Department of Epidemiology

eBRAIN Studies

Research

Focusing on the application of epidemiology methods and cutting-edge neuroimaging methodologies in population and clinical studies to enhance etiological research and evaluation of specific therapies in the disorders of the central nervous system.

Faculty Research Trainee Research

Faculty Research

dna strand next to a human brain

Sex differences in Alzheimer's disease blood biomarkers in a Caribbean population of African ancestry: The Tobago Health Study

2024
R01 HL143793/HL/NHLBI, NIH
Caterina Rosano (MPI with Iva Miljkovic)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasing in the Caribbean, especially for persons of African ancestry (PAA) and women. However, studies have mostly utilized surveys without AD biomarkers. In the Tobago Health Study (n = 309; 109 women, mean age 70.3 ± 6.6), we assessed sex differences and risk factors for serum levels of phosphorylated tau‐181 (p‐tau181), amyloid‐beta (Aβ)42/40 ratio, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NfL). Blood samples were from 2010 to 2013 for men and from 2019 to 2023 for women.
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dna strand next to a human brain

LEGENNDS: Linking Epidemiology and GEnetics of Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders Study

2023-2028
R01NS131433, NIH
Andrea Rosso
B. Lee (PI)

abstract neighborhood representation

Neighborhood Environment and Risk of Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults across Southwestern Pennsylvania

2022-2023
Pitt UCSUR, Steven Manners
Faculty Development Award
Andrea Rosso

Unhealthy White Matter Connectivity, Cognition, and Racialization in Older Adults

2022-2026
5R01AG075025-02, NIABeth Shaaban

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) may promote clinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disparities between Black American (BA) and non-Hispanic White (nHW) populations. Using a novel measurement, unhealthy white matter connectivity (UWMC), we interrogated racialized group differences in associations between WMH in AD pathology-affected regions and cognition.
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Neural and Energetic Drivers of Performance and Perceived Fatigability in Older Adults

2022-2026
5R01AG075025-02, NIA
Caterina Rosano (PI)

Higher fatigability, the degree to which someone is physically or mentally limited due to fatigue, is common and disabling in community-dwelling older adults. While fatigue associated with a disease can be ameliorated by targeting the underlying condition, the causes and definitions of fatigability in older age are not well understood and treatments are not available.
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RC-ISC

2023-2025
5P30AG024827-19 6303, NIA
Caterina Rosano (PI)

The fundamental concepts underlying the Integrative Systems Core (ISC) are that age-related alterations in mobility and balance develop subtly, prior to overt clinical problems, and are due to multi-system interacting changes. The ISC provides state-of-the-art multidisciplinary expertise on age-related change in mobility via collaborating laboratories encompassing 1) whole-body movement and balance, 2) nervous system structure, function and energetics, and 3) cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal structure, function and energetics.
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Myosteatosis, Cognition and Blood Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease in Persons of African Ancestry

2022–2025
1RF1AG077474-01, NIA
Iva Miljkovic (MPI)
Caterina Rosano (Co-PI)

Persons of African Ancestry (PAA) have higher rates of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and higher rates of adiposity, compared to other races. While overall adiposity and visceral fat are known risk factors for cognitive impairment and ADRD, emerging evidence by us and others suggests that fat in muscle (myosteatosis) has independent negative effects on cognition and brain health among PAA. Since myosteatosis is greater in PAA compared to others, we propose that myosteatosis may be a novel risk factor with special relevance for ADRD in PAA. 
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Longitudinal Examination of Neighborhood Disadvantage, Cognitive Aging, and Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Disinvested, African American Neighborhoods

2022–2027
R01AG072652, NIA
Andrea Rosso (MPI)

African Americans (AAs) have significantly higher rates and earlier onset of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) relative to White Americans; however, we lack a thorough understanding of how individual and neighborhood factors and their changes over the lifecourse contribute to ADRD risk in AAs. The current proposal capitalizes on an ongoing, longitudinal study to examine the impact of changing neighborhood conditions and the role of risk and protective factors in the lived experience of AAs and their influence on cognitive function and ADRD risk.
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Neurobiological Drivers of Mobility Resilience: the Dopaminergic System

2018–2023
U01AG061393, NIA
Caterina Rosano (MPI)
Andrea Rosso (Co-Investigator)

This is a longitudinal study to test the hypothesis that the striatal dopaminergic (DA) system provides resilience against the detrimental effects of common locomotor risk factors, via its connections with sensorimotor networks, thus favoring automated motor control and less engagement of attentional and prefrontal resources; we also propose a small translational study to collect pilot data on L-DOPA related changes in sensorimotor DA networks and gait.
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Population Neuroscience of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (PNA)

2018–2023
Grant T32AG055381
Caterina Rosano (MPI)
Mary Ganguli (MPI)
Andrea Rosso (MPI)

The objective of this 5 year pre- and post-doctoral training program is to train highly talented individuals to pursue successful independent research in the etiology of Alzheimer’s Disease and other age-related dementia (ADRD). Eligible applicants are PhD graduates or candidates in Epidemiology, Neuroscience, Information Science, Biostatistics, Biomedical informatics and MD/DO graduates with training in Neurology, Psychiatry, Geriatric medicine, and related disciplines. 
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Pittsburgh Older American Independence Center

2020–2025
P30 AG024827-06, NIA 
Susan Greenspan (PI)
Caterina Rosano (Core Leader)

This Core is responsible for providing access to cutting-edge methodologies to study causes and determinants of mobility limitations, developing new assessment protocols, and supporting recruitment, retention and research training.
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Neurovascular Determinants of Cognitive Function in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

2016–2021
R01HL127107
Enrico Novelli (PI)
Caterina Rosano (Co-Investigator)

This project is also highly innovative because it tests a new paradigm of microvascular dysfunction-related CI in SCD with state-of-the-art technology. Our scientific questions are articulated into two aims, Aim1, cross-sectional and Aim 2, longitudinal.
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Restoring Central Motor Control to Improve Community Mobility of Older Adults

2018–2022
1 R01 AG057671-01A1, NIA/NINR
Andrea Rosso (PI)
Caterina Rosano (Co-Investigator)

The results of this study will provide evidence of the extent to which Motor Skill Training can improve real world measures of community mobility, quantify the contribution from restoration of central motor control, and identify the influence from other characteristics of the person and their environment.
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Locomotor Adaptability for Community Mobility of Older Adults: The Role of Gait Automaticity

2020–2022
Pitt Momentum Funds
Andrea Rosso (Co-Investigator)

Exposure to split-belt walking, in which legs move at different speeds, improves locomotor adaptability in older adults, but the underlying mechanisms of these improvements are unknown. Extent of gait automaticity may be an important neural mechanism of locomotor adaptability. We will also determine cognitive correlates of locomotor adaptability and whether improving locomotor adaptability changes mobility outcomes.
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Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia Among Older Chinese Immigrants: The Role of Activity, Engagement, Immigration Experience, and Neighborhood Environments

