Francesca Farina, PhD. Francesca Farina, PhD. Dr Farina is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago. She has expertise in cognitive aging and dementia. She has led large-scale research projects assessing risk factors for dementia and community-based interventions. She works with patient advocacy groups to promote brain health across the life course.
Monica Christmas, MD. Dr Christmas is Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago. She is also Founder and Director of the Menopause Program and the Center for Women’s Integrated Health at UChicago Medicine. She is an expert in women’s health across the life course, including menopause transition.
James Griffith, PhD. Dr Griffith is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Full Professor at the University of Chicago. Dr Griffith has been PI of multiple R- and U-level NIH grants. He has expertise in health assessment optimization, design and implementation of behavioral interventions, and advanced statistical methods.
Research Coordinators
Melissa Marquez, MBA. Melissa Marquez is Dr. Griffith’s lab manager. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, with strong skills in translating study materials, conducting interviews, managing complex research projects, coordinating IRB submissions, overseeing participant recruitment and retention, preparing study budgets, and ensuring successful project completion
Grace Bardwick, MPH. Grace Bardwick is a clinical research coordinator in Dr. Griffith’s lab. She holds a master’s in public health, is a certified health education specialist, and is skilled in research coordination, data analysis, and strategic communication.
Trisha Mondal. Trisha Mondal is a Research Assistant in the Griffith Lab. She is a current undergraduate student at the University of Rochester, studying Molecular Genetics and Psychology, with strong research interests in behavioral medicine, women’s health, and community-based research.
Advisory Board
Pauline Maki, PhD. Dr. Maki is Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Illinois Chicago. For over 20 years, Dr. Maki has led a program of NIH-funded research on the role of sex steroid hormones on cognition, mood, brain function in women. Her goal is to improve the lives of women by identifying factors that alter their risk of cognitive decline.
Andrew Fisher, MD. Dr. Fisher is Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago. He specializes in obstetric and gynecologic medicine and delivers comprehensive well women care. Dr. Fisher treats a wide range of conditions affecting women, transgender, and gender non-conforming patients at the Trans Clinic for Affirmation and Reproductive Equity.
Emily Rogalski, PhD. Dr. Rogalski is the Rosalind Franklin Professor of Neurology and the Director of the Healthy Aging & Alzheimer’s Care Center (HAARC) at the University of Chicago. She is a clinical and cognitive neuroscientist researching Alzheimer’s, and related dementias. She leads the SuperAging Research Initiative, which aims to identify protective factors for avoiding Alzheimer’s disease.
Phyllis Timpo. Phyllis Timpo is Director of Community Engagement, Outreach, and Recruitment at HAARC. Phyllis has over 15 years of experience in fostering health equity within communities. She specializes in cultivating partnerships between historically marginalized communities and academic research institutions, with the aim of mitigating health disparities among Black older adults.
Patient Advisors
Our patient advisors are individuals who are going through menopause and have a family history of dementia.