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    ADRC Researchers

    Amy Abramowitz, M.D.

    Amy Abramowitz, M.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Geriatric psychiatrist specializing in taking care of older adults with mental health and neurocognitive disorders.

    Leah Acker M.D, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Allison E. Aiello, PhD

    Allison Aiello, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Research interests include: prevention of infectious diseases in the community setting; life course, infection, and chronic disease; genomics, aging, and immunity.

    Igor Akushevich, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Alison Axtman, Ph.D.

    Alison Axtman, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Dr. Axtman’s research focuses on the synthesis of small molecules that selectively modulate proteins implicated in disease-propagating pathways. She works at the interface of chemistry and biology. She is funded to develop reagents to validate novel therapeutic hypotheses related to AD.

    Alexandra Badea Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Current Research interests: Alzheimer's Disease, Brain Imaging, MRI, Connectivity, Multivariate Biomarkers, Image Analysis, Neurological Conditions.

    Cristian Badea, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Spectral CT, Cardiac CT, Image Reconstruction, Deep Learning, Nanoparticles, Theranostics, Co-Clinical cancer trials, Small Animal Imaging

    Luke Bartelt

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Interested in understanding molecular mechanisms of Neurodegeneration through genetic mouse models and single-cell genomic technologies. Working to identify cell-type specific gene regulatory pathways driving neurodegeneration for next-generation gene therapy approaches.

    John Batsis, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Clinical: Geriatric Medicine, Obesity, Health Promotion, Frailty Research: Obesity and Physical Function in Older Adults; Using technology (telemedicine, remote monitoring) to enhance health in older adults

    Keisha Leanne Bentley-Edwards, M.A., Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Care Givers & Community Support, Epidemiology & Population Health

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My work specifically examines how race, culture and racism stress influence how the world responds to Black Americans and how this influences health and social disparities. I develop culturally cognizant measures, specifically in the areas of racial/ethnic socialization, racial cohesion and dissonance and same-race violence. As an interdisciplinary researcher, I examine the racial and societal contexts that influence health, coping and well-being in schools, communities and within families.

    Nrupen Bhavsar, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My primary research interests are in the use of novel sources of data, including the EHR, to conduct chronic disease research at the intersection of informatics, biostatistics, and epidemiology. My ongoing work aims to integrate informatics, epidemiology, and biostatistics to reduce the burden of chronic disease.
    Charlotte Boettiger, Ph.D.

    Charlotte Boettiger, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Work focuses on improving our understanding of the neurobiology of substance use disorders (SUDs) by identifying and characterizing neurocognitive biomarkers and intermediate phenotypes.

    John Buse, M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    The UNC Endocrinology Diabetes Obesity Clinical Research Unit (ENDO CRU) is a leading site for clinical and translational studies of diabetes, obesity and its complications. We are well positioned to help apply diabetes treatments to cognitive disorders and recruit patients with diabetes and obesity to AD translational studies.

    Jamie Capal, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics, Biomarkers, Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Research interests include studying neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan, including Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, and the relationship between early neurodevelopmental conditions and later neurodegeneration.

    Avshalom Caspi, M.A., Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Epidemiology & Population Health, Genetics, Geriatric Psychiatry

    Affiliation: Duke

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    1) How do childhood experiences shape aging and the course of health inequalities across the life span? (2) How do genetic differences between people shape the way they respond to their environments? (3) What are the best ways to assess and measure personality differences between people?
    Emily Cetrone, MD

    Emily Cetrone, M.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Geriatric primary care, medical education, dementia, caregiver stress

    Wei-Tang Chang, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Developments and applications of ultrahigh-resolution functional and diffusion MRI, robust image reconstruction, brain connectivity analysis.

    Xian Chen, PhD

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Our lab focuses on both developments and applications of cutting-edge technologies of proteomics and proteogenomics for mechanistic elucidation and biomarker discovery in AD and ADRD.

