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    MOLLY FOX, PHD

  • ABOUT ME

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    I'm a biological anthropologist.

    Within the frameworks of evolutionary and developmental biology, my research focuses on maternal and grandmaternal transgenerational transmission of phenotypes, life-history patterns, and disease risk. I synthesize information from molecular, clinical, epidemiological, and anthropological research towards understanding the evolutionary context of human health and disease, family and societal structure, and addressing global health challenges.

     

    I'm from New York, and proudly call myself an Eli (Morsel) and a Cantab (Caian)!

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    UCLA Biological Anthropology of Motherhood Lab

    I am the Principal Investigator.

     

    click on the picture for more info about my lab!

     

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    Mothers' Cultural Experiences Study

    I am the Lead Researcher on a UCLA-UCI project investigating how cultural context and experiences may influence pregnant women's physiology in ways that affect health across generations. 

    click on the picture for more info
  • ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

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    Associate Professor (2023)

    Assistant Professor (2016)

    Primary appointment: Department of Anthropology
    Joint appointment: Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences
    UCLA

    2016-present
    © Molly Fox

    Assistant Professor in-Residence

    Department of Pediatrics
    University of California, Irvine
    School of Medicine

    2015-2016
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    Postdoctoral Fellow

    Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior
    University of California, Irvine
    School of Medicine

    2013-2015
     
    UC Irvine Early Human and Lifespan Development Research Program
     
    Research topic: Biobehavioral processes and fetal programming
     
    Supervisors: 
    Curt Sandman, PhD
    Laura Glynn, PhD
    Pathik Wadhwa, MD PhD
  • EDUCATION

    Photo by M Fox

    University of Cambridge

    2008-2013
    Cambridge, United Kingdom
    PhD in Biological Anthropology

    Gonville & Caius College

    Gates Cambridge Scholar

     

    PhD thesis title: The evolution of postmenopausal longevity and the preservation of cognitive function

     

    Postdoctoral Research: Identifying individual gorillas via faecal DNA extraction from an habituated gorilla population involved in the first-ever measles vaccine trial in a great ape. 

     

    Supervisor:

    Leslie A. Knapp, PhD

    Photo by M Fox

    Yale University

    2004-2008
    New Haven, CT, USA
    BA in Anthropology and Theatre Studies

    Morse College
    Stanley Wheeler Award (top arts student in Morse college)
    Academic Distinction in the Major of Anthropology
    Academic Distinction in the Major of Theatre Studies
     
    Dissertation title: How human populations have differentially responded to the selective pressure of preeclampsia
     
    Advisor: 
    Richard Bribiescas, PhD
  • PUBLICATIONS

    Click on article title to download PDF

     

    Kyle S. Wiley, Dayoon Kwon, Delaney A. Knorr, Molly M. Fox. (2023) Regulatory T-cell phenotypes in prenatal psychological distress. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 116:62-69.

     

    Molly M. Fox, Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Curt A. Sandman, Jessica A. Marino, Laura M. Glynn, Elysia Poggi Davis (equal contribution of first authors) (2023) Mothers’ Prenatal Distress Accelerates Pubertal Development in Daughters. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 160: 106671.

     

    Dayoon Kwon, Delaney A. Knorr, Kyle S. Wiley, Sera L. Young, Molly M. Fox. (2023) Association of pica with cortisol and inflammation among Latina pregnant women. American Journal of Human Biology. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.2402

     

    Delaney A. Knorr, Molly M. Fox. (2023) Maternal Grandmothers Buffer the Relationship Between Ethnic Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Pregnant Latina Mothers. Evolutionary Human Sciences. e24025

     

    Kyle S. Wiley, Andrew M. Gregg, Molly Fox, Venu Lagishetty, Jonathan P. Jacobs, Laura M. Glynn. Newborn social experiences are associated with composition of the infant gut microbiome across the first year of life. American Journal of Biological Anthropology. DOI:10.1002/ajpa.24858. 

     

    Kristine J Chua, Delaney A Knorr, Janelly Jimenez, Arlene Francia, Valeria Rojas, Jhoana Infante Garcia, Molly Fox. What Do Your Neighbors Think About You? How Perceived Neighbor Attitudes Toward Latinos Influence Mental Health Among a Pregnant Latina Cohort. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01684-5

     

    Kyle S. Wiley, Molly M. Fox, Theresa E. Gildner, and Zaneta M. Thayer. "A longitudinal study of how women's prenatal and postnatal concerns related to the COVID‐19 pandemic predicts their infants' social–emotional development." Child Development (2023).

