Chhanda DUTTA

Biography

As Chief of the Clinical Gerontology Branch, Dr. Dutta oversees the development of new research related to aging changes in the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems and in body composition/metabolism, long-term effects of physical activity/exercise throughout the life span and clinical translational research on aging. Since 1996, Dr. Dutta played a leadership role in translating the scientific evidence of the benefits of exercise and physical activity for older adults into the award-winning NIA Exercise Guide and has been involved in the development of NIA's Go4Life exercise campaign. She also led the NIA Task Force on Exercise and Physical Activity, which updated the NIA Exercise and Physical Activity Guide. In 2017, Dr. Dutta served as a member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Science Board from 2017-2020.

Dr. Dutta received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Before coming to NIA in 1993, Dr. Dutta served as a Pharmacologist in the Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Drug Products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she was responsible for evaluating preclinical pharmacology and toxicology data for all investigational drugs used for calcium/bone disorders. She also was involved in the revision of the FDA guidelines for the development of anti-osteoporosis agents, which now requires preclinical studies of bone quality.