Unit of Integrative Epidemiology

Neurodegenerative diseases
We are interested in studying the risk factors as well as prognostic indicators for neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Our research questions include for example the roles of energy metabolism, immune modulation, and gut microbiome, as well as their interactions in the risk and prognosis of different neurodegenerative diseases. 

Psychiatric disorders
We are interested in studying risk factors and health consequences of different psychiatric disorders, especially the ones that are known to be related to psychological stress such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress reaction, and adjustment disorders. We are also interested in studying comorbidity patterns between psychiatric disorders and other chronic diseases, including autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, major infections, and cancer.

Cancer
We are interested in studying the potentially bi-directional link between psychological stress and cancer. For instance, we are interested in the role of psychological stress and its moderators on the initiation as well as prognosis of cancer. We also study cancer as a stressful life event and examine its role in the subsequent health outcomes of cancer patients and their families.

Psychological stress and its related health outcomes
We are interested in the short- and long-term health consequences of severely stressful life events, including loss of a significant other due to death, violence and natural disaster. We are also interested in the determinants, genetic and non-genetic, of stress resilience.

Women’s mental health
The group is committed to investigating women’s mental health over the life course and ultimately to addressing the sex disparities in mental health. Particularly, we are interested in the risk factors and health consequences of reproductive mood disorders or sex-specific mental disorders, including premenstrual disorders (severe premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder), perinatal depression and other maternal mental disorders occurred during and after pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal mental health. We are also interested in identifying novel biomarkers using multiomics data for early detection/diagnosis and risk-stratification prevention.