2020–2024
1R01AG067548-01
Fengyan Tang (PI)
Andrea Rosso (Co-Investigator)

This project will conduct the first comprehensive epidemiological study to investigate change trajectories of cognitive function and the preventive effects of activity engagement profiles, examining the risk and protective factors associated with immigration experience and neighborhood contexts in the aging Chinese immigrant population. 
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Environmental Challenges and the Aging Brain: Implications for Community Mobility

2016–2022
1K01AG053431-01, NIA
Andrea Rosso (PI)

This career development award proposes to assess age-related changes in the brain that may be a key determinant of the ability to remain mobile in complex community environments through utilization of a study design that incorporates community-based environmental challenges and real-time functional brain imaging while participants are walking.
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Neighborhoods, Cognitive Aging and Modifiable Risk Factors

2018–2022
1R01AG055404-01A1, NIA
Michelle Carlson (PI)
Andrea Rosso (Co-Investigator)

Long-term exposure to neighborhood disadvantage may serve as a common cause of individual risk factors and neurocognitive and functional health, particularly in groups at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease. We will examine the influence of a range of neighborhood factors on long-term trajectories of cognitive and functional aging prior to the onset of AD in the Cardiovascular Health Study.
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ADRD Supplement: Urban Revitalization and Long-term Effects on Diet, Economic, and Health Outcomes

2018–2021
R01 CA149105-07S1, NIA
Tamara Dubowitz (PI) 
Andrea Rosso (Co-Investigator)

This supplement will add measures of cognitive function and clinically adjudicated Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease to our ongoing NCI-funded study that is following a cohort of mid- to late-life African Americans residing in two low-income neighborhoods.
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ADRD Supplement: Natural Experiment of Neighborhood Revitalization and Cardiometabolic Health

2018–2021
R01 HL131531-03S1, NIA
Wendy Troxel (MPI)
Tiffany Gary-Webb (MPI)
Andrea Rosso (Co-Investigator)

This study will add cognitive assessments to an ongoing NHLBI-funded study (HL131531) which is following a sample of low- income, mid- to late- life African American residents. Understanding the impact of cumulative, race-relevant stressors on cognitive outcomes is critical in order to identify individual and policy-level interventions to mitigate pervasive racial/ ethnic disparities in dementia and poor cognitive functioning in late life.
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Cognitive Decline, Brain Aging, Physical Environment, and Mobility

2016–2018
R21 AG054666-01, NIA
Andrea Rosso (PI)

This proposal aims to understand better the environmental contributors to mobility limitations that could be the target of future population-level prevention strategies. In particular, we aim to understand how age-related cognitive declines can make some individuals more vulnerable to the mobility-limiting aspects of their environments.
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Identification of Factors Associated with Subsequent Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis Using Machine Learning Over Complex Large-scale Longitudinal Health Data

2020–2021
Momentum Funds Teaming Grant
University of Pittsburgh Senior Vice Chancellor’s Office
Richard Boyce (PI) 
Beth Shaaban (Co-Investigator)

The aim of this project is to identify antecedents of Alzheimer’s disease in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center electronic health records, which warrant additional scrutiny as possible risk or protective protectors for disease onset using case-control and machine learning study designs and incorporating graphical causal models.
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Pathways of Beneficial Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Hippocampal Atrophy Among Older Adults

2016–2018
F31AG054084, NIA
Beth Shaaban (PI) 

This award funded my final two years of doctoral epidemiology training to develop expertise in the promotion of neurovascular integrity for the prevention of cognitive decline and disorders in very old adults. This research evaluated the pathways by which physical activity impacts the hippocampus and cerebral small vein integrity of older adults.
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Ultra-high-field Neuroimaging in Elderly After a Two-year Exercise Intervention

2014–2018
1 R01 AG044474-04, NIA
Caterina Rosano (PI)
Howard Aizenstein (PI)

The project leverages the LIFE-M 2 year-long physical activity RCT to examine physical activity-related effects on hippocampal formation and specifically in the dentate gyrus, by applying 7-Tesla ultra-high field technology.
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Retinal Imaging Markers of Cognition in Adults with T1D

2015–2017
R21 DK107926-01
Caterina Rosano (PI)

Examined the relationships, both cross-sectionally and change over time, between neurocognitive complications (e.g., brain imaging markers, psychomotor speed, cognitive impairment) with measures of retinal vascular health (e.g., retinal vessels diameter, retinopathy) in middle-aged adults with childhood onset Type 1 Diabetes.
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Healthy Brain Project 2 - Resilience to Mobility Impairment: Neural Correlates and Protective Factors

2011–2017
1 R01 AG037451-01A1, NIA
Caterina Rosano (PI)

This is a longitudinal neuroepidemiological study to identify the brain characteristics and risk factors of older adults who have maintained good mobility in the face of substantial structural brain abnormalities.
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Imaging Biomarkers of Accelerated Brain Aging in Type-1 Diabetes

2010–2016
R01 DK089028-04, NIDDK
Caterina Rosano (PI)

This research will quantify the nature, severity and risk factors of brain abnormalities in the ongoing longitudinal Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) cohort study as adults with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are increasingly more likely to develop brain abnormalities in addition to multiple micro- and macro-vascular complications.
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Healthy Brain Project 1 - Brain Anatomical Correlates of Mobility Control in the Oldest Old

2007–2012
1 R01 AG029232-01
Caterina Rosano (PI)

This project aims to investigate the longitudinal association of focal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in GM and WM with age-related mobility impairment in gait speed and balance in a large cohort of community-dwelling older adults from the Health Aging Body Composition Study (Health ABC).
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In our Trainees’ words: A Catalogue of our Publications

