BA-UMAP
Black American United
Memory & Aging Project
United in the fight against
Alzheimer's Disease
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BA-UMAP Principle Investigator
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Pharmacy Practice
Hampton University
Hampton, VA
Email: travonia.brownhughes@hamptonu.edu
Travonia Brown Hughes, PhD
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 Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Hampton University. 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.
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 and the John and Marilyn Bishop Endowed Chair and Director of 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
Full 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
Dr. Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson, DNP, MSN, RN-BC
Adjunct Associate Professor
Norfolk State University
School of Nursing
Norfolk, VA 23504
Email: egibson@nsu.edu
Adjunct, Professor
Old Dominion University
School of Nursing
Norfolk, VA
Email: e1gibson@odu.edu
Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson, DNP, MSN, RN-BC
Bachelor of Science, Nursing
Ursuline College – Breen School of Nursing
Cleveland, Ohio
Master of Science, Nursing
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult Health & Diabetes Management
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Gerontology and Community Health
Ursuline College – Breen School of Nursing
Cleveland, Ohio
“The Community’s Role in an Equitable and Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout”. The Rockefeller Foundation. Ethlyn Gibson, DNP (Co-Investigator) and Andrew Plunk, PhD (Co-Investigator)
R37 CA245716 Plunk, Andrew (Co-PI), Gibson, Ethlyn (Co-Investigator) 08/07/20-04/30/25 “Using Differences in Perceived Legitimacy and Resident Compliance to Promote Fair and Effective implementation of Smoke-Free Housing.” This study will assess the effect of variation in implementation strategies for smoke-free housing on perceived legitimacy (fairness) among public housing residents and changes in indoor and outdoor smoking.
R37 CA245716-S1 Plunk Andrew (Co-PI), Gibson, Ethlyn (Co-Investigator) 08/07/20-04/30/25 “Addressing Low-Income Housing Resident Mistrust in COVID-19 Guidance.” This project will build on the infrastructure of the parent award to develop strategies to address mistrust in COVID-19 guidance with the goal of increasing the effectiveness of outreach in low-income communities.
I possess the demonstrated expertise, leadership, training, and motivation necessary to successfully recruit participants for the study due to my extensive background in community-engaged research with African Americans aged 55 and older. My extensive 30+ healthcare career in the military, civilian, academic and community sectors has allowed me to utilize skills to develop and disseminate information and services to populations most at risk for cognitive decline. I have extensive experience and expertise in understanding and serving individuals from socially vulnerable populations through my longstanding career as a clinician and community leader serving in roles addressing diseases adversely affecting vulnerable communities, increasing incidence to contract and have poor outcomes from co-morbidities such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
BA-UMAP Co-Investigator
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina
Email:
jmogle@clemson.edu
Jacqueline Mogle, PhD
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
State University of New York
College at Brockport, Brockport, NY
Master of Science, Experimental Psychology
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Doctor of Philosophy, Experimental Psychology
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Post-Doc, Human Development
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
R01AG062605
Mogle (PI)
9/01/19-8/31/23
Improving Assessment of Subjective Memory Impairment for Detecting Alzheimer’s Disease: A Coordinated
Analysis in Two Measurement Burst Studies
R01AG055398
Hill (PI); Role: Co-investigator 5/1/17-4/30/22
Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Factors as Mediators of Subjective Memory Impairment and Objective Memory Decline: A Construct-level Replication across Four Studies.
U01AG062370A
Role: Co-investigator
Ross/Sliwinski (PI)
9/30/18-5/31/22
Elucidating the Necessary Components and Mechanisms of Cognitive Training.
I am excited to collaborate with Dr. Hughes and her team this R01 application to explore Black older adults’ experiences with daily discrimination, among other sources of health disparities, and how these experiences impact cognitive ability and change across time. I will assist Dr. Gamaldo with the configuration, deployment, and maintenance of the mobile cognitive tasks using resources from the Mobile Monitoring of Cognitive Change (M2C2) project (U2CAG060408). My research focuses on the use of innovative remote data collection techniques such as daily diary and ecological momentary assessment to obtain ecologically valid and generalizable measures of cognitive functioning. Additionally, I am an expert in powerful statistical models like multilevel modeling to understand within-person processes across different windows of time (e.g., days, years) and how moderators such as physiological and psychological resilience impact those processes.
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.