    Pratik Chhatbar, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Neuromodulation / Neuroprosthetics / Upcoming technologies

    Jen-Tsan Chi, M.D, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics, Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Current research interests: a) the genetic determinants and disease relevance of ferroptosis; b)a new stress pathway - mammalian stress response; c) genomic and single cell RNA analysis of red blood cells

    Ornit Chiba-Falek, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's Disease

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Our research attempts to better understand the genetic processes underpinning age-related neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease, related dementia, and Lewy body spectrum disorders.

    Sarah Cohen, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Neurodegeneration

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Dr. Cohen uses state-of-the-art microscopy techniques to study organelle dynamics and lipid metabolism in the context of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Keywords: cell biology; organelles; lipids; Alzheimer’s disease; APOE

    Todd Cohen, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    1. Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 2. Protein aggregation mechanisms, post-translational modifications, reversible acetylation mediated by HATs and HDACs

    Leon Coleman, M.D, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Animal Models, Cellular Pathology, Behavioral Pathology

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    The Coleman lab studies how modifiable risk factors for AD promote its cellular and behavioral pathology. By using mouse models and human tissue, we attempt to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for AD. Studies focus on underlying cellular and molecular pathology that promote AD pathogenesis and progression

    Carol Colton, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Cell Biology - Neurodegeneration, Cell Biology - Immunology, Cell Biology - Cellular Aging, Clinical Aging Research

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Recent research has focused on the regulation of microglial reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species production as well as other cytoactive macrophage products that are made during the classical and alternative activation states associated with chronic neurodegeneration.

    Fulton Crews, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Mental disease, including addiction and neurodegeneration
    Douglas Cyr, PhD

    Douglas Cyr, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics, Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Focused on understanding the protein folding problem and defining cellular responses to proteotoxic stress. A central focus is understanding how Hsp70 molecular chaperones mediate protein triage and determine the fate of misfolded proteins.

    Simon Davis, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The primary focus of work in our lab is investigating white matter changes in the aging brain, examining how knowledge supports long-term memory functioning, and probing the effects of brain stimulation on age-related memory loss.
    Eran Dayan, Ph.D.

    Eran Dayan, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Our lab studies neurodegeneration in the human brain using data science and informatics approaches. We seek to identify the fundamental properties of brain organization and reorganization occurring due to neurodegenerative diseases, and develop methods and tools that can eventually be used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes.

    Michael Devinney, M.D, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Delirium and cognitive dysfunction following surgery are associated with significant long-term risk for dementia, diminished quality of life, and increased mortality. To better understand the relationship between OSA, postoperative neurocognitive disorders and neuroinflammation, we are carrying out a prospective observational cohort study called Sleep Apnea, Neuroinflammation, and cognitive Dysfunction Manifesting After Non-cardiac surgery (SANDMAN).

    Yarui Diao, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Gene regulation in tissue regeneration and tumorigenesis

    Graham Diering, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Researches the use of methods in biochemistry, proteomics, cell biology, and animal behavior to understand brain function and how disruptions in brain function contribute to cognitive disorders.
    Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, PhD

    Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Research focuses on Health Disparities, Dementia and Caregiving, Family Caregiving and Aging, and Minority Aging & Aging in Cultural Context

    Anita Disney, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Animal Models

    Affiliation: Duke

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    We are interested in peri- and post-menopausal macaques as a model of preclinical late-onset AD. To understand the spatial neurochemistry of the aging primate brain, we look at within-subject spatial atlases of metabolite levels (spatial metabolome), protein expression (spatial proteome), and extant pathology for the cortex and cerebellum.

    Murali Doraiswamy, M.B.B.S.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers, Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Precision Medicine; Digital Therapeutics; Biomarkers; Clinical Trials; Aging; Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

    Matthew Dupre, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dr. Dupre is a medical sociologist who specializes in research on aging and the life course, health disparities, and chronic disease outcomes in older adults.