Greta Jianjia Cheng, MSW, MPH

PhD Student

Greta studies the drivers of mental health in older adults, ranging from behavioral to environmental factors.
  1. Li, Lydia & Cheng, Greta & Xu, Hongwei & Zhang, Zhenmei & Liu, Jinyu & Conwell, Yeates. (2022). Depression Is Associated With Myocardial Infarction Within a 2-Year Period Among Adults in China. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. 34. 101053952210953. 10.1177/10105395221095331.
  2. Cheng, Greta & Kobayashi, Lindsay. (2021). Associations Between Comorbidity and Depressive Symptoms During COVID-19: Variation by Social Isolation?. Innovation in Aging. 5. 39-39. 10.1093/geroni/igab046.144.
  3. Nicklett, Emily & Cheng, Greta. (2021). Predictors of Food Insecurity Before and During COVID-19 Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Innovation in Aging. 5. 956-956. 10.1093/geroni/igab046.3420.
  4. Cheng, Greta & Nicklett, Emily. (2020). Associations Between Physical Activity and Living Alone: Are There Differences by Gender?. Innovation in Aging. 4. 495-496. 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1601.
  5. Xiang, Xiaoling & Yang, Yong & Cheng, Greta & An, Ruopeng. (2020). The Impact of Late-Life Disability Spectrum on Depressive Symptoms: A Fixed-Effects Analysis of Panel Data. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. 76. 10.1093/geronb/gbaa060.
  6. Nicklett, Emily & Chen, Jieling & Xiang, Xiaoling & Abrams, Leah & Sonnega, Amanda & Johnson, Kimson & Cheng, Greta & Assari, Shervin. (2020). Associations Between Diagnosis with Type 2 Diabetes and Changes in Physical Activity among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States. Innovation in Aging. 4. 10.1093/geroni/igz048.
  7. Cheng, Greta & Choi, Jungtae & Li, Lydia. (2019). PREVALENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION AMONG MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS IN CHINA. Innovation in Aging. 3. S123-S123. 10.1093/geroni/igz038.451.
  8. Xiang, Xiaoling & Cheng, Greta & Zuverink, Ashley & Wang, Xiafei. (2019). Perceptions and practice behaviors regarding late-life depression among private duty home care workers: a mixed-methods study. Aging & Mental Health. 24. 1-8. 10.1080/13607863.2019.1636207.
  9. Xiang, Xiaoling & Cheng, Greta. (2019). Trajectories of major depression in middle‐aged and older adults: A population‐based study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 34. 10.1002/gps.5161. 
Mauricio Gil-Silva

Chen Hu, BS, MS

MD/PhD Student

The following articles highlight Chen's exploration of diverse neurological topics, including trends in gender and racial diversity in neurology faculty, the impact of multiple sclerosis, biomarkers in disease progression, and therapeutic insights in conditions like stiff person syndrome, underscore the evolving landscape of neurodegenerative disease research and clinical care.
  1. Tsai, Wendy & Hu, Chen & Ding, Jeffrey & Bui, Esther & Pikula, Aleksandra & Field, Thalia & Tiwana, Sabeen & Siddiqi, Javed & Khosa, Faisal. (2024). Trends in Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Representation Among US Neurology Faculty. JAMA Neurology. 82. 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.3909.
  2. Hu, Chen & Vasileiou, Eleni & Salter, Amber & Marrie, Ruth & Kowalec, Kaarina & Fitzgerald, Kathryn. (2024). Evidence of symptom specificity for depression in multiple sclerosis: A two sample Mendelian randomization study. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 91. 105866. 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105866.
  3. Koshorek, Jacqueline & Hu, Chen & Wang, Yujie & Grkovski, Risto & Lin, Doris & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Newsome, Scott & Mowry, Ellen. (2024). Relevance of antinuclear antibody in diagnosis and characteristics of multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders. 87. 105639. 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105639.
  4. Simpson, Alexandra & Hu, Chen & Mowry, Ellen & Naismith, Robert & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Nourbakhsh, Bardia. (2024). Structural MRI measures are associated with fatigue severity and persistence in a large, real-world cohort of people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. 30. 738-746. 10.1177/13524585241239473.
  5. Rjeily, Nicole & Sanjayan, Muraleetharan & Guha Niyogi, Pratim & Dewey, Blake & Lee, Alexandra & Hulett, Christy & Dagher, Gabriella & Hu, Chen & Mazur, Rafal & Kenney, Elena & Brennan, Erin & DuVal, Anna & Calabresi, Peter & Zipunnikov, Vadim & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Mowry, Ellen. (2024). Accelerometry-assessed Physical Activity and Circadian Rhythm to Detect Clinical Disability Status in Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-sectional Study (Preprint). JMIR mHealth and uHealth. 10.2196/57599.
  6. Wang, Yujie & Hu, Chen & Aljarallah, Salman & Reyes Mantilla, Maria & Mukharesh, Loulwah & Simpson, Alexandra & Roy, Shuvro & Harrison, Kimystian & Shoemaker, Thomas & Comisac, Michael & Balshi, Alexandra & Obando, Danielle & Pimentel Maldonado, Daniela & Koshorek, Jacqueline & Snoops, Sarah & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Newsome, Scott. (2023). Expanding clinical profiles and prognostic markers in stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders. Journal of Neurology. 271. 1-12. 10.1007/s00415-023-12123-0.
  7. Sotirchos, Elias & Hu, Chen & Smith, Matthew & Lord, Hannah-Noelle & DuVal, Anna & Arrambide, Georgina & Montalban, Xavier & Akgün, K. & Ziemssen, Tjalf & Naismith, Robert & Hersh, Carrie & Hyland, Megan & Krupp, Lauren & Nicholas, Jacqueline & Bermel, Robert & Mowry, Ellen & Calabresi, Peter & Fitzgerald, Kathryn. (2023). Agreement Between Published Reference Resources for Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in People With Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology. 101. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207957. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207957. 
  8. Mercure-Corriveau, Nicolas & Roy, Shuvro & Hu, Chen & Crowe, Elizabeth & Zhu, Xianming & Obando, Danielle & Patel, Eshan & Tobian, Aaron & Wang, Yujie & Bloch, Evan & Newsome, Scott. (2023). Therapeutic plasma exchange in the management of stiff person syndrome spectrum disorders: a case series and review of the literature. Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders. 16. 10.1177/17562864231180736.
  9. Ehrhardt, Henrik & Lambe, Jeffrey & Moussa, Hussein & Vasileiou, Eleni & Kalaitzidis, Grigorios & Murphy, Olwen & Filippatou, Angeliki & Pellegrini, Nicole & Douglas, Morgan & Davis, Simidele & Nagy, Natalia & Quiroga, Agustina & Hu, Chen & Lee, Alexandra & Duval, Anna & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Prince, Jerry & Calabresi, Peter & Sotirchos, Elias & Saidha, Shiv. (2023). Effects of Ibudilast on Retinal Atrophy in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Subtypes: Post-Hoc Analyses of the SPRINT-MS Trial. Neurology. 101. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207551. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207551.
  10. Pimentel Maldonado, Daniela & Balshi, Alexandra & Hu, Chen & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Koshorek, Jacqueline & Reyes Mantilla, Maria & Obando, Danielle & Wang, Yujie & Newsome, Scott. (2023). Respiratory Symptoms are Common in Stiff Person Syndrome Spectrum Disorders and are Associated with Number of Body Regions Involved. European journal of neurology. 30. 10.1111/ene.15825.
  11. Roy, Shuvro & Hu, Chen & Wang, Yujie & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Newsome, Scott. (2023). Identifying Key Components for Diagnosing Stiff Person Syndrome Spectrum Disorders: A Sensitivity and Specificity Study (P4-5.018). Neurology. 100. 2704. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000202736.
  12. Harrison, Kimystian & Hu, Chen & Aljarallah, Salman & Wang, Yujie & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Newsome, Scott. (2023). Rituximab is Associated with Limiting Progression in Individuals with Stiff Person Syndrome Spectrum Disorders (S40.002). Neurology. 100. 3826. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000203551.
  13. Wang, Yujie & Hu, Chen & Mukharesh, Loulwah & Aljarallah, Salman & Reyes Mantilla, Maria & Comisac, Michael & Balshi, Alexandra & Obando, Danielle & Snoops, Sarah & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Newsome, Scott. (2023). Early Predictors of Future Disability in Stiff Person Syndrome Spectrum Disorders (S40.001). Neurology. 100. 2684. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000202721.
  14. Hu, Chen & Dewey, Blake & Mowry, Ellen & Fitzgerald, Kathryn. (2023). Deep gray matter substructure volumes and depressive symptoms in a large multiple sclerosis cohort. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. 29. 809-818. 10.1177/13524585221148144.
  15. Singh, Namrata & Madhira, Vithal & Hu, Chen & Olex, Amy & Bergquist, Tim & Fitzgerald, Kathryn & Huling, Jared & Patel, Rena & Singh, Jasvinder. (2022). Rituximab is associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A retrospective, nationally sampled cohort study from the U.S. National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 58. 152149. 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2022.152149.
  16. Kalaitzidis, Grigorios & Pellegrini, Nicole & Nagy, Natalia & Vasileiou, Eleni & Ehrhardt, Henrik & Reppen, Abbey & Murphy, Olwen & Moussa, Hussein & Filippatou, Angeliki & Lambe, Jeffrey & DuVal, Anna & Fioravante, Nicholas & Kwakyi, Ohemaa & Nguyen, James & Davis, Simidele & Douglas, Morgan & Ramirez, Alexandra & Ecoff, Katie & Valenzuela, Alyssandra & Calabresi, Peter. (2022). Effects of Myopia on Rates of Change in Optical Coherence Tomography Measured Retinal Layer Thicknesses in People with Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Controls. Current eye research. 48. 1-8. 10.1080/02713683.2022.2149806.
  17. Vasileiou, Eleni & Hu, Chen & Bernstein, Charles & Lublin, Fred & Wolinsky, Jerry & Cutter, Gary & Sotirchos, Elias & Kowalec, Kaarina & Salter, Amber & Saidha, Shiv & Mowry, Ellen & Calabresi, Peter & Marrie, Ruth & Fitzgerald, Kathryn. (2022). Association of Vitamin D Polygenic Risk Scores and Disease Outcome in People With Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation. 10. 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200062.
  18. Vasileiou, Eleni & Hu, Chen & Kalaitzidis, Grigorios & Ehrhardt, Henrik & Moussa, Hussein & Ladakis, Dimitrios & Ahmadi, Gelareh & Sotirchos, Elias & Saidha, Shiv & Mowry, Ellen & Calabresi, Peter & Dickerson, Aisha & Fitzgerald, Kathryn. (2022). Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with increased neuronal injury in people with multiple sclerosis. 
Laura Alejandra Ramirez Tirado, MD, MSc.

