Meet The Team
Our Leadership
Nicole Ehrhart, V.M.D.
Director
Dr. Nicole Ehrhart is the director of Colorado State University’s Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging and a full professor in clinical sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She holds the Ross M. Wilkins, M.D. Limb Preservation Foundation University Chair in Musculoskeletal Biology and Oncology.
A leading expert in aging research, Dr. Ehrhart’s work focuses on developing translational strategies to extend healthspan and mitigate the effects of aging-related diseases in both humans and companion animals. As director of the Laboratory of Comparative Musculoskeletal Oncology and Traumatology, she has spent the past 20 years advancing regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and cancer therapies. Her research leverages comparative medicine to uncover novel interventions that slow biological aging and enhance resilience in aging tissues.
Dr. Ehrhart holds joint faculty positions in CSU’s School of Biomedical Engineering, the Cell and Molecular Biology program, and at the University of Colorado Gates Regenerative Medicine Center and the University of Colorado Cancer Center. She also plays a key leadership role in national and international scientific organizations (ACVS, VSSO, VOS, WVOC) and was the first woman to be awarded a University-level Endowed Chair at Colorado State University.
Deana Davalos, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Deana Davalos, PhD is a licensed psychologist, Director of the Aging Clinic of the Rockies (ACoR), Associate Director of the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging and a Professor in the Cognitive Neuroscience program in the Department of Psychology at CSU. She has published on issues surrounding cognitive aging and the neurophysiology of aging and is part of a multi-disciplinary research team focused on developing community-based interventions for individuals with dementia-related diseases and their caregivers.
Karyn Hamilton, R.D., Ph.D.
Associate Director
Karyn L. Hamilton, RD, PhD is a Professor and the Director of the Translational Research on Aging and Chronic Disease (TRACD) laboratory in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University in Fort Collins Colorado. She also has the privilege of serving as an Associate Director of the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging at CSU. Karyn earned her PhD at the University of Florida and completed post-doctoral fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Florida. The overall objective of the TRACD laboratory is to understand the role of adaptation to stresses and maintenance of a functional mitochondrial proteome in the context of extending healthspan and maintaining function with aging. To accomplish this objective, she uses models of long life and increased healthspan including exercise, nutritional, pharmacological, and genetic models. In the TRACD lab, they enjoy using a highly collaborative approach and employ in vitro systems, in vivo animal models, and human participants to help identify mechanisms of healthspan extension and to translate their findings.
Our Staff
Annette Foster, C.P.A.
Business Operations and Research Administration Manager
Annette joined the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging in late January 2020 as the Business Operations and Research Administration Manager. She plays a vital role in helping to facilitate grant submissions, post award support, overall operations of the Center’s facilities and is a providing invaluable leadership and vision during our growth phase. Annette is a graduate of Colorado State University’s College of Business, a CPA, a former financial auditor and sole proprietor, and prior to joining the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging team, she served as a research project manager for CSU’s Atmospheric Science department. She brings her extensive experience from all these various roles to contribute to the success of the Center.
Ali Murphy
Administrative Assistant
Allison Murphy, or Ali as she likes to be called, is excited to have joined the team at the CHS Center for Healthy Aging in 2019 as the administrative assistant. She recently moved to Fort Collins from Northern Virginia, where she worked for a law firm specializing in Special Needs Trusts, Estates, and Adult Guardianship. Outside of work, she loves hiking, biking, trying her hand at artistic endeavors, cooking, and playing games with friends. Ali is excited to facilitate faculty in all aspects of Center engagement and to be the friendly face you see at the reception desk when walking into the Center between 8 am and 5 pm. Please contact Ali for help with directing clinical trials participants, room reservations, website update requests, office needs, mailing, Center AV issues, scheduling and events planning.
Nathan Larson
Bioarchivist
Nathan joined the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging in mid-October 2023 to work as the Center’s bioarchivist. In this role, Nathan manages a large collection of SARS-CoV-2 samples, sorting and organizing them to create a sharable research sample set that can be utilized by the extensive research efforts at CSU. Before starting this role, Nathan obtained his B.S. in Biological Science from Colorado State University with a concentration in Pre-Health Studies. During undergrad he worked at CSU’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory as a Necropsy Hourly, working with pathologists in their diagnosis and study of diseases. Nathan is excited to use the skills he learned from schooling and work to aid him in his bioarchivist duties. Outside of work, Nathan enjoys many hobbies including (but certainly not limited to): skiing, hiking, mountain biking, singing, playing clarinet and upright bass, and spending time with his wife and pet cat.
Our Center Faculty
Tom LaRocca, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Health and Exercise Science
Tom LaRocca is an assistant professor and director of the Healthspan Biology Lab in CSU’s Department of Health and Exercise Science. His laboratory studies the molecular biology and physiology of aging, and he is particularly interested in translational research (using laboratory science to develop practical applications or treatments that can help people). Current projects are focused on finding biology-based ways to increase healthspan, the period of life during which we are healthy and productive. Tom is also a former high school chemistry teacher and college instructor, so he enjoys bringing his interests into the classroom.
Niccole Nelson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Niccole Nelson is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Colorado State University. A lifespan developmental psychologist by training, she aims to identify biological, psychological, and social resources that help individuals thrive through older adulthood. She is particularly interested in the ways in which modifiable, short-term experiences like stress and emotion regulation relate to longer-term, developmental trajectories of cognitive ability, psychological well-being, and physical functioning.