     

    Kyle S. Wiley, Delaney A Knorr, Kristine J Chua, Samantha Garcia, Molly Fox. (2023) Sociopolitical stressors are associated with psychological distress in a cohort of Latina women during early pregnancy. Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23065.

     

    Molly Fox, Delaney A. Knorr, Dayoon Kwon, Kyle S. Wiley, Michael H. Parrish. “How prenatal cortisol levels relate to grandmother-mother relationships among a cohort of Latina women.” American Journal of Human Biology. (2023) Online before print. e23883. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23883

     

    Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, Athena Aktipis, Carl T. Bergstrom, Molly Fox, Peter D. Gluckman, Felicia M. Low, Ruth Mace, Andrew Read, Paul E. Turner, and Daniel T. Blumstein. (2023) The Future of Evolutionary Medicine: Accelerating Understanding, Innovation, and Application of Evolutionary Principles in Biomedicine. Frontiers in Science. DOI 10.3389/fsci.2023.997136

     

    Delaney A. Knorr, Molly Fox. 2023. An evolutionary perspective on the association between grandmother-mother relationships and maternal mental health among a cohort of pregnant Latina women. Evolution and Human Behavior. 44(1), 30-38.

     

    Molly Fox. (2022) How demographics and concerns about the Trump administration relate to prenatal mental health among Latina women. Social Science and Medicine. Online ahead of print. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115171

     

    Hanadi Ajam Oughli, Sarah Nguyen, Prabha Siddarth, Molly Fox, Michaela Milillo, Helen Lavretsky. (2022) The Effect of Cumulative Lifetime Estrogen Exposure on Cognition in Depressed versus Non-Depressed Older Women. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology. online ahead of print. doi: 10.1177/08919887221090216.

     

    Molly Fox. Evolutionary Perspectives on Alzheimer’s Disease. (2022) In: Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health, edited by Dr Riadh Abed and Dr Paul St John-Smith. Cambridge University Press. [book chapter, in press]

     

    ☆Molly Fox and Kyle S. Wiley. (2022) How a pregnant woman’s relationships with her siblings relate to her mental health: a prenatal allocare perspective. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. 10(1), 1–20, https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoab044

     

    Molly Fox, Prabha Siddarth, Hanadi Ajam Oughli, Sarah A Nguyen, Michaela M Milillo, Yesenia Aguilar, Linda Ercoli, Helen Lavretsky. (2022) Women who breastfeed exhibit cognitive benefits after age 50. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. 9(1):322-31

     

    Molly Fox, S. Melanie Lee, Kyle S. Wiley, Venu Lagishetty, Curt A. Sandman, Jonathan P. Jacobs, Laura M. Glynn. (2021) Development of the infant gut microbiome predicts temperament across the first year of life. Development and Psychopathology. In press doi:10.1017/S0954579421000456

     

    Molly Fox. (2021) Discrimination as a moderator of the effects of acculturation and cultural values on mental health among pregnant and postpartum Latina women. American Anthropologist. 123(4), 780-804.

     

    Molly Fox, Delaney A. Knorr, Kacey M. Haptonstall. (2019) Alzheimer's disease and symbiotic microbiota: an evolutionary medicine perspective. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1449(1):3-24. DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14129

     

    Molly Fox. (2018) ‘Evolutionary medicine' perspectives on Alzheimer's Disease: Review and new directions. Aging Research Reviews. 47 (2018) 140-148, doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2018.07.008

    http://bit.ly/evmedAlzreview

     

    Molly Fox, Carlo Berzuini, Leslie A. Knapp, Laura M. Glynn. (2018) Women's pregnancy life-history and Alzheimer's risk: can immunoregulation explain the link? American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias. doi: 10.1177/1533317518786447

    http://bit.ly/pregalzimmune

     

    Laura M. Glynn, Mariann A. Howland, Molly Fox. (2018) Maternal programming: Application of a developmental psychopathology perspective. Development and Psychopathology. 30 (2018), 905–919. http://bit.ly/maternalprogramming

     

    Molly Fox, Zaneta M. Thayer, Isabel F. Ramos, Sarah J. Meskal, Pathik D. Wadhwa. (2018). Prenatal and Postnatal Mother-to-Child Transmission of Acculturation’s Health Effects in Hispanic Americans. Journal of Women's Health. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2017.6526. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2017.6526