Laura Alejandra Ramirez Tirado, MD, MSc

PhD Student

Alejandra's research covers the study of clinical outcomes on chronic diseases ; she has experience in clinical trials exploring drug efficacy, biomarkers, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy.
  1. Ramírez-Tirado, Laura-Alejandra & Cohen, Ann & Shaaban, C. & Lopresti, Brian & Karikari, Thomas. (2025). Synergistic effects of peripheral inflammation and neuroinflammation on amyloid, vascular, and neurodegeneration markers across the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum.. 10.13140/RG.2.2.14038.56649.
  2. Berumen, Jaime & Kuri-Morales, Pablo & Barrera, Elizabeth & Peynado, Paulina & Rivas, Fernando & Ramírez-Tirado, Laura-Alejandra & González-Carballo, Carlos & Zarza, Alberto & Vecchyio-Tenorio, Georgina & Pérez-Flores, Oscar & Meléndez, Carlos & Ramirez Reyes, Raul & Ramìrez Aguilar, Diego & Friedrichs, Louisa & Torres, Jason & Emberson, Jonathan & Alegre Díaz, Jesus & Tapia-Conyer, Roberto. (2025). The Impact of Amerindian Genomic Ancestry on Type 2 Diabetes in Mexico: An Analysis of 134,548 Individuals from the Mexico City Prospective Study. 10.2139/ssrn.5341715.
  3. Turcott, Jenny & Martínez-Sámano, Julio Eduardo & Cardona, Andrés & Samtani, Suraj & Ramírez-Tirado, Laura-Alejandra & Zatarain-Barrón, Zyanya & Barron, Feliciano & Corrales, Luis & Martin, Claudio & Barragán Castillo, Pablo Alan & Ruiz Patiño, Alejandro & Flores, Diana & Arrieta, Oscar. (2020). The Role of a Cachexia Grading System in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Immunotherapy: Implications for Survival. Nutrition and Cancer. 73. 1-8. 10.1080/01635581.2020.1769691.
  4. Arrieta, Oscar & Barron, Feliciano & Ramírez-Tirado, Laura-Alejandra & Zatarain-Barrón, Zyanya & Cardona, Andrés & Díaz-García, Diego & Yamamoto-Ramos, Masao & Mota-Vega, Beatriz & Carmona Gonzalez, Carlos & Álvarez, Marco Polo & Bautista, Yolanda & Aldaco, Fernando & Gerson, Raquel & Rolfo, Christian & Rosell, Rafael. (2020). Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab Plus Docetaxel vs Docetaxel Alone in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. The PROLUNG Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncology. 6. 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.0409.
  5. Arrieta, Oscar & Ramírez-Tirado, Laura-Alejandra & Zatarain-Barrón, Zyanya. (2020). Metformin Plus Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor–Mutated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer—Reply. JAMA Oncology. 6. 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.0062.
  6. López‐Salazar, Javier & Ramírez-Tirado, Laura-Alejandra & Gómez‐Contreras, Nora & Pacheco‐Bravo, Irlanda & Cortés, Evelyn & Gallardo, Dolores & Arrieta, Oscar & Cesarman, Gabriela & Arauz, Rafael. (2020). Cancer‐associated prothrombotic pathways: leucocytosis, but not thrombocytosis, correlates with venous thromboembolism in women with ovarian cancer. Internal Medicine Journal. 50. 366-370. 10.1111/imj.14762.
  7. Arrieta, Oscar & Ramírez-Tirado, Laura-Alejandra & Caballé-Pérez, Enrique & Mejia‐Perez, Alberto & Zatarain‐Barrón, Zyanya & Cardona, Andrés & Lozano-Ruiz, Francisco & Segura-Gonzalez, Manuel & Cruz Rico, Graciela & Magos, Federico & Rosell, Rafael. (2020). Response rate of patients with baseline brain metastases from recently diagnosed non‐small cell lung cancer receiving radiotherapy according to EGFR , ALK and KRAS mutation status. Thoracic Cancer. 11. 10.1111/1759-7714.13359.
  8. Arrieta, Oscar & Avilés-Salas, Alejandro & Orozco‐Morales, Mario & Hernández-Pedro, Norma & Cardona, Andrés & Barrios Bernal, Pedro & Soca Chafre, Giovanny & Cruz Rico, Graciela & Peña‐Torres, María & Moncada‐Claudio, Guadalupe & Ramírez-Tirado, Laura-Alejandra. (2020). Association between CD47 expression, clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Medicine. 9. 1-13. 10.1002/cam4.2882.
Yixiao (Tracy) Song

