Myriam Fornage

Biomarker Core Education on AD/ADRD Research

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Personal Statement

As a Professor of Molecular Medicine and Human Genetics, I have dedicated my career to uncovering the genetic architecture of vascular diseases of the aging brain, specifically stroke and vascular dementia. My research program is centered on the integration of multi-omic data with neuroimaging endophenotypes to identify the molecular drivers of cognitive decline. With a foundation in human genetics and genetic epidemiology, I bring extensive expertise in the large-scale analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data across diverse populations.

Over the past several years, I have successfully led NIH-funded initiatives involving genome-wide association studies, DNA methylation profiling, and metabolomics. These efforts have directly resulted in the discovery of novel genes associated with the aging brain. My work thrives in highly collaborative environments; I hold leadership roles within major international consortia, including the NeuroCHARGE Consortium, the NIA-Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project, and the NHLBI TOPMed program. In these capacities, I lead projects for landmark longitudinal studies such as ARIC, CARDIA, and HCHS/SOL, while chairing working groups focused on advancing our collective understanding of neurodegenerative conditions.

I am eager to bring this record of leadership and scientific productivity to the Houston ADRC. As a Co-Investigator in the Biomarkers Core, I am responsible for building and overseeing the infrastructure necessary for sophisticated multi-omic studies, ensuring the HADRC remains at the cutting edge of precision medicine. Additionally, through collaboration with the REC Core and in my role as a faculty mentor, I am committed to nurturing and guiding the next generation of researchers as they navigate the complexities of genetic epidemiology.

Biography

Dr. Myriam Fornage, PhD, is a Professor at UTHealth Houston and a leading investigator in the genetics and genomics of brain vascular disease and brain aging. She holds appointments in the Institute of Molecular Medicine (Center for Human Genetics) at McGovern Medical School and the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, where she also serves as the Laurence and Johanna Favrot Distinguished Professor in Cardiology. Dr. Fornage received her PhD from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 1996 and completed postdoctoral training in genetics at Case Western Reserve University before joining UTHealth Houston in 1998. Over the course of her career, she has advanced from Research Fellow to Professor, establishing an internationally recognized research program focused on the genetic architecture of stroke, cerebral small vessel disease, dementia, and related neuroimaging phenotypes.

Dr. Fornage’s research integrates large‑scale population studies, genetic epidemiology, and multi‑omics approaches to identify biological pathways underlying cerebrovascular injury and cognitive aging across the lifespan. She is an active investigator in major national and international consortia, including the Cohorts of Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (consortium, the NIA Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project, and the NHLBI Trans‑Omics for Precision Medicine Program. Her work has contributed to the discovery of genetic loci associated with stroke and white matter hyperintensity burden and has informed understanding of how vascular and cardiometabolic risk intersects with brain health. In addition to her research leadership, Dr. Fornage is deeply committed to training and mentorship, serving on graduate faculty and participating in national scientific advisory roles that support the advancement of genomic and precision medicine research in diverse populations.

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