     

    Molly Fox, Curt A. Sandman, Elysia Poggi Davis, Laura M. Glynn. (2018) A longitudinal study of women's depression symptom profiles during and after the postpartum phase. Depression and Anxiety. 2018:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22719

     

    *Molly Fox, Zaneta Thayer, Pathik D. Wadhwa. (2017) Acculturation and Health: The Moderating Role of Sociocultural Context. American Anthropologist. 119(3): 405–421. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aman.12867/abstract

     

    Molly Fox, Laura M. Glynn. (2017) Fetal programming of gender. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender. K Nadal, Ed. SAGE Publications, Inc.: Thousand Oaks. Link to Full Text

     

    Molly Fox, Zaneta Thayer, Pathik D. Wadhwa. (2017) Assessment of acculturation in minority health research. Social Science & Medicine. 176: 123-132.

    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953617300369

     

    Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Molly Fox, Laura Glynn. (2016) Demonstration of Elevated Cerebrospinal Fluid CRH Levels during Pregnancy Provides Support for (Not Against) the Link between CRH and Postpartum Depression. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 101(2):L5-6

    http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jc.2015-3798

     

    Molly Fox, Curt A. Sandman, Elysia Poggi Davis, Laura M. Glynn. (2015) Intra-individual consistency in endocrine profiles across successive pregnancies. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 100 (12): 4637-4647.

    http://press.endocrine.org/doi/10.1210/jc.2015-2620

     

    Molly Fox, Sonja Entringer, Claudia Buss, Jessica DeHaene, Pathik Wadhwa. (2015) Intergenerational transmission of the effects of acculturation on health in Hispanic Americans: a fetal/developmental programming perspective. American Journal of Public Health. 105(S3): S409-S423.

    http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302571

     

    Paul W. Andrews, Kyowon R. Lee, Molly Fox, Aadil Bharwani, J. Anderson Thomson, Jr. (2014) Is serotonin an upper or a downer? The evolution of the serotonergic system and its role in

    depression and the antidepressant response. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 51, 164–188. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763415000287

     

    Molly Fox, Carlo Berzuini, Leslie A. Knapp. (2013) Cumulative estrogen exposure, number of menstrual cycles, and Alzheimer's risk in a cohort of British women. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 38(12), 2973–2982. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.08.005.

    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453013002941

     

    Molly Fox, Corey L. Fincher, Paul W. Andrews, Leslie A. Knapp. (2013) Hygiene and the world distribution of Alzheimer’s Disease. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. doi: 10.1093/emph/eot015.

    http://emph.oxfordjournals.org/content/2013/1/173

     

    Molly Fox, Carlo Berzuini, Leslie A. Knapp. (2013) Maternal breastfeeding history and Alzheimer’s risk. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 37 (4), 809-821. doi: 10.3233/JAD-130152

    http://iospress.metapress.com/content/gr8353774g62515l/

     

    Molly Fox, Johannes Johow, Leslie A. Knapp. (2011) The Selfish Grandma Gene: The Roles of the X- Chromosome and Paternity Uncertainty in the Evolution of Grandmothering Behavior and Longevity. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 2011, Article ID 165919, 9 pages.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21716697

     

    Johannes Johow, Molly Fox, Leslie A. Knapp, Eckart Voland (2011). The presence of a paternal grandmother lengthens interbirth interval following the birth of a granddaughter in Krummhörn (18th and 19th centuries). Evolution and Human Behavior. 32 (5), 315-325.

    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513810001261

     

    ❖Molly Fox, Rebecca Sear, Jan Beise, Gillian Ragsdale, Eckart Voland, Leslie A. Knapp. (2010). Grandma plays favourites: X-chromosome relatedness and sex-specific childhood mortality. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277 (1681), 567-573.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19864288

     

     

    *One of the Top-Twenty Most Downloaded Papers from American Anthropologist, 2017-2018
    ❖One of the Top-Ten Most Downloaded Papers from Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 2009

    ☆One of the 5 Most Downloaded Articles of the Month, Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, December 2021

  •  

    SELECTED PRESS

    Click on the links below:

    Parents (magazine). ‘Eldest Daughter Syndrome’ Is Trending—Here’s What It Means. Melissa Willets. 14-Mar-24

    HuffPost. Is 'Eldest Daughter Syndrome' A Real Thing? A New Study May Surprise You. Brittany Wong. 4-Mar-24

    NY Post. ‘Eldest daughter syndrome’ isn’t just a trend — it really changes first-born girls with this type of mom. Asia Grace. 5-March-24

    Daily Mail. Stress during pregnancy could cause 'premature puberty' in daughters, study suggests. Emily Joshu. 20-Feb-24.