Yixiao Song, MS

PhD Student

Yixiao’s research bridges epidemiology and neuroscience to understand how midlife factors (e.g., diet, physical activity, and reproductive health) and late-life neural mechanisms (e.g., striatal dopaminergic transmission) influence motivation, cognition, and mobility in aging.
  1. Song, Y., Rosano, C., Cvejkus, R. K., Acevedo-Fontánez, A. I., Zmuda, J. M., Wheeler, V., Catov, J. M., & Miljkovic, I. (2025). Reproductive health history and later life cognition in African Caribbean women. Alzheimer’s & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 21(8), e70547. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70547
  2. Song, Y., Wu, F., Sharma, S., Clendenen, T. V., India-Aldana, S., Afanasyeva, Y., Gu, Y., Koenig, K. L., Zeleniuch-Jacquotte, A., & Chen, Y. (2024). Mid-life adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and late-life subjective cognitive complaints in women. Alzheimer’s & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 20(2), 1076–1088. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13468
  3. Song Y, Cawthon P, Butters M, Chahine L, Rosano C. THE CONTRIBUTION OF NIGROSTRIATAL DOPAMINERGIC TRANSMISSION ON APATHY IN OLDER ADULTS. Innov Aging. 2024 Dec 31;8(Suppl 1):1041. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae098.3349. PMCID: PMC11692989.
  4. Song Y, Wu F, Sharma S, Clendenen TV, India-Aldana S, Afanasyeva Y, Gu Y, Koenig KL, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Chen Y. Mid-life adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and late-life subjective cognitive complaints in women. Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Feb;20(2):1076-1088. doi: 10.1002/alz.13468. Epub 2023 Oct 20. PMID: 37861080; PMCID: PMC10917042.
Daniel Willie-Permor, MD, MPH, CPH

