BA-UMAP
Black American United
Memory & Aging Project
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BA-UMAP Principle Investigator
Associate Professor
Director, Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging, & Community Health
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Department of Biology Greensboro, NC
Johns Hopkins RCMAR Scientist
Email: tbhughes@ncat.edu
Travonia Brown Hughes, PhD, MS, MPH, CPH
Bachelor of Science, Biology
Hampton University, Hampton, VA
Master of Science, Community Health
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
Doctor of Philosophy, Gerontology
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Post-doc, Aging and Cognition
Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
Master of Public Health, Public Health
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
In an effort to gain a better understanding of the barriers and determinants of participation in research studies among African Americans, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, I led a series of focus group discussions with African American laypersons, older adult research participants, service providers and clergy to examine this issue. Focus group discussions directly engaged participants in discussions of strategies that might improve recruitment and participants offered potential solutions for increasing the recruitment and retention of minority participants.
I have over fifteen years of aging research experience. I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (Go Aggies!), and an alumnus of Hampton University (Go Pirates!). I am also the Director of the Center for Alzheimer’s, Aging and Community Health at North Carolina A&T.
My experience and research interests are grounded in the study of cognitive aging in minority populations and health disparities. Prior to my position at Hampton University, I was awarded the highly competitive two-year NIH Ruth Kirschstein research service award as a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. I completed my fellowship in Aging and Cognition at the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease and Research Center. Prior to my fellowship appointment, I held a faculty appointment as a Research Associate in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology in the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, where I was responsible for the management, recruitment, and coordination of two NIH-sponsored research studies examining the concept of treatment burden in older adults with diabetes and multiple chronic conditions. Over the past six years, I have chaired and overseen the development, marketing and implementation of four HRSA and NIH-sponsored educational conferences with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease and minority involvement in research. I am also a primary caregiver for my father who has vascular dementia.
BA-UMAP Principle Investigator
Professor
Dept. of Health, Behavior, and Society
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Email: rthorpe@jhu.edu
Roland J. Thorpe, Jr., PhD
Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL
Master of Science, Statistics
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Doctor of Philosophy, Epidemiology
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Post-doc, Gerontology Health Disparities
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
P30AG059298
Rebok / Thorpe (MPI)
09/01/18-06/30/23
Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (JHAD-RCMAR)
R01AG054363
Whitfield and Thorpe (PIs), Role: MPI 09/30/16-04/30/22
Stress and Longevity among African American Families
DP1AG069874-01
Szanton (PI) Role: Co-Investigator
09/30/2020-08/31/2024
Reducing Racial Disparities in AD/ADRD: Addressing Structural Discrimination and Resilience
U54MD000214
Gaskin (PI), Role: Subproject PI 09/01/17-08/31/22
Black Men’s Health Project
I am a leader in seeking to understand the how place impacts race- and SES-related disparities across the life course in functional and health status of community-dwelling adults with a focus on African American men. Prior to focusing on men, my work examined disparities between Black and White middle age to old age community-dwelling adults. I am a PI on NIA Multiple PI R01 grant that examines that the role of psychosocial stress and longevity in African American Families, Multiple PI and Co-Director of a NIA funded P30 Johns Hopkins Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging with Dr. George Rebok, a PI on a HCHDS NIMHD U54 Specialized Center of Excellence on Minority Health and Health Disparities subproject that focuses on creating a nationally representative sample of African American men to understand the determinants of their health and health behaviors, and a PI on a NIA funded K02 that seeks to examine the relationship between stress and mortality among Black men. I am a coinvestigator on a NIA funded DP1 grant application that seeks to develop a structural racism scale for older adults. In addition, I am the Director of the Program on Research for Men’s Health in the Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions (HCHDS), and Deputy Director of the HCHDS.