    UCLA Health: U Magazine. Conflict on the maternal-fetal front. Anna Louie Sussman. Winter 2023.

    UCLA Newsroom. Stress during pregnancy can lead to early maturation of first-born daughters. Elizabeth Kivowitz. 20-Feb-24

    Fox 11 Los Angeles. TV news segment.

    Human Behavior and Evolution Society (HBES) Newsletter. Grandmaternal allomothering may include the prenatal period. Delaney Knorr, 8-Feb-23

    KCBS Radio (San Francisco). Evolutionary Medicine. Megan Goldsby. 12-Mar-23

    ABC 7. Breastfeeding can help protect mothers' brains when they age, UCLA study finds. 25-Oct-21
    Fox News. New study suggests breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. Jessica Chasmar. 24-Oct-21

    UCLA Health. New study suggests that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. 22-Oct-21
    People. Breastfeeding May Help Improve Mothers' Brains Long-Term, Study Finds. Julie Mazziotta. 27-Oct-21

    U.S. News & World Report. Could Breastfeeding Help Women Keep Their Smarts as They Age? Cara Murez 28-Oct-21
    The Orange County Register. Breastfeeding may help mothers’ brains, says UCLA study. 25-Oct-21
    New York Post. New study suggests breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. Jessica Chasmar. 24-Oct-21
    NeuroscienceNews.com. Breastfeeding May Help Prevent Cognitive Decline. 23-Oct-21
    Atlanta Journal Constitution. Cognitive protection of women 50+ linked to breastfeeding, study shows. Kiersten Willis. 1-Nov-21
    Science Daily. New study suggests that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. 23-Oct-21

    Hindustan Times. Breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. 24-Oct-21

    Scary Mommy. Breastfeeding Can Help Protect A Mother’s Brain Later In Life. Madison Vanderberg. 26-Oct-21

    Washington Post. Women’s reproductive history may predict Alzheimer’s risk. Tara Bahrampour. 23-Jul-18

    LA Times. How pregnancy and childbirth may protect some women from developing dementia. Melissa Healy. 23-Jul-18.

    U.S. News & World Report. Having More Kids Tied to Lower Odds of Alzheimer' in Women. Dennis Thompson. 23-Jul-18.

    Neurology Today. Why Pregnancy History May Be Neuroprotective for Alzheimer’s Risk. Thomas Collins. 24-Jul-18.

    NBC News. Motherhood may affect Alzheimer's risk, studies show. Maggie Fox. 23-Jul-18

    CBS News. Motherhood and fertility may hold clues to Alzheimer's risk for women. Dennis Thompson. 23-Jul-18

    NPR: All Things Considered. Hormone Levels Likely Influence A Woman's Risk Of Alzheimer's, But How? Jon Hamilton. 23-Jul-18.

    Dr Bonnie 360. The link between the oral microbiome and Alzheimer’s Disease. Becca Malizia. 20-May-2019

    Medical Express. Pregnancy and reproductive history may impact dementia risk. 23-Jul-18

    AARP. What being a woman means for dementia risk. Kathleen Fifield. 23-Jul-18

    Alzheimer’s Association. Pregnancy and Reproductive History May Impact Dementia Risk Plus, the Move to

    Re-Think the Impact of Hormone Therapy on Cognition. Niles Frantz. 23-Jul-18

    New Scientist. The real baby brain: Motherhood messes with your mind, but not in the ways you think. Emma Young. 9-Jan-16

    Pacific Standard. The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30. Avital Andrews. 1-Apr-14

    Pacific Standard. The ‘Brilliant’ Research Who Wants to Put an End to Dementia. Avital Andrews. 8-Apr-14

    The Times. Clean living may raise the risk of dementia. Chris Smyth. 4/9/13

    The Guardian. Alzheimer’s may be linked to better hygiene, say scientists. Alok Jha. 5/9/13

    Fox News. Countries with more wealth, better hygiene have higher Alzheimer’s risk. 6/9/13

