Updates from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Updates from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
NBER Grant Supports Creation of First Nationwide ADRD‑Focused Medicaid Policy Database
Assistant Professor Indrakshi Roy
SPH‑B Assistant Professor Indrakshi Roy has been awarded a two‑year, $50,000 Early Career Research (EC‑READ) grant from the National Bureau of Economic Research to build the first centralized database of state Medicaid policies related specifically to Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The project will help researchers better understand how state‑level differences in Medicaid eligibility and long‑term care servicesimpactthe quality of life for patients and caregivers. Roy’s work will also develop a “generosity index” to compare state policies and evaluate whether Medicaid truly supports the needs of individuals living with dementia.
SPH‑B Ph.D. candidate Maria Klein has been awarded a prestigious two‑year CTSI T32 Post‑Doctoral Training Award to advance early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Her work will help train a passive digital marker algorithm toidentifyearly risk patterns in electronic health records—an exciting step toward earlier intervention and improved outcomes for aging populations.
Doctoral candidate Charles Opondo is advancing global health research through an innovative study of a microfinance farming program in Western Kenya. Supported by IU Global grants, Opondo is conducting primary fieldwork to examine how community‑based agriculture can improve dietary diversity and mental health among low‑income households. His findings aim to inform future health and economic policies in both Kenya and Indiana, reflecting the impactful work emerging from the Epidemiology & Biostatistics Department.
Jaroslaw Harezlak, chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, has been named a Provost Professor—one of IU’s highest faculty honors and a distinction earned by only five SPH‑B faculty since 1995.
A Harvard‑trained biostatistician, Harezlak has held multiple leadership roles at SPH‑B and has authored more than 100 peer‑reviewed publications. He recently secured a $1.4 million NIH R01 grant to study cumulative head impacts in college football athletes.