BA-UMAP Principle Investigator
Director of Metabolomics Research
The John & Marilyn Bishop
Endowed Chair
Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Corewell Health East William Beaumont University Hospital
Royal Oak, MI
Associate Professor
Oakland University – William Beaumont School of Medicine
Rochester, MI
Stewart Graham, PhD
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
Queen’s University
Belfast, N. Ireland
Master of Science, Biomolecular Structure and Function
Queen’s University
Belfast, N. Ireland
Doctor of Philosophy, Metabolomics
Queen’s University
Belfast, N. Ireland
Post Doctoral Studies
Alzheimer’s Research Trust Queen’s University
Belfast, N. Ireland
11/2018 – Present High-resolution metabolomics to identify novel, blood-based biomarkers of prodromal Parkinson’s disease in a longitudinal Norwegian cohort (MJFF16201), Principal Investigator
12/2019 – Present Developing therapeutic strategies to elicit metabolic synthetic lethality in glioblastoma (R01; 1R01NS110838-01A1), Co-Investigator
05/2020 – Present Are the impairments of arginine metabolism as found in Alzheimer’s disease also present in patients developing postoperative delirium and cognitive decline? (R21; 1R21AG067083-01), Principal Investigator
01/2021 – Present Dihydroxyacetone exposure induces metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial dysfunction. (R01; R01ES032450) Subcontract-consultant.
11/2021 – Present Integrated Radiographic and Metabolomics Study to Characterize Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease: IRM-ILD-II. Co-Investigator. Faculty Resources Grant, Beaumont Health System.
06/2022 – Present The contribution of the vermiform appendix to Parkinson’s disease (R01; R01NS114409). Subcontract-consultant.
06/2022 – Present Beaumont CPTAC (21X144F). Principal Investigator at Corewell Health. NIH/Leidos Biomedical.
09/2022 – Present The Black American United Memory & Aging Project (BA-UMAP): An examination of cognitive decline in midlife and older Black adults using remote cognitive assessments, risk factors & biomarkers (R01 AG079388-01), Co-Principal Investigator.
03/2023 – Present Identifying Molecular pathways of myocardial recovery in end-stage heart failure patients supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) using high-resolution metabolomics and machine learning. Frederick Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute; Co-Principal Investigator.
I am Dr. Stewart Graham, a neuroscientist and metabolomicist with a research focus on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. My research goal is to identify early diagnostic and predictive biomarkers of these diseases and to better understand their underlying etiopathogenesis. I employ advanced chemical techniques such as high-resolution mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and other technologies to reach this goal. My work has resulted in over 70 peer-reviewed manuscripts. My overarching goal as a neuroscientist and metabolomicist is to improve patient outcomes by developing personalized treatments that match the “Right drug, to the Right person at the Right time.”
BA-UMAP Co-Investigator
Program Director
Maya Angelou Center
for Health Equity
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Allison Caban-Holt, PhD
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Postdoc, Neuropsychology
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Certificate, Clinical Research Skills
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
OS21-DEI-Caban-Holt
Blanke (PI)
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2021
The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research
UG1CA189974
Blanke (PI)
01/01/2020 – 07/31/2025 SWOG NCORP Research Base
I have a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and currently am the Associate Director of the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity (MACHE) at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. As the Associate Director of MACHE. I recently joined MACHE from the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at the University of Kentucky, where I was a faculty member and researcher in cognitive studies of aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and clinical trials. I have a very strong background in neuropsychological assessment of dementia, recruitment of people of minority status and older adults into research studies in aging, and adaptation of dementia assessment protocols for special populations. I have assisted in the implementation of initiatives for memory screenings and participation in research by members of African American faith communities.
BA-UMAP Co-Investigator
Professor
Department of Psychology
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina
Email:
agamald@clemson.edu
Alyssa Gamaldo, PhD
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Master of Science, Developmental Psychology
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Doctor of Philosophy, Developmental Psychology
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Post-Doc, Behavioral Neuroscience & Behavioral Epidemiology
National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD
UF1 AG072619-01
Gamaldo, Alyssa (PI), Role: PI
08/15/21-07/31/24
Impact of life stressors, sleep, inflammatory biomarkers, and/or resilient factors on racial disparities in cognitive decline.