    Forbes. Does Living In A Healthy Environment Raise Alzheimer's Risk? Melanie Haiken. 6/9/13

    Men’s Health. The Crazy Link Between Hygiene and Alzheimer’s. Cindy Kuzma. 15/9/13

    CBS News. Better Hygiene Could Raise Risk of Alzheimer’s. Nicky Broyd & Farah Ahmed. 9/6/13

    Huffington Post. Better Hygiene In Wealthy Nations May Increase Alzheimer's Risk, Study Suggests. Shelley Emling. 1/9/13

    The Independent. Better hygiene in wealthy nations may increase Alzheimer's risk. Charlie Cooper. 4/9/13

    The Telegraph. Good hygiene may be to blame for soaring Alzheimer's. Laura Donnelley. 4/9/13

    Daily Mail. Alzheimer's: could good hygiene and less contact with bacteria pose 'greater risk'? Ellie Zolfagharifard. 4/9/13.

    Voice of Russia (radio). Hygiene linked to Alzheimers disease. Tim Ecott. 5/9/13

    Herald. Cleaner living link to rise in Alzheimer's. 20/9/13 (Ireland)

    Irish Independent. Surge in Alzheimer's disease linked to cleanliness. John von Radowitz. 5/9/13

    The Sun. Alzheimer’s risk ‘rises for clean fanatics.’ Lynsey Hope. 4/9/13

    The Mirror. Rise in Alzheimer's cases 'linked to drinking clean water.' Louie Smith. 5/9/13

    Alzheimer's Society. Better hygiene could increase risk of Alzheimer's, study claims. Dr James Pickett. 4/9/13

    Nine MSN. Good hygiene blamed for rising Alzheimer's rates. Kimberly Gillan. 5/9/13 (Australia)

    Cambridge News. Cambridge study finds rich nation and hygiene link to Alzheimer 'burden.' Raymond Brown. 4/9/13

    Huffington Post UK. Being Hyper Hygienic Can Harm Your Immune System And Cause A Surge In Alzheimer's Disease, Experts Say. 5/9/13

    Today. Alzheimer’s may be linked to improved hygiene, say scientists. 5/9/13 (Singapore)

    Ohio Newsday. Alzheimer's: could good hygiene and less contact with bacteria pose 'greater risk'? Nick Mcdermott. 5/9/13

    Asia News International (ANI). Better hygiene in wealthy nations linked with high risk of Alzheimer's. 5/9/13

    Daily Express. "Missing Link" found in cure for Alzheimer's. Giles Sheldrick. 4/9/13 (UK)

    Times of Malta. Alzheimer's link to better hygiene. John von Radowitz. 4/9/13

    Times of Mumbai. Alzheimer’s: could good hygiene and less contact with bacteria pose ‘greater risk’? 5/9/13 

    New Kerala. Better hygiene in wealthy nations linked with high risk of Alzheimer's. ANI 5/9/13 (India)

    Punjab Newsline. Better hygiene in wealthy nations may increase Alzheimer's risk. 5/9/13 (India)

    Science Daily. Better Hygiene in Wealthy Nations May Increase Alzheimer's Risk. 5/9/13

    Nature World News. High Alzheimer's Disease Rates in Rich Countries Linked with Hygiene. 5/9/13

    Consumer Affairs. "Clean living" may contribute to Alzheimer's. James R. Hood. 4/9/13

    Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. "Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer’s risk." 5/8/13

    Daily Utah Chronicle. "U welcomes new chair, anthropology professor." 4 Sept 13

    CBS News. "Breast-feeding may lower mom's risk of Alzheimer's disease." Michelle Castillo. 5 Aug 2013.

    Huffington Post. "Breastfeeding May Slash Alzheimer's Risk, Study Finds." Catherine Pearson. 6 Aug 2013. 

    Fox News. "Breastfeeding may lower Alzheimer’s risk in mothers." 6 Aug 2013.

    The Independent. "Breastfeeding might reduce women's risk of Alzheimer's disease, suggests study." Charlie Cooper. 5 Aug 2013. (UK)

    The Telegraph. "Breastfeeding 'lowers Alzheimer's risk.'" Laura Donnelly. 5 Aug 2013. (UK)

    BBC One. Segment on "Look East" news programme. 6 Aug 2013. (UK)

    BBC Radio Scotland. Segment on "Newsdrive" news programme. 6 Aug 2013.

