C. Elizabeth Shaaban

I am faculty in Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and a University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center REC Scholar working with the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement (ORE) Core. I have postdoctoral training in Population Neuroscience of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, including training in neuroimaging biomarkers, and graduate training in Population Neuroscience of Aging and ultra-high field MRI imaging of cerebral small vessel disease (PhD), neuroscience (MS), and social and behavioral determinants of health (MPH).

I integrate epidemiology, biostatistics, neuroscience/neuroimaging, and psychology to study vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), using a Population Neuroscience framework. I have been funded by NIH through prior T32 and F31 awards. My research focuses on identifying promoters of cerebral small vessel integrity to prevent AD and related disorders and has included evaluation of growth factors, physical activity, and vascular risk factor reduction. Present work includes an NIA funded K01 applying a Population Neuroscience approach to evaluate gender/sex influences on the cerebral small vessel disease-to-AD pathophysiological cascade and Co-I work on an NIA-funded R01 evaluating cognition and brain health in people with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. My aim is to gain insight into gender-related and sex-specific intervention targets to reduce AD and promote brain health equity.