Akira Sekikawa

Akira Sekikawa is a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he serves as Director of the T32 Cardiovascular Epidemiology Training Program and Director of the Ultrasound Research Laboratory. He holds multiple degrees including an MD from Tohoku University, a PhD in Medical Science from Yamagata University, and an MPH and PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh.

His research integrates multidisciplinary approaches across:

• Cardiovascular epidemiology and cognitive aging (NIH-funded ACE trial)
• Metabolomics and atherosclerotic disease (IMMEA Study)
• International health disparities in chronic diseases
• Subclinical atherosclerosis imaging biomarkers

Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on equol metabolism, fatty acids, and vascular contributions to neurodegeneration, with emerging work on ethnic health disparities in respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes.

As T32 program director, he mentors doctoral trainees in cardiovascular research methodologies, with students publishing in areas including placental histology techniques and physical activity epidemiology.

He leads the Ultrasound Research Laboratory pioneering subclinical CVD assessment techniques and maintains active NIH grants including R01 AG074971 and R01 HL169332.