    Daily Mail. "Mothers who breastfeed slash their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by TWO-THIRDS, claims study." Jenny Hope. 6 Aug 2013. (UK)

    NHS Choices. "Does breastfeeding lower Alzheimer's risk?" 6 Aug 2013. (UK)

    The People's Daily. "Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer's risk for breastfeeding mothers." 6 Aug 2013. (China)

    Alzheimer's Society. "Women who breastfeed may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease." 5 Aug 2013.

    Alzheimer's Research UK. "Breastfeeding linked to lower maternal Alzheimer’s risk." 5 Aug 2013.

    ITV News. "Breastfeeding 'lowers risk of Alzheimer's'." 5 Aug 2013. (UK)

    Times of India. "Breastfeeding cuts Alzheimer's risk in women." ANI. 6 Aug 2013.

    London Evening Standard. "Breastfeeding 'could lower the risk' of Alzheimer’s." Ross Lydall. 5 Aug 2013.

    CBS News Washington DC. "Study: Breastfeeding Could Lower Alzheimer’s Risk In Women." 5 Aug 2013.

    ABC 7 News: Denver. New research finds breastfeeding is best for mom's mind as well as baby's. Lee Bowman. 13 Aug 13

    The Evening Herald. "Breastfeeding 'cuts Alzheimer's risk for mums." Ben Kendall. 6 Aug 2013. (Ireland)

    New Zealand Herald. "Breastfeeding may prevent Alzheimer's." 9 Aug 2013.

    The Daily Beast. "Breastfeeding May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s." 6 Aug 2013.

    Korea Times. "Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer's risk." 6 Aug 2013.

    Xinhua News. "Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer's risk for breastfeeding mothers." 6 Aug 2013. (China)

    United Press International. "Breastfeeding may lower risk of developing Alzheimer's." 7 Aug 2013.

    Nursing Times. "Breastfeeding 'lowers Alzheimer's risk.'" The Press Association. 6 Aug 2013.

    Parent Herald. "Breastfeeding Perk: Study Says it Lowers Alzheimer's Disease Risk." 5 Aug 2013.

    Parent Society. "Want to Avoid Alzheimer’s? Try Breastfeeding!" 11 Aug 2013.

    MSN. "Breast-feeding cuts moms' Alzheimer's risk by 2/3, study says." 6 Aug 2013. (Australia)

    The Australian. "Breastfeeding 'lowers disease risk.'" Ben Kendall. 5 Aug 2013.

    Nine MSN. "Breastfeeding 'lowers disease risk.'" 5 Aug 2013 (Australia)

    Daily Telegraph. "Breastfeeding lowers mother's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease." 5 Aug 2013. (Australia)

    Cambridge News. "Breastfeeding mothers at lower risk of Alzheimer's." Jennie Baker. 5 Aug 2013. (UK)

    PubMed Health. "Does breastfeeding lower Alzheimer's risk?" 6 Aug 2013.

    The Telegraph. “Bill Gates' Foundation is helping female researchers find their feet.” Emma Sinclair. 6 Mar 2013

    PBS News Hour. “How grandmothers gave us longer live.” Rebecca Jacobson. 25 Oct 2012.

    Times Higher Education. “Women and children first: The nature of nurture.” E.M. Johnson. 15 Mar 2012.

    Newsweek. “An Evolutionary Edge: How Grandmas Might Play Favorites.” Sharon Begley. 12 Nov 2009.

    The Independent. “Grandmothers: good for girls, bad for boys.” Steve Connor. 28 Oct 2009.

    The Telegraph. “Why grandmothers prefer their sons’ daughters.” Ben Leach. 28 Oct 2009.

    Science. “Grandma Plays Favorites.” Michael Balter. 28 Oct 2009.

    New Scientist. “Mothering matters, but grandmothering counts too.” Jessica Hamzelou. 28 Oct 2009.

    Scientific American. "Sacrifice on the Serengeti: Life History, Genetic Relatedness, and the Evolution of Menopause." Eric Michael Johnson. 13 Oct 2011.

    The Daily Mail. “Why granny dotes more on her sons’ little girls.” Fiona Macrae. 28 Oct 2009.

    ABC News. “Granny really does play favorites.” (Australia) Annabel McGilvray. 28 Oct 2009.

    ABC Radio National. “Grandmas help girls live longer—but boys beware.” Barbara Miller. 28 Oct 2009.

    New Zealand Herald. “Grandmas: good for girls, bad for boys.” 28 Oct 2009.