RF1 AG056487-01A1
Engeland, Graham-Engeland (MPIs), Role: co-I
07/01/18-03/31/23
Inflammation, lipid signaling, and neurodegenerative biomarkers as it relates to cognitive decline and dementia risk among older adults
R21 AG060216-02S1
Ross, Sliwinski (MPIs), Role: co-I
06/01/19-05/31/22
Behavioral and biological mechanisms underlying the transfer of UFOVt to maintaining everyday cognition and function
My background and experience are very well-suited to the proposed research project. As a minority researcher, I am passionate about understanding the health (e.g., cognitive functioning) and well-being in underrepresented adult populations (e.g., Black adult populations and adults from lower socioeconomic backgrounds). I have published peer-reviewed manuscripts relevant to this topic, many of which have received (inter)national scientific and media attention. My research has assisted in establishing a measurement burst design approach for detecting health risk (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, poor sleep health, elevated blood pressure). Moreover, my research has helped to identify potential modifiable factors (e.g., perceived social disadvantage, stress, sleep, and blood pressure) that can enhance minority health and further reduce or eliminate racial disparities in health/cognitive functioning.
BA-UMAP Co-Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Baltimore, MA
Email:
cpettigrew@jhmi.edu
Corinne Pettigrew, PhD
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA
Master of Arts, Psychology
Rice University, Houston Texas
Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology
Rice University, Houston Texas
Post-Doc, Cognitive Neuroscience
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
P30 AG066507
Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Albert (PI), Role: Leader – Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core
U19 AG033655
Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline Among Normal Individuals: The BIOCARD Cohort
Albert (PI), Role: Co-Investigator
U19 AG065169
Precision Aging Network: Closing the Gap Between Cognitive Healthspan and Human Lifespan
Barnes (PI), Role: Co-Investigator
R01 AG070883
The Neighborhoods Study: Contextual Disadvantage and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Kind, A / Bendlin, B. (MPIs), Role: Co-Investigator
I am an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. I also lead the Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement (ORE) Core of the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (JHADRC), which involves overseeing education and outreach programs in the Greater Baltimore area community. My research primarily examines age- and disease-related cognitive and brain changes (e.g., brain imaging) among middle-aged and older adults. I am additionally interested in examining how other factors – such as genetics, lifestyle activities, vascular risk, and stress – impact changes in cognition and the brain over time.
BA-UMAP Co-Investigator
Director
Informatics and Biostatistician
Children’s National Hospital
Washington, DC
Email: podolsky.rh83@gmail.com
Robert H. Podolsky, PhD
Bachelor of Science, Biology
University of California, Riverside
Doctor of Philosophy, Botany (Plant Genetics)
University of California, Riverside
DoD/CDMRP PR 181869 (Lamb) 7/15/2019-7/14/2022 Department of Defense
Role: Co-Investigator (1.2 months/year)
Deployable interstitial cystitis urine diagnostic technology development.
Major Goal: The goal of this project is to develop a simple test for diagnosing IC based on urine and symptom scores called the Interstitial Cystitis Risk Score (IC-RS). A machine learning algorithm, similar to an internet search engine, will use this information to determine if a person has IC or not; if they have IC, whether their IC is characterized by Hunner’s lesions.
1R21AG067083-01 (Graham) 5/15/2020-4/30/2022
NIH/NIA
Role: Co-Investigator (0.6 months/year)
Are the impairments of arginine metabolism as found in Alzheimer’s disease also present in patients developing post-operative delirium and cognitive decline?
Major Goal: The goal of this project is to examine whether metabolites involved in arginine metabolism and associated with Alzheimer’s disease are also associated with patients developing post-operative delirium and subsequent cognitive decline.
I am the Director of Informatics and Biostatistics at Beaumont Health, and I will serve as the co-investigator in charge of statistical aspects related to analysis of biomarkers in this proposal. This grant has three goals: (1) to determine whether consistent changes in cognitive performance can be detected using innovative online and mobile-based cognitive assessment tools; (2) whether the decline in cognitive performance is related to sociocultural, behavioral, and environmental determinants; and (3) if previously and newly identified biomarker panels are associated with cognitive performance and cognitive decline in a Black population.