    Timothy Elston, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    My lab integrates computational approaches, including mathematical modeling and quantitative image analysis, with experimental investigations to understand complex cellular behavior.

    Patrick J. Eric Stallard

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My research expertise includes modeling and forecasting for biomedical demography and health/LTC actuarial practice.

    Chantell Evans, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Cell Biology - Neurodegeneration, Cell Biology - Immunology

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The focus of the Evans lab is to mechanistically define these diverse mitochondrial quality control pathways, including mitochondrial fusion and fission events, mitochondrial derived vesicles, and mitophagy. Our goal is to understand how these pathways collaborate to regulate the mitochondrial network in healthy neurons and what goes wrong in neurodegenerative disease. We integrate advanced live-cell microscopy to visualize mitochondrial dynamics with biochemical techniques and proteomics to define the specificity of these mechanisms in primary neurons, iPSCs, and mouse models of disease.

    Sylvia Fitting, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Cellular, functional, and behavioral mechanisms of the neurotoxic consequences of HIV-1 protein on the central nervous system and the role of the (endo)cannabinoid system

    Jason Franz, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    The mission of the UNC Applied Biomechanics laboratory is to preserve independent mobility and prevent falls in our rapidly aging population through scientific and technological innovation. As a primary long-term vision, we seek to address the immediate need for innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of walking instability and falls risk in older adults and people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.”
    Gwenn Garden, MD, PhD

    Gwenn Garden, M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Clinical Interests - Neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and dementia Research Interests - Molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and the basic cellular biology of inflammation in the central nervous system

    Susan Gaylord, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Alternative and complementary therapy education; Health beliefs; Mindfulness meditation; Homeopathy; Spirituality; Gerontology; Women’s health issues

    Kelly Giovanello, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Primary research focus is to specify the cognitive processes and neural mechanisms mediating relational memory – the form of memory which represents relationships among items or informational elements.
    Amy Gladfelter, Ph.D.

    Amy Gladfelter, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    We study how cytoplasm is spatially patterned and how cells sense their own shape.  We also investigate how timing in the cell division cycle can be highly variable yet still accurate.

    Vivian Go, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Research focuses on the intersection between HIV and co-morbidities including mental health and opioid use disorders, stigma and discrimination among key populations including people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men, and scaling up evidence-based HIV interventions.

    Bradley Goldstein, M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The lab’s basic research program is broadly focused on understanding damage and repair in the peripheral olfactory system. Current projects seek to identify aging-related changes in human olfactory mucosa; to understand how certain epigenetic complexes regulate adult olfactory neurogenesis; and to understand post-viral olfactory losses.

    William Kirby Gottschalk, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers, Animal Models

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The focus of my research is to learn how alterations to core metabolic pathways contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction that underlies aging and many neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. I am also engaged in developing new genetic models of Alzheimer’s disease, that incorporate human genetic risk factors by targeted replacement.

    Simon Gregory, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Brain tumors; Multiple Sclerosis; Autism; Alzheimer Disease; Application of single cell and spatial technologies to basic and translational research

    Dilraj Grewal, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers, Clinical Trials, Artificial Intelligence

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dilraj Grewal, MD specializes in the medical and surgical management of patients with complex Vitreoretinal pathology and Uveitis and is a Director of Grading at the Duke Reading Center. His research focus is on 1) Novel Retinal Imaging endpoints in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases 2) Leveraging the use of artificial intelligence to create risk stratification models based on retinal imaging 3) Modeling longitudinal rates of change in retinal imaging in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases to establish potential anatomical endpoints to incorporate into clinical trials.

    Eric Griffith, PhD

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Eric’s research interests include biocultural anthropology, dementia, cognitive aging, health disparities, and mixed methods research. As a postdoctoral fellow with the Cook Center, Eric is working on the NIH-funded project “The influence of religion/spirituality on Alzheimer’s Disease and its related dementias (ADRD) for African Americans.