    Times of India. “Grandmas help girls live longer.” 30 Mar 2011.

    Hindustan Times. “Grandmoms prefer son’s daughters.” 29 Oct 2009.

    CBC News. “Geneticists say grandmas do play favourites.” 28 Oct 2009.

    Marie Claire. “Grandmothers genetically closer to granddaughters.” Lucy Halfhead. 27 Oct 2009.

    The Indian Express. "Grandmas help girls live longer, but not boys." ANI. 28 Oct 2009.

    Jezebel. "Boys beware: Grandmas hazardous to grandsons' health." Anna North. 28 Oct 2009.

    Cambridge University. "The importance of grandmothers in the lives of their grandchildren." 29 Oct 2009.

  • MULTIMEDIA

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    UCLA Department of Medicine
    Grand Rounds

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    Period Podcast

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    Episode 12: Listen with your grandma
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    The Empowering Neurologist

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    International Society for Evolutionary Medicine and Public Health

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    Cambridge Research News

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    ABTA Doctoral Research Award

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    ABC News:
    The World Today

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    BBC Radio Scotland:
    Newsdrive

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    Voice of Russia

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    Super Human Radio

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    Club Ev Med

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  • GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS

    Funding obtained for research and academic pursuits

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    NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA)

     

    R21: How women’s reproductive life-history relates to cognitive decline and neuropathology in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (PI) 2023-2025

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    NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

    R03: Social Adversity, Gestational Stress Physiology, and Birth Outcomes in Hispanic Americans (PI) 8/1/20- 7/31/22

     

    K01: Effects of acculturation on gestational biology in Mexican-American women (PI) 2015-2021 (NCE)

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    NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

    F32: Mental health across generations of Hispanic Americans: investigating the biomechanism of fetal programming (PI Wiley; Role: Sponsor)
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    UCLA pilot and small grants

    • UCLA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Faculty Career Development Award 9/10/2021-9/30/2022
    • Transdisciplinary Research Acceleration Grant 8/1/20- 12/31/21
    • Institute of American Cultures (IAC) 7/1/20- 12/31/21

    • Clinical and Translational Science Institute 7/3/19- 12/31/20
    • Center for the Study of Women Faculty Research Grant 2018
    • Hellman Fellowship 2018

     

     

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    NICHD Seed Grant

    UCLA California Center for Population Research

    Socio-economic disparities and development of the infant intestinal ecology: a longitudinal cohort study

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    Gates Cambridge Scholarship

    Fully funded PhD, 2008-2013

    Gates Scholars are selected for "outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential, and commitment to improving the lives of others."

     

    Additional Gates graduate student grants awarded:

    • Research and fieldwork grant: 2010-2011
    • Conference travel grant, 2011: European Society for the Study of Human Evolution, The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
    • Conference travel grant, 2009: Human Genetics & Genomics, Gordon Research Conference, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
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    Cambridge Philosophical Society

    for travel and participation at:
    Human Behavior & Evolution Society Annual Meeting

     

    University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA, 2012
    Human Behavior & Evolution Society Annual Meeting
    University of Florida, Miami Beach, USA, 2013
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    Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge

    Various graduate student grants:
    Conference travel grant, 2012: Human Behavior & Evolution Society Annual Meeting, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA
    Research grant, 2011

     

    Language study grant, 2009: Lyon, France, CEFR certification in Advanced French
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    Yale University

    Various student fellowships and grants:
    2008: Sudler Arts Fund
    2007: Robert C. Bates Fellowship
    2007: Tristan Perlroth Fellowship

     

  • OTHER AFFILIATIONS

     

    Program Chair, International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2024

    Program Co-Chair, International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2023

    Council member (elected), International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2019-2023

    Faculty Affiliate, UCLA Evolutionary Medicine program, from 2016

    Faculty Affiliate, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, from 2016

    Faculty Affiliate, California Center for Population Research, from 2016

    Affiliate Researcher, Conte Center on Brain Programming, from 2013

    Associate Editor, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2013-2015

    Alumna Interviewer, Yale University Admissions, 2012-2015

    Chair, Gates Cambridge Scholars Biology Research Group, 2009-2011

    Fellow, Cambridge Philosophical Society, Elected 2011

    Post-Graduate Representative, Graduate Education Committee, Department of Biological Anthropology, Cambridge, 2008-09

