatment approach impacts the outcomes that matter most to many older adults, such as maintaining independence and physical function.
To address this gap, Ji and his team will follow patients throughout their treatment journey, evaluating their physical function and quality of life at multiple timepoints during and after treatment. The research will also explore patients’ lived experiences and the challenges they face in staying active during therapy. Findings from this research will help identify the degree and risk factors for functional decline, guide more patient-centered treatment decisions, and inform future interventions aimed at preserving physical function and improving overall well-being for this growing patient population.
“I am incredibly honored to have received this award, and it represents an important step toward understanding how we can not only help older adults with cancer live longer but also live better,” said Ji. “By studying how treatment affects physical function and quality of life, we hope to generate evidence that leads to more personalized, compassionate care for older patients.”
“Dr. Ji’s curiosity, scientific rigor, and dedication to improving the lives of older adults with gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers exemplify UCLA’s mission to advance discovery and compassionate care,” said Dr. Mina Sedrak, associate professor of medicine and director of the Cancer and Aging Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of the Cancer Control and Survivorship research program at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We are thrilled to see his early accomplishments recognized through this prestigious national award, which will help launch a promising career in cancer and aging research.”