Daniel Willie-Permor, MD, MPH, CPH

PhD Student

Daniel's publications have explored the effects of preoperative conditions, access to care, and surgical techniques on vascular surgery outcomes. He now conducts population neuroscience studies on tau/amyloid resistance and resilience, investigating how social, physical, cognitive health-behaviour activities and clinical/cardiometabolic risk factors influence cognitive trajectories across harmonized Pittsburgh cohorts.
  1. Willie-Permor, Daniel & Moacdieh, Munir & Straus, Sabrina & Rahgozar, Shima & Ross, Elsie & Malas, Mahmoud. (2025). Effect Of Mannitol Administration On Outcomes of Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 10.1016/j.jvs.2025.07.037.
  2. Willie-Permor, Daniel & Straus, Sabrina & Sendek, Gabriela & Moghaddam, Marjan & Zarrintan, Sina & Ross, Elsie & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). Medicare Patients With Symptomatic Carotid Disease Requiring Carotid Revascularization Are Likely to Have Delayed Access: An Analysis Of A Multi-Center Surgical Data. Annals of Vascular Surgery. 112. 10.1016/j.avsg.2024.11.096. 
  3. Straus, Sabrina & Vootukuru, Nishita & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Elsayed, Nadin & Ross, Elsie & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). The Effect of Preoperative Smoking Status on Carotid Endarterectomy Outcomes in Asymptomatic Patients. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 81. 10.1016/j.jvs.2024.11.031. 
  4. Veranyan, Narek & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Zarrintan, Sina & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). Clinical Outcomes of Celiac Artery Coverage vs Preservation During Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 80. 10.1016/j.jvs.2024.07.006.
  5. Patel, Rohini & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Fan, Austin & Zarrintan, Sina & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). 30-Day Risk Score for Mortality and Stroke in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis Using Artificial Intelligence Based Carotid Plaque Morphology. Annals of Vascular Surgery. 109. 10.1016/j.avsg.2024.05.016.
  6. Straus, Sabrina & Barodi, Batol & Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Vootukuru, Nishita & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). A Contemporary Evaluation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services High-Risk Indicators for Carotid Endarterectomy. Annals of surgery. 280. 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006397.
  7. Willie-Permor, Daniel & Straus, Sabrina & Elsayed, Nadin & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). Mid-term Outcomes Of Transcarotid Artery Revascularization vs Carotid Endarterectomy Among Standard Risk Patients. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 79. e193-e194. 10.1016/j.jvs.2024.03.248.
  8. Straus, Sabrina & Vootukuru, Nishita & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Elsayed, Nadin & Ross, Elsie & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). The Effect Of Smoking Status On Short And Mid-Term Outcomes Of Asymptomatic Patients Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy: Analysis Of National Multi-Institutional Data. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 79. e334-e335. 10.1016/j.jvs.2024.03.434.
  9. Straus, Sabrina & Barodi, Batol & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Vootukuru, Nishita & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). Re-Evaluating The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services (CMS) High-Risk Criteria For Carotid Artery Revascularization. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 79. e335-e336. 10.1016/j.jvs.2024.03.435.
  10. Farah, Marc & Moghaddam, Marjan & Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Schermerhorn, Marc & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). The Effect of Controlled versus Uncontrolled Hypertension on Outcomes of Carotid Revascularization Procedures. Journal of vascular surgery. 80. 10.1016/j.jvs.2024.05.021.
  11. Ramachandran, Mokhshan & Unkart, Jonathan & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Hamouda, Mohammed & Elsayed, Nadin & Malas, Mahmoud. (2024). The Obesity Paradox Exists for Perioperative Complications and Mortality Following Lower Extremity Arterial Bypass Surgery. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 80. 10.1016/j.jvs.2024.04.044.
  12. Willie-Permor, Daniel & Real, Marcos & Zarrintan, Sina & Gaffey, Ann & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Perioperative Blood Transfusion Is Associated With Worse 30-Day Mortality And Complications After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair. Annals of Vascular Surgery. 101. 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.10.030.
  13. Chow, Christopher & Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Elsayed, Nadin & Baril, R.D.T. & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Postoperative Outcomes and One-Year Mortality of Patients on Chronic Anticoagulation Medications Undergoing Infrainguinal Bypass. Annals of Vascular Surgery. 99. 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.07.110.
  14. Willie-Permor, Daniel & Rahgozar, Shima & Zarrintan, Sina & Alsaigh, Tom & Gaffey, Ann & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Patients With Prior Exposure To A Combination of Statins & Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE-Is)/Angiotensin receptor blockers(ARBs) Have Better Outcomes After Carotid Revascularization Than Patients With Prior Exposure To Statins Alone: A Multi-Center Analysis. Annals of Vascular Surgery. 100. 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.08.036.
  15. Willie-Permor, Daniel & Straus, Sabrina & Rahgozar, Shima & Wellington, Hannah & Shalhub, Sherene & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Contemporary Outcomes of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Patients With Connective Tissue Disorders: A Multi-Centre National Study. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 78. e62-e63. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.06.098.
  16. Straus, Sabrina & Moghaddam, Marjan & Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Jagadeesh, Vasan & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Modality-Specific Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Carotid Revascularization in the Setting of Recent Myocardial Infarction. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 79. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.09.024.
  17. Naazie, Isaac & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Haykal, Tony & Harris, Linda & Hughes, Kakra & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Association Between Conduit Type and Outcomes After Open Repair of Popliteal Artery Aneurysms. The Journal of surgical research. 291. 670-676. 10.1016/j.jss.2023.06.021.
  18. Patel, Rohini & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Zarrintan, Sina & Fan, Austin & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Using a CT Angiography Artificial Intelligence Carotid Plaque Morphology Model to Predict Stroke. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e278-e279. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.388.
  19. Moacdieh, Munir & Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Rahgozar, Shima & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Open Versus Endovascular Left Subclavian Artery Revascularization Outcomes in Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: A National Study. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e172. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.237.
  20. Straus, Sabrina & Malas, Mahmoud & Zarrintan, Sina & Moghaddam, Marjan & Willie-Permor, Daniel. (2023). Optimal Method of Carotid Revascularization in Patients With Recent Myocardial Infarction. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e135-e136. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.186.
  21. Ramachandran, Mokhshan & Unkart, Jonathan & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Hamouda, Mohammed & Elsayed, Nadin & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Paradoxical Associations Exist Between BMI Category and Perioperative Complications Following Lower Extremity Arterial Bypass. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e192-e194. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.263.
  22. Moghaddam, Marjan & Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Siracuse, Jeffrey & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Transcarotid Artery Revascularization Is the Safest Carotid Artery Revascularization Option for Patients With Symptomatic Congestive Heart Failure. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e109. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.174.
  23. Farah, Marc & Moghaddam, Marjan & Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Schermerhorn, Marc & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). The Effect of Controlled Versus Uncontrolled Hypertension on Outcomes in Carotid Revascularization Procedures. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e132-e133. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.182.
  24. Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Patel, Rohini & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Covered Endovascular Reconstruction of Aortic Bifurcation Is Comparable to Aortobifemoral Bypass in Midterm Follow-up: A Multi-institutional Study from a Medicare-Linked Database. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e351-e352. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.487.
  25. Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Patel, Rohini & Alsaigh, Tom & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Factors Associated With 1-year Amputation-free Survival Following Lower Extremity Revascularization in Patients with Chronic Limb-threatening Ischemia: An Analysis of VQI-VISION Database. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e196-e197. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.266.
  26. Willie-Permor, Daniel & Sendek, Gabriela & Moghaddam, Marjan & Zarrintan, Sina & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Medicare Patients with Symptomatic Carotid Disease Requiring Carotid Revascularization Are Likely to Have Delayed Access: An Analysis of a Multicenter Surgical Data. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e280-e281. 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.03.391.
  27. Ramakrishnan, Ganesh & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Yei, Kevin & Nejim, Besma & Enuma, Zachary & Gasparis, Antonios & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Immediate and delayed complications of inferior vena cava filters. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. 65. e60. 10.1016/j.ejvs.2023.04.035.
  28. Patel, Rohini & Cui, Christina & Khan, Maryam Ali & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Open Versus Endovascular Revascularization for Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia. Annals of vascular surgery. 94. 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.02.013.
  29. Patel, Rohini & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Zarrintan, Sina & Elsayed, Nadin & Al-Nouri, Omar & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Two-Stage Offers No Advantages Over Single Stage Arteriovenous Creation: An Analysis of Multi-Center National Data. Annals of Vascular Surgery. 96. 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.03.020.
  30. Zarrintan, Sina & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Siracuse, Jeffrey & Barleben, Andrew & Malas, Mahmoud. (2023). Prior Endovascular Intervention Is Not Associated With Unfavorable Outcomes in Infrainguinal Bypass Surgery for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of the VQI-Medicare-Linked Database. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. e20-e21. 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.11.022.
  31. Ramakrishnan, Ganesh & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Yei, Kevin & Nejim, Besma & Enuma, Zachary & Gasparis, Antonios & Malas, Mahmoud. (2022). Immediate and Delayed Complications of IVC Filters. Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. 11. 10.1016/j.jvsv.2022.08.011.
  32. Yin, Kanhua & Willie-Permor, Daniel & Zarrintan, Sina & Dakour Aridi, Hanaa & Ramirez, Joel & Iannuzzi, James & Naazie, Isaac & Malas, Mahmoud. (2022). Anemia is Associated with Higher Mortality and Morbidity After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 77. 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.08.037.

     