    Jeffrey Guptill, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers, Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Lisa Gwyther, M.S.W

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Current research interests: Alzheimer's disease nursing home and assisted living care, community translation of evidence-based dementia caregiver interventions, early stage Alzheimer's programming, non-pharmacological approaches to dementia-related behavioral symptoms.

    Shuo Han, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The overarching goal of our lab is to understand the interplay between human gut microbiota and host aging.

    Hanzhang Xu, Ph.D., RN

    ADRC Interests: Dementia Care, Geriatric Psychiatry

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My current program of research falls under two themes: (i) the analysis of health disparities in a multinational context, with a particular focus on the cognitive function among older adults; and (ii) the integration of patient-reported social factors in cardiovascular outcome research.

    Matthew Harris, Ph.D., ABPP

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Neurological illness and injury, traumatic brain injury, dementia, cognition in epilepsy and epilepsy surgery.

    Melissa Harris, Ph.D., RN

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dr. Harris’ research focuses broadly on the quality of life and care of people living with dementia and their families. More specifically, she is interested in developing, testing, and implementing non-pharmacologic interventions to enhance well-being of families living with dementia. Keywords: dyads, community-based, mixed methods

    Elizabeth Hauser, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My research interests are focused on developing and applying statistical methods to search for genes causing common human diseases. Recent work has been in the development of statistical methods for genetic studies and in identifying optimal study designs for genetic studies of complex traits.

    Mike Hauser, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics, Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Ocular genetics and age related macular degeneration.

    Gerardo Heiss, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Research include noninvasive measures of vascular disease in populations; genetic and environmental determinants of atherosclerosis; inflammatory precursors of diabetes and heart disease; cardiovascular health of women and minority populations; mechanisms relating socio-economic status to cardiovascular health and successful aging, and applications of electronic health records in population research.
    Cristine Henage, Ed.D

    Cristine Henage, Ed.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Assistant Director, Carolina Geriatric Education Center & Carolina Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program
    Clyde Hodge, Ph.D.

    Clyde Hodge, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Our primary focus is on understanding how the positive reinforcing effects of drugs drive repetitive drug-seeking behavior and promote the transition from use to abuse.

    James Pham Ho, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Cell Biology - Neurodegeneration, Cell Biology - Immunology, Cell Biology - Cellular Aging, Neuroimaging

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Stroke, Intracranial Aneurysms, AVMs, Cerebrovascular Disease

    Jaime Hughes, Ph.D., MPH, MSW

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Research focuses on the design and dissemination of effective, scalable health promotion interventions to enhance complex older adults’ functional capacity and ability to age in place.

    Thomas Kash, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity; Identification of neuronal substrates that underlie alcohol and drug abuse induced behaviors; and Determining the impact of stress on neuronal circuitry important for emotional behavior.

    Shahzad Khan, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's Disease

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Clinical Interests: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, Synucleinopathies, Tauopathies Research Interests: Molecular basis of neurodegeneration; Aging; Signal Transduction
    Beverly H. Koller, PhD

    Beverly Koller, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Mouse models for human diseases, genes that modify disease progression

    Albert La Spada M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Elijah Lackey, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Neuroinflammation, Neurodegeneration, Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Investigating the neurodegenerative aspect of progressive multiple sclerosis. Identifying biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

    Eleonora Lad, Ph.D., M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers, Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    1) investigating the role of neuroinflammation and abnormal protein aggregates in the pathogenesis of AMD and developing relevant treatments 2) visual function testing in dry AMD with the goal of establishing functional endpoints for future clinical studies in early AMD 3) elucidating the use of novel retinal imaging biomarkers for early diagnosis of aging diseases (AMD and Alzheimer’s disease), including through the use of artificial intelligence (machine and deep learning).

    Shivanand Lad, M.D, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Neuromodulation; Neurorestoration; Bioengineering; Medical Device Design; Clinical Trials; Data Science; Health Outcomes.