    Women’s Officer, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, 2009-10

    Women’s Council Member, Cambridge University Student Union, 2009-10

    Life Member, Cambridge Union Society, from 2008

     

    Member of the Human Biology Association (HBA), American Association for Physical Anthropology (AAPA), International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (ISEMPH)

  • AWARDS & HONOURS

    Grand Challenges Award, International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (ISEMPH), 2021

    One of Top 20 Most Downloaded Articles from 2017-2018, American Anthropologist (journal)

    Best New Investigator Award, Evolutionary Anthropology Society 2017

    The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30, Pacific Standard, 2014

    Distinguished Speaker, Cambridge in America Day: Women in Science. Mountain View, California 2013

    Poster prize, World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health & Disease, 2013

    ABTA Doctoral Research Award, 1st place in Biological & Medical Sciences 2012

    Gates news article

    ABTA site

    Poster prize (2nd place), Human Behavior & Evolution Society Annual Meeting 2012 

    One of Top 10 Most Downloaded Articles from Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2009

    PRSB Link

    Stanley Wheeler Award (top arts student in Morse college), Yale University, 2008

    Distinction in the two majors of Anthropology & Theatre Studies, Yale University, 2008

    National Merit Scholar 2004

    USA Today All-USA Academic Team 2004

    USA Today article

    New York State Health Facilities Young Adult Volunteer of the Year 2004

  • TEACHING EXPERIENCE

    UCLA Courses:

    Lecture courses:

    ANTHRO 129 - Selected Topics in Biological Anthropology: Evolutionary Medicine

    ANTHRO 1 - Human Evolution

    Seminars:

    ANTHRO 191HE - Writing for Publication and Conference Presentations

    ANTHRO 194 - Research Group Seminars: Anthropology

    ANTHRO 202A - Biological Anthropology Colloquium

    Individual studies:

    ANTHRO 99 - Student Research Program

    ANTHRO 199 - Directed Research in Anthropology

    ANTHRO 197 - Individual Studies in Anthropology

    ANTHRO 99 - Student Research Program

    ANTHRO 596 - Individual Studies for Graduate Students

    ANTHRO 599 - Research for PhD Dissertation

    SOC GEN 196 - Research Apprenticeship in Society and Genetics

    SOC GEN 199 - Directed Studies in Society and Genetics

     

    University of Cambridge:

    “Nature versus Nurture.” Archaeology & Anthropology first-year students. 2010/2011

    “Hormones & Behavior.” Bio Anth final-year students and MPhils. 2008/2009; 2009/2010; 2010/2011

    “Hormones & Life History.” Bio Anth final-year students and MPhils. 2008/2009; 2009/2010; 2010/2011

    “Chromosomes & Mortality.” Biology and Medicine summer students. 2009/2010; 2010/2011

     

    Cambridge Undergraduates Dissertations Supervised:

    “Female Social Group Preferences and Sex Hormones.” 2011

    “Post-copulatory selection in humans: What can imprinted genes tell us?” 2010

    “Adaptive advantages of autism in an evolutionary context: The Male Mating Hypothesis.” 2010

    “The Genomics of Foetal Growth in the Context of Parental Conflict.” 2010

     

    Cambridge Undergraduate Courses Supervised:

    Biological Anthropology Part I (year-long first-year course): 2009/2010, six colleges

    Theory and Practice in Biological Anthropology (year-long final year course): 2009/2010; 2010/2011

    Evolution and Behavior (one-term first year course for students in Natural Sciences tripos): 2010/2011

  • SKILLS & OTHER PUBLICATIONS

    Photo by M Fox

    Laboratory

    DNA extraction
    PCR/Gel electrophoresis
    ELISA/EIA

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    Clinical

    Clinical Dementia Rating certification 2010

    from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

    Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

     

    Adult (prenatal and geriatric) urine, saliva, swab collections

    Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) imaging of newborns/infants

    Newborn/infant urine collection, saliva collection, buccal swab

    Newborn/infant anthropometry

    Infant motor and social development interviews

    Maternal breast milk collection

    Maternal-child feeding interviews


  • CONTACT & LINKS

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    Lab website

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    Mothers' Cultural Experiences study

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    UCLA faculty profile

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    UCLA evolutionary medicine profile

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    Email

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    Gates site

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    Academia.edu

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    ResearchGate

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    LinkedIn

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    Please get in touch. I'm always looking for new ways to connect with colleagues and students!

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