Erica Fan

Erica Fan, MPH

MD/PhD Student

Erica's studies focus on the health of older adults, examining the impact of the outdoor environment on falls and the relationship between brain health and mobility confidence. Additionally, other work explores molecular mechanisms of metabolism and community perception of flu and COVID vaccinations.
  1. Barton, D. J., Fan, E. K., Gober, I. G., Awan, N., Kumar, R. G., Carlson, J. C., Frankel, M. R., Wright, D. W., & Wagner, A. K. (2025). Traumatic Brain Injury Severity Measured by Clinical, Radiographical, and Blood Biomarker Measures Is Associated with Non-Neurological Organ Dysfunction: A Secondary Analysis of ProTECT III and Bio-ProTECT. Journal of neurotrauma, 10.1177/08977151251362234. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/08977151251362234
  2. Dunlap, P. M., Fan, E. K., Hubbard, Z. L., VonVille, H. M., Strotmeyer, E. S., & Rosso, A. L. (2025). Outdoor Environmental Risk Factors for Falls and Fear of Falling: A Systematic Review. The Gerontologist, 65(5), gnaf078. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaf078
  3. Fan, Erica & Royse, Sarah & Reese, Alexandria & Karikari, Thomas & Pascoal, Tharick & Shaaban, C. & Villemagne, Victor & Cohen, Ann. (2024). NEIGHBORHOOD DISADVANTAGE AND THE ASSOCIATION OF PLASMA BIOMARKERS WITH COGNITION IN A COHORT OF DIVERSE ADULTS. Innovation in Aging. 8. 462-463. 10.1093/geroni/igae098.1504. 
  4. Murali A, Sojati J, Levochkina M, Pressimone C, Griffith K, Fan E, Dakroub A. A CrossSectional Analysis of Community Perceptions of Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines at Turtle Creek Primary Care Center. Community Health Equity Res Policy. 2024 Jul;44(4):439-451. doi: 10.1177/2752535X231205665. Epub 2023 Oct 14. PMID: 37837451.
  5. Fan L, Sweet DR, Fan EK, Prosdocimo DA, Madera A, Jiang Z, Padmanabhan R, Haldar SM, Vinayachandran V, Jain MK. Transcription factors KLF15 and PPARδ cooperatively orchestrate genome-wide regulation of lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle. J Biol Chem. 2022 Jun;298(6):101926. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101926. Epub 2022 Apr 9. PMID: 35413288; PMCID: PMC9190004. 
  6. Shaaban CE, Fan E, Klatt BN, Cohen AD, Snitz BE, Yu Z, Lopresti BJ, Villemagne VL, Klunk WE, Aizenstein HJ, Rosso AL. Brain health correlates of mobility-related confidence. Exp Gerontol. 2022 Jun 15;163:111776. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111776. Epub 2022 Mar 24. PMID: 35339632; PMCID: PMC9109136. 
  7. Zhou, H., Fan, E. K., & Fan, J. (2021). Cell-Cell Interaction Mechanisms in Acute Lung Injury. Shock (Augusta, Ga.), 55(2), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.1097/SHK.0000000000001598
  8. Wang, J., Luan, Y., Fan, E. K., Scott, M. J., Li, Y., Billiar, T. R., Wilson, M. A., Jiang, Y., & Fan, J. (2021). TBK1/IKKε Negatively Regulate LPS-Induced Neutrophil Necroptosis and Lung Inflammation. Shock (Augusta, Ga.), 55(3), 338–348. https://doi.org/10.1097/SHK.0000000000001632
  9. Tang, J., Zhou, B., Scott, M. J., Chen, L., Lai, D., Fan, E. K., Li, Y., Wu, Q., Billiar, T. R., Wilson, M. A., Wang, P., & Fan, J. (2020). Correction to: EGFR signaling augments TLR4 cell surface expression and function in macrophages via regulation of Rab5a activation. Protein & cell, 11(8), 618–619. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-019-00679-5
Meredith Phillips, PhD

Meredith Phillips, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar

 

Meredith's diverse collection of papers decodes how socioeconomic factors, genetics, and awareness influence brain health, Alzheimer’s, and innovative research methods.
  1. Jock, Janet & Beidelman, Erika & Phillips, Meredith & Kobayashi, Lindsay & Chen, Xiwei & Tollman, Stephen & Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa & Bassil, Darina & Wagner, Ryan & Berkman, Lisa & Rosenberg, Molly. (2025). Effects of pension eligibility expansion on men’s memory decline and dementia probability: Findings from the HAALSI cohort in rural South Africa, 2014–2021. PLOS One. 20. 10.1371/journal.pone.0326321. 
  2. Beidelman, Erika & Chakraborty, Rishika & Jock, Janet & Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa & Phillips, Meredith & Kahn, Kathleen & Eyal, Katherine & Bassil, Darina & Berkman, Lisa & Kobayashi, Lindsay & Rosenberg, Molly. (2024). Impact of the South African Child Support Grant on memory decline and dementia probability in rural and low-income mothers, 2014-2021. Social Science & Medicine. 358. 117217. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117217.
  3. Chakraborty, Rishika & Kobayashi, Lindsay & Jock, Janet & Wing, Coady & Chen, Xiwei & Phillips, Meredith & Berkman, Lisa & Kahn, Kathleen & Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa & Rosenberg, Molly. (2024). Child support grant expansion and cognitive function among women in rural South Africa: Findings from a natural experiment in the HAALSI cohort. PLOS ONE. 19. e0297673. 10.1371/journal.pone.0297673.
  4. Jock, Janet & Beidelman, Erika & Kobayashi, Lindsay & Tollman, Stephen & Phillips, Meredith & Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa & Rosenberg, Molly. (2024). The Impact of Old Age Pension Eligibility on Alcohol Consumption: Evidence From a Population-Based Study in Rural South Africa. Innovation in Aging. 8. 10.1093/geroni/igad136.
  5. Beidelman, Erika & Bärnighausen, Till & Wing, Coady & Tollman, Stephen & Phillips, Meredith & Rosenberg, Molly. (2023). Disease awareness and healthcare utilization in rural South Africa: a comparative analysis of HIV and diabetes in the HAALSI cohort. BMC Public Health. 23. 10.1186/s12889-023-17043-2.
  6. Phillips, Meredith & Kobayashi, Lindsay & Chakraborty, Rishika & Wagner, Ryan & Mahlalela, Nomsa & Brown, Joshua & Harezlak, Jaroslaw & Ludema, Christina & Rosenberg, Molly. (2023). Number of children and mid- to later-life cognitive function and cognitive impairment in rural South Africa: Evidence from “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa” (HAALSI). 10.1101/2023.09.25.23296101.
  7. Chakraborty, Rishika & Kobayashi, Lindsay & Jock, Janet & Wing, Coady & Chen, Xiwei & Phillips, Meredith & Berkman, Lisa & Kahn, Kathleen & Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa & Rosenberg, Molly. (2023). Child Support Grant expansion and cognitive function among women in rural South Africa: findings from a natural experiment in HAALSI cohort. medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences. 10.1101/2023.02.18.23286130.
  8. Phillips, Meredith & Kobayashi, Lindsay & Chakraborty, Rishika & Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa & Harezlak, Jaroslaw & Ludema, Christina & Rosenberg, Molly. (2022). Estimating the association between parity and mid‐ to later‐life cognitive function in rural South Africa: Evidence from “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa” (HAALSI). Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 18. 10.1002/alz.062318.
  9. Beidelman, Erika & Bärnighausen, Till & Wing, Coady & Tollman, Stephen & Phillips, Meredith & Rosenberg, Molly. (2022). HIV Status Knowledge and Healthcare Utilization in Rural South Africa: An illustrative comparison of HIV and Diabetes in the HAALSI Cohort. 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2306892/v1.
  10. Duran, Tugce & Woo, Ellen & Otero, Diana & Risacher, Shannon & Stage, Eddie & Bharthur, Apoorva & Nho, Kwangsik & West, John & Phillips, Meredith & Goukasian, Naira & Hwang, Bum-Soon & Apostolova, Liana. (2022). Associations between Cortical Thickness and Metamemory in Alzheimer’s Disease. Brain Imaging and Behavior. 16. 1-9. 10.1007/s11682-021-00627-0.
  11. Mayo-Wilson, Evan & Phillips, Meredith & Connor, Avonne & Vander Ley, Kelly & Naaman, Kevin & Helfand, Mark. (2021). Peer review reduces spin in PCORI research reports. Research Integrity and Peer Review. 6. 10.1186/s41073-021-00119-1.
  12. Stage, Eddie & Svaldi, Diana & Phillips, Meredith & Canela, Victor & Duran, Tugce & Goukasian, Naira & Risacher, Shannon & Saykin, Andrew & Apostolova, Liana. (2020). Neurodegenerative changes in early- and late-onset cognitive impairment with and without brain amyloidosis. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy. 12. 10.1186/s13195-020-00647-w.
Meredith Phillips, PhD