    David Lawrence, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Cancer detection and treatment and, to a more limited extent, inflammatory diseases.

    Wonjae Lee, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dr. Lee’s lab is to illuminate the role of cerebral vasculature, blood-brain barrier, in mediating the cross-talks between immune systems of the brain and peripheral bloodstream. They approach it by reconstructing a functional neurovascular unit (NVU) in a microfluidic chip as an experimental model to efficiently track the immune dynamics throughout the disease progression and treatments.

    Yueh Lee, M.D., Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Dr. Lee's areas of interest are brain tumors and new imaging techniques. Dr. Lee serves as the Department’s “translational” scientist and clinical neuroradiologist. He plays a key role in the development of the carbon nanotube CT scanner.

    Edward Levin, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The three main research components of his laboratory are focused on the themes of the basic neurobiology of cognition and addiction, neurobehavioral toxicology and the development of novel therapeutic treatments for cognitive dysfunction and substance abuse.

    Xiaoyan Li, M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Milta Little, D.O.

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Andy Liu, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Aging Research, Genetics

    Affiliation: Duke

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    1. Investigate a neurodevelopmental disorder, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, which has the potential to provide insight into the pathophysiological mechanism of a neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's Disease. 2. In collaboration with Dr. Cathrine Hoyo, we are investigating an epigenetic mechanism to explain the racial disparities in the development of Alzheimer's disease between underrepresented minorities and European Americans. 3. I am interested in clinically characterizing the long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences in convalescent COVID-19 patients.

    Giselle Lopez, M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    I am a physician scientist with a clinical focus on neuropathology, and a research interest in brain tumors.

    Matthew Maciejewski, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Areas of expertise: Health Services Research, Health Economics, Health Policy, Multimorbidity

    Mark Tommerdahl, Ph.D., M.S.

    ADRC Interests: Neuroimaging

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Somatosensory Cortical Dynamics, and Neurocomputation in Living Neural Networks

    Maria Marquine, M.A., Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Her research focuses on addressing neurocognitive disparities in aging and promoting health equity.

    Hiroaki Matsunami, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: Duke

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    We are interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying chemosensation (taste and smell) in mammals. The receptors that detect odorants, pheromones, and many tastants including bitter and sweet chemicals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), which typically have seven transmembrane domains.

    Glenn Matsushima, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Our laboratory is interested primarily in the responses of macrophages during injury to the central nervous system and during inflammation after insult by bacterial pathogens. We use molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches both in vitro and in vivo to identify the function of key mediators during pathogenesis.

    Cara McDermott, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Her research focuses on identifying gaps in healthcare delivery and using implementation science to adapt and assess evidence-based interventions.

    Rick Meeker, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Neuropharmacology, Neurodegeneration

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    My lab has a translational research focus exploring the damaging effects of inflammation and calcium dysregulation on early HIV and Alzheimer’s disease progression. Modification of neurotrophin receptor signaling by small molecules is emphasized for therapeutic intervention. A clinical trial has been proposed to prevent cognitive decline in people with HIV. Key words: calcium imaging; neuroinflammation; neurodegeneration; HIV; Alzheimer’s disease; neurotrophins; multielectrode arrays

    Jenna Merenstein, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers, Cognition, Neuroimaging

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Research summary: My research uses multiple MRI modalities (diffusion, fMRI) to assess the effect of brain aging on various cognitive abilities (memory, learning, attention) in adults across the lifespan. An overarching goal of my work is to differentiate the neural signatures of healthy brain aging from Alzheimer’s disease.

    Katie Meyer, ScD

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Nutritional and cardiovascular disease epidemiologist.

    Michelle Meyer, Ph.D., MPH

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Women's Health

    Sandra Mooney, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Uses animal models to test nutritional interventions that may ameliorate alcohol-induced deficits as well as examining other factors, such as genes and nutrition, that confer vulnerability or resistance.