BA-UMAP Co-Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
Greensboro, NC
Email: ahsanderlin@ncat.edu
Ashley H. Sanderlin, PhD
Bachelor of Science, Biology
Bowling Green State University
Doctor of Philosophy, Neuroscience
Michigan State University
Post-Doctoral Studies, Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials
Wake Forest School of Medicine, Internal Medicine-Geriatrics
NC DHHS – 00044160 (Welsh-Bohmer PI, Sanderlin, site-PI) 2023-2025
NC Registry for Brain Health in Aging
As a partner for the fourth year in the NC Registry for Brain Health project, COAACH will continue to actively recruit and enroll participants for the Registry as part of its ongoing community engagement efforts. Role: Site-PI
NINDS-75N95022P00777 (Samuels, PI) 2022-2024
NIH-NINDS Contract – Summer Research Preparatory Program (SRPP)
The purpose of the Scientific Research Preparatory Program is to train and support a diverse cohort of individuals, including those from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in science, and to prepare them to be competitive applicants for the NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) or an equivalent summer research training program in the U.S. Role: Group Leader
2018-AARFD-589961 (Sanderlin, PI) 2018-2022
Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity Ketogenic Dietary Effects on Sleep, Cognition and Behavior in MCI
The goal of this grant is to examine the effects of a modified Mediterranean ketogenic diet on sleep architecture and the impact of sleep-disordered breathing on diet response and cognition. This study utilizes a home sleep device, the WatchPAT, which objectively measures sleep health before and after a 4-month diet intervention. Role: PI
2021-AARFD-RAPID-589961 (Sanderlin, PI) 2021-2022
Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity Ketogenic Dietary Effects on Sleep, Cognition and Behavior in MCI
This grant is an extension in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and awarded due to the merit of progress and novelty of future research findings as it relates to the research agenda of the Alzheimer’s Association. This award is co-funded by the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement. Role: PI
My research agenda focuses on modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, such as sleep and diet and how these lifestyle factors impact brain structure and function in individuals with normal cognitive aging and those with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). My research training in Alzheimer’s disease included clinical neuropsychological assessment, brain MR imagining, as well as, the interactions of body mass index, mood and behavioral changes, and their relationship with brain structure and function. My current work utilizes an in-home sleep test, the WatchPAT Central Plus, before and after a modified Mediterranean ketogenic diet or the control diet, the American Heart Association low-fat diet. We explore whether changing the brain’s primary energy source, from glucose to ketones, produces changes in sleep architecture and improves sleep quality. We also explore whether chronic sleep apnea modifies the response to our study diet and whether changes in sleep, change neuropsychiatric symptoms that occur comorbid with MCI. My lab also focuses on the lived experiences of people at risk for dementia through community studies that survey and remotely test sleep and diet habits.
BA-UMAP Co-Investigator
Research Associate Professor
Associate Director, South Carolina Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Department of Psychology
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina
Email:
asardin@clemson.edu
Angie Sardina, PhD
Bachelor of Science, Health Sciences
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL
Master of Science, Parks and Recreation Management
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Doctor of Philosophy, Aging Studies
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
My primary area of focus is understanding biopsychosocial (e.g., pain, sleep, loneliness/social isolation, mental health, leisure engagement and constraints) and contextual factors (e.g., home usability, neighborhood quality) that constrain or support cognitive and physical health, and well-being, among middle-aged and older adults. As a licensed and certified recreation therapist, I am also interested in the development and implementation of multifaceted, person-centered, health promotion interventions/programs tailored to the specific needs, interests, and preferences of diverse groups throughout South Carolina and beyond.
Dr. Angie Sardina is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology within the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences at Clemson University. Dr. Sardina joined the Department of Psychology in August of 2024, in which her primary affiliation is with the Institute for Engaged Aging. As an early-stage investigator, Dr. Sardina’s research focus is on preventive approaches (e.g., leisure, sleep health, and pain management) to promote cognitive health and function in older adults with/out Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (ADRD). Indeed, her work to date is centered on understanding physical (e.g., pain, sleep), psychosocial (e.g., loneliness, depressive symptomology, and leisure), and contextual mechanisms (e.g., housing usability and the built environment) that support/constrain health and psychological well-being with age. Dr. Sardina currently serves as the Associate Director of the South Carolina Alzheimer’s Disease and Research Center (SC-ADRC), and works closely with the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement core of the SC-ADRC.