Deirdre O’Shea, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Department of Neurology at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. O’Shea earned her Ph.D. in Clinical and Health Psychology (neuropsychology track) from the University of Florida.  She is a licensed psychologist in Florida (PY11880), with her primary expertise in neuropsychological evaluations of adults. She completed her pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship training at Alpert Brown Medical School where she remained for a two-year clinical neuropsychological fellowship. While at Brown, she also served as the Aging and Dementia Research Fellow in the Department of Neurology (Memory Disorders clinic). She completed her M.S. in Neuropsychology at the University of Edinburgh and undergraduate education in Sociology and Psychology at University College Cork, Ireland where she is a citizen.

Broadly, Dr. O’Shea’s research investigates risk and resilience factors that contribute to variability in cognitive aging and predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Dr. O’Shea is currently working on developing novel DNA methylation (DNAm) biomarkers for predicting ADRD risk. These epigenetic markers offer a quantifiable metric of the interplay between genetic and environmental factors over the life course. She is the Principle Investigator of a study titled ‘’Developing a DNAm Biomarker for Cognitive Aging: Addressing Disparities and Promoting Community Engagement’’ which is supported by a  two-year career development award sponsored by the Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute/ National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NIH: 1K12TR004555). Using these DNAm biomarkers, Dr. O’Shea’s research aims to more precisely characterize the relative influence of factors that either bolster cognitive resilience or amplify vulnerability which may lead to enhanced early detection, risk assessment, and personalized interventions for cognitive decline and dementia.

Dr. O’Shea is also a Topic Editor on Epigenetics and Lifestyle in Brain Aging for the journal ‘Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience’ and has served as a reviewer for several leading journals in her field including ‘Neurobiology of Aging’, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring and Neuropsychology Review. In recognition of her significant research contributions to her field she was granted United States permanent residency status via the National Interest Waiver program in 2022 to allow her to continue her research in the US indefinitely.

A comprehensive list of Dr. O’Shea’s peer-reviewed publications can be found here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/deirdre.oshea.3/bibliography/public/

Dr. Kleiman is a Research Assistant Professor and the Assistant Director of Data Science and Technology at CCBH. He received his PhD in Experimental Psychology from Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Kleiman’s research focuses on the ability of “neurobehavioral markers”, markers of non-intentional behavior within gaze and speech, to measure cognitive decline in healthy brain aging and early-stage cognitive impairment. His overall research explores the intersection between neurology, cognitive psychology, and data science. He has developed tools and machine learning models that use neurobehavioral markers as well as health records, cognitive exam scores, and neuroimaging data for assessing current impairment and predicting future risk of impairment. He has been awarded grants from the Alzheimer’s Association, the McKnight Brain Research Foundation, and the Florida Department of Health.

Gabrielle Tacher is the Office Manager at the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She brings a strong background in academic and professional administration, with experience spanning higher education and legal environments.

Gabrielle holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and is recognized for her strategic approach to operations, attention to detail, and ability to foster an organized, high-functioning workplace. She plays a key role in supporting leadership and ensuring the center’s day-to-day operations align with its broader mission.

Gabrielle Tacher continues to be a vital force behind the scenes, ensuring our center operates smoothly and efficiently every day.

Mary Lou Riccio has been involved with clinical research for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias for over 10 years and recently completed her Nursing certification. She is interested in the effects of chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, on disease progression. She hopes to make an impact on health literacy and prevention at the community level.