    Rajendra Morey, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Research in my lab is focused on brain changes associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We apply several advanced methods for understanding brain function including functional MRI, structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and genetic effects.
    Adrienne Aiken Morgan, PhD

    Adrienne Aiken Morgan, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    My professional and research interests lie at the intersection of four broad areas of inquiry: sociocultural experience (e.g., race & ethnicity, education), cognition, aging, and health.

    Sheryl Moy, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Genetic and environmental factors in susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders, and preclinical efficacy testing with novel therapeutic agents, using mouse models for psychiatric and neurological conditions.

    David Murdoch, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My research focuses on T cell immunology utilizing a variety of platforms including polychromatic flow cytometry, cytokine multiplexing, and novel single cell assays.

    Marc Niethammer, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Medical image analysis; shape analysis, image segmentation, deformable registration, image-based estimation methods.

    Joshua Niznik, PharmD, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Clinical pharmacy; pharmacoepidemiology; Geriatrics; health services research; Medicare administrative data; polypharmacy; deprescribing chronic medications that may no longer have value for patients

    Kari North, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors.

    Bernadette O'Donovan, Ph.D., MSc

    ADRC Interests: Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's Disease

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Member of Chiba-Falek's lab - electrophysiology, microscopy, behavioral techniques, genetic and pharmacological models, and data analysis

    Priya Palta, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Her current work focuses on the role of modifiable risk factors, such as physical activity, on cognition, physical function and quality of life metrics.

    Daniel Parker, M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    biological aging, geroscience, geroprotection, caloric restriction, exercise training, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, age-related cognitive impairment

    Kelly Parsons, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Director of technology commercialization at UNC Innovate Carolina.

    Juliessa Pavon, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Aging; data science; hospital care; older people; medical informatics; digital health; physical functions and mobility; polypharmacy.

    Chelsea Perfect, M.D., MPH

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My research focuses on models of care for adults living with cognitive impairment and/or dementia.

    Carl Pieper, DrPH

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Analytic Interests: Issues in the design of medical experiments and Issues in the analysis of repeated measures designs & longitudinal data.

    Laura Porter, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My research focuses on developing and evaluating behavioral interventions to help patients and their family members cope with the symptoms and psychological demands associated with chronic and life-limiting illness.
    Frances Potjewyd, Ph.D.

    Frances Potjewyd, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Laura Previll, M.D, MPH

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Clinical and community care for the aging.

    Ashley Price, Ph.D., MPH

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Laura Raffield, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    In my research program, I use human genomics and multi-omics to understand inherited and environmental risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and related quantitative traits, with a focus on improved inclusion of African American and Hispanic/Latino populations in these efforts.

    Kristal Riska, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Research focuses on: 1) improving the identification of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in primary care settings to enable timely access to cost-effective treatment, 2) characterizing the role of vestibular function and rehabilitative strategies in post-concussive/mild traumatic brain injury related dizziness; and 3) identifying and understanding the mechanisms that mediate the association between falls and hearing loss in an effort to develop interventions that will modify falls risk in the hearing impaired population.

    Deborah Rose, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My career research interests are in studying the role that adverse childhood experiences and chronic toxic stress play in the pathogenesis of AD, as well as contribute to the racial disparities seen in this condition.
    Bryan Roth, MD, PhD

    Bryan Roth, M.D, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    GPCR structure and function, synthetic neurobiology, and drug discovery

    Daniel Saban, Ph.D., M.S.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Research interests are the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to pathogenic immunity in ophthalmic disease and vision loss.

    Laurie Sanders, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics, Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Matt Scaglione, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The Scaglione lab is interested in the regulation of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) in neurodegenerative diseases. We use a wide array of model systems including protein biochemistry, the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum , human cell culture, and mouse models to understand cellular pathways that deal with misfolded proteins.

    Eleanor Schildwachter McConnell, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dr. McConnell's program of research focuses on factors that influence functional decline in very frail older adults. Her academic interests include frailty in the aged, the role of the environment in promoting function, and the conduct and testing of nursing interventions to prevent decline in those with chronic illness.