Elana Gloger, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar

 

Elana explores the relationships between psychosocial factors, such as stress, and accelerated aging across midlife, including accelerated cognitive or biological decline. She is particularly interested in mechanisms that explain this relationship, such as systemic inflammation or neurobiological pathways that explain how stress gets “under the skin” to accelerate aging.
  1. Gloger, Elana & Hong, Joanna & Mogle, Jacqueline & Almeida, David & Greaney, Jody. (2025). Greater negative affective responsivity to daily stressors is positively related to urinary norepinephrine excretion in middle-aged adults. Journal of Applied Physiology. 138. 10.1152/japplphysiol.00886.2024.
  2. Gloger, Elana & Smith, Patrick & Segerstrom, Suzanne. (2024). GENDER-SPECIFIC EFFECTS OF IL-6 AND DECLINES IN PROCESSING SPEED AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING IN OLDER ADULTS. Innovation in Aging. 8. 1362-1362. 10.1093/geroni/igae098.4344.
  3. Lawrence, Karen & Gloger, Elana & Pinheiro, Cristina & Schmitt, Frederick & Segerstrom, Suzanne. (2024). Associations between IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα Polymorphisms and Longitudinal Trajectories of Cognitive Function in Non-Demented Older Adults. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health. 39. 100816. 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100816.
  4. Lawrence, Karen & Gloger, Elana & Pinheiro, Cristina & Schmitt, Frederick & Segerstrom, Suzanne. (2023). POLYMORPHISMS IN INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH COGNITIVE TRAJECTORIES IN OLDER ADULTS. Innovation in Aging. 7. 1099-1099. 10.1093/geroni/igad104.3529.
  5. Gloger, Elana & Judge, Stephanie & Reed, Rebecca & Presnell, Steven & Al-Attar, Ahmad & Lutz, Charles & Segerstrom, Suzanne. (2022). The role of late-differentiated T cells, a proxy for IFN-γ-production, in older adults’ social networks. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health. 25. 100512. 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100512.
  6. Leger, Kate & Gloger, Elana & Crofford, Leslie & McDade, Thomas & Segerstrom, Suzanne. (2022). Sleep Variability and Inflammation in Midlife and Older Women. Psychosomatic Medicine. Publish Ahead of Print. 10.1097/PSY.0000000000001130.
  7. Gloger, Elana & Segerstrom, Suzanne. (2022). Repetitive thought, cognition, and systemic inflammation in the midlife in the United States study. Psychology & Health. 39. 1-19. 10.1080/08870446.2022.2092104.
  8. Leger, Kate & Gloger, Elana & Maras, Jessica & Marshburn, Christopher. (2022). Discrimination and Health: The Mediating Role of Daily Stress Processes. Health Psychology. 41. 332-342. 10.1037/hea0001173.
  9. Vohs, Kathleen & Schmeichel, Brandon & Lohmann, Sophie & Gronau, Quentin & Finley, Anna & Ainsworth, Sarah & Alquist, Jessica & Baker, Michael & Brizi, Ambra & Bunyi, Angelica & Butschek, Grant & Campbell, Collier & Capaldi, Jonathan & Cau, Chuting & Chambers, Heather & Chatzisarantis, Nikos & Christensen, Weston & Clay, Samuel & Curtis, Jessica & Albarracin, Dolores. (2020). A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect. Psychological Science. 32. 10.1177/0956797621989733.
  10. Segerstrom, Suzanne & Gloger, Elana & Hardy, Jaime & Crofford, Leslie. (2020). Exposure and Reactivity to Repetitive Thought in the Neuroticism–Distress Relationship. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 44. 10.1007/s10608-020-10078-4.
  11. Gloger, Elana & Suhr, Julie. (2020). Correlates of Poor Sleep and Subsequent Risk of Misdiagnosis in College Students Presenting with Cognitive Complaints. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. 10.1093/arclin/acaa023.
Richard Xu, ScM

Richard Xu, ScM

MPH/PhD Student

 

In his work, Richard investigates how genetic and molecular processes in skeletal muscle influence brain health and cognitive aging. Using multi-omic and statistical genetics approaches, he studies how muscle gene regulation and metabolite signaling contribute to cognitive resilience through cross-tissue communication. His previous work explored how developmental and genetic factors shape risk for cardiometabolic and neurological diseases such as stroke, obesity, and Parkinsonian syndromes.
  1. Xu R, Tian Q, Marron MM, Ferrucci L, Yao S, Kim S, Shah RV, Murthy VL, Newman AB, Miljkovic I, Rosano C. Metabolomic insight into the link of intermuscular fat with cognitive performance: the Health ABC Study. Geroscience. 2025 Feb 20. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01559-z. 
  2. Richard Xu, Megan Marron, Shanshan Yao, Seyoung Kim, Ravi Shah, Venkatesh Murthy, Anne Newman, Caterina Rosano, INTER-RELATIONSHIPS OF CIRCULATING PLASMA METABOLITES, INTERMUSCULAR FAT, AND PROCESSING SPEED: HEALTH ABC STUDY, Innovation in Aging, Volume 8, Issue Supplement_1, December 2024, Pages 1143–1144, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igae098.3667
  3. Hong, Xiumei1; Xu, Richard2; Mi, Michael Y.3; Farrell, Laurie A.3; Wang, Guoying1; Liang, Liming4,5; Gerszten, Robert E.3; Hu, Frank B.4,6,7,*; Wang, Xiaobin1,8,*. Integration of proteomics with prospective birth cohort to elucidate early life origins of cardiometabolic diseases: rationale, study design, lab assay, and quality control. Precision Nutrition 3(3):p e00085, September 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/PN9.0000000000000085
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