    Megan Shephard-Banigan, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dr. Megan Shepherd-Banigan designs research studies to improve the health, emotional well-being, and social functioning of adults with mental and physical disabilities. Her methods combine empirical approaches that address methodologically challenging research questions in health systems and policy research. Dr. Shepherd-Banigan uses large survey and administrative datasets to evaluate the impact of policies that support family members to care for adults with disabilities.

    Mari Shinohara, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    In my lab, we use mouse models for infectious and autoimmune diseases to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of; pathogen recognition by PRRs in macrophages and DCs, initiation of inflammatory responses in the innate immune system, and the impact of innate immune inflammation on the development and regulation of T cell-mediated adaptive immune responses.

    Keats Shwab

    ADRC Interests: Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's Disease

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Member of the Chiba-Falek Lab - Our research attempts to better understand the genetic processes underpinning age-related neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease, related dementia, and Lewy body spectrum disorders.

    Philip Sloane, M.D, MPH CS

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Research interests include institutional and community-based long-term care, management of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, medical care of older persons, medical symptoms, and translational research.

    William Snider, M.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Research is directed at biological actions of neuronal growth factors and signaling mechanisms downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases.

    Juan Song, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Adult neurogenesis function and regulation

    Martin Styner, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Background in diffusion tensor imaging, anatomical structure and tissue segmentation, structural brain morphometry, modeling, deformable registration, atlas building.

    Paul Suhocki, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My current interests in research include: 1. Improved anesthesia for liver intervention. 2. Thrombectomy device for dialysis fistulae and veins. 3. Improving diagnostic yield for difficult biliary duct biopsies. 4. Improving methods of small bowel and colonic arterial embolization. 5. Percutaneous intervention for pancreatic duct. 6. Prolonging the patency of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. 7. Prolonging the patency of biliary stents.

    Patrick Sullivan, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The primary focus of my lab is to investigate the relationship between APOE genotype and late onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

    Anthony Sung, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Areas of interest include the role of the microbiota (the trillions of bacteria living in and on our bodies), nutrition, and exercise in modulating HCT outcomes such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infections.

    Marvin Swartz, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My major research interest is in examining the effectiveness of services for severely mentally ill individuals, including factors that improve or impede good outcomes. Current research includes: the effectiveness of involuntary outpatient commitment, psychiatric advance directives, criminal justice outcomes for persons with mental illnesses, violence and mental illness and antipsychotic medications.

    Niccolò Terrando, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Outcomes Laboratory is committed to define the mechanisms underlying memory deficits after anesthesia and surgery especially in vulnerable models (neurodegeneration and aging) with an overarching goal of identify safe strategies to resolve neuroinflammation for postoperative delirium.
    Alexander Tropsha, Ph.D.

    Alexander Tropsha, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Works in the fields of computational chemistry, cheminformatics and structural bioinformatics who works to develop new methodologies and software tools for computer-assisted drug design.

    Dennis Turner, M.D.

    ADRC Interests: Clinical Trials

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Clinical trials in Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, translational research in Parkinson disease, tremor, stroke, and preclinical studies on Alzheimer's disease models, stroke, metabolism, and cerebral blood flow.

    Courtney Van Houtven, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dr. Van Houtven’s aging and economics research interests encompass long-term care financing, intra-household decision-making, informal care, and home- and community-based services. She examines how family caregiving affects health care utilization, expenditures, health and work outcomes of care recipients and caregivers. She is also interested in understanding how best to support family caregivers to optimize caregiver and care recipient outcomes.

    Ryan Vetreno, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Focuses on the investigation of proinflammatory neuroimmune and epigenetic mechanisms in animal models of developmental neurobiology and neurodegeneration, including (1) alcohol pharmacology, (2) adolescent neurodevelopment, (3) cholinergic system and neurocircuitry, and (4) Alzheimer’s disease

    Michael Vitek, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Neurodegeneration

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's, Transgenic, Animal Models, Amyloid, Apolipoprotein-E, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry

    Nathan Walker, M.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    The interplay of sleep and neurodegenerative disorders.

    Fan Wang, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: Duke

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    My lab studies neural circuit basis of sensory perception. Specifically we are interested in determining neural circuits underlying (1) active touch sensation including tactile processing stream and motor control of touch sensors on the face; (2) pain sensation including both sensory-discriminative and affective aspects of pain; and (3) general anesthesia including the active pain-suppression process.

    Haichen Wang, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Shih-Hsiu "Jerry" Wang, M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Duke-UNC ADRC Neuropathy Core Leader

    Adam Wax Ph.D., M.A.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dr. Wax's research interests include optical spectroscopy for early cancer detection, novel microscopy and interferometry techniques.

    Andrew West Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    The West lab focuses on identifying critical pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurological diseases like Parkinson’s disease with the goal of developing new therapeutics to block disease progression.

    Heidi White, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Dr. White's clinical expertise involves the care of older adults, especially care transitions, long-term care, and post-acute care. Current work includes studying the effects of personalized music in older adults with dementia and implementing personalized music programs for pain and delirium relief in hospital and dementia care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

    James White, Ph.D., M.S.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Eric A. Whitsel, MD, MPH

    Eric Whitsel, M.D, MPH

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Electrocardiography, CVD Surveillance, Environmental Epidemiology, and Genetics & Epigenetics
    Heather Whitson, MD

    Heather Whitson, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Research is focused on improving care options and resilience for people with multiple chronic conditions.

    Kirk Wilhelmsen, M.D, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Genetic mapping of susceptibility loci for complex traits and the positional cloning of genes responsible for neurodegenerative disorders.

    Bei Wu, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Research Interests: Aging and Global Health

    Guorong Wu, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Biomarkers

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Interested in discovering biomarkers across neuro-diseases, exploring how variations in the genome change the structure and development of the brain, and establishing neuro-biological basis to visualize the pathophysiological mechanisms of neuro-diseases using data-driven approach.

    Dong Yan, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neural circuit formation during development and degeneration in aging.

    Yang Claire Yang, Ph.D., M.S.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Focused on health disparities, social disparities in health, and causes of health differences.

    Pew-Thian Yap, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Leads a wide range of research projects spanning image acquisition, reconstruction, quality control, processing, and analysis, with applications to neuroscience, radiomics, and surgical planning.

    Anatoli Yashin Ph.D., M.S.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Biodemography of Aging

    Areniy Yashkin, Ph.D., MPH

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Donglin Zeng, PhD

    Donglin Zeng, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Personalized medicine, machine learning, biomarker discovery, clinical trials, electronic health records, semiparametirc modelling, survival analysis, high dimensional inference.

    Han Zhang Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Research focuses on developing new functional image analysis methods of large longitudinal data for early brain development (birth to age 6).

    Audrey Zhang, M.D.

    Affiliation: Duke

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    Internal Medicine Doctor, Primary Care Doctor, Resident

    Qisheng Zhang, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Studies signaling pathways that are involved in development and disease by developing novel chemical probes and technologies.

    Hongtu Zhu, Ph.D.

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Studying aging and child development through statistics, biostatistics, medical imaging, genetics and computational neuroscience, and neuroimaging data analysis.

    Sheryl Zimmerman, Ph.D., MSW

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Co-Director, Program on Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research; and Director of Aging Research, School of Social Work
    Fei Zou, PhD

    Fei Zou, Ph.D.

    ADRC Interests: Genetics

    Affiliation: UNC-Chapel Hill

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    Dr. Zou’s research interests lie in the development and examination of the theoretical methodologies and statistical properties appropriate for the interpretation of genetic data. Her current research focuses on developing machine learning algorithms, such as deep learning, for big EHR data and high-dimensional genetic and genomic data.