Rui Liu

Rui Liu, Ph.D., MPH, serves as Assistant Professor of Health Science in the College of Health Professions at Sacred Heart University. Her expertise spans aging research, neurodegenerative disease, and environmental health impacts, with significant contributions to understanding cognitive decline and chronic disease mechanisms in aging populations. She teaches core courses including Research Methods and Health Research Capstone while leading active investigations into sleep, inflammation, and dementia risk.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Epidemiology, University of South Carolina
• MPH in Public Health, Southern Connecticut State University
• BS in Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Liu's research program integrates geriatric health, neuroimaging, and environmental exposures to address critical gaps in aging science. Primary focus areas include:

• Neurodegenerative disease progression in diverse populations
• Impact of air pollution and nutrition on cognitive function
• Health disparities among Asian American older adults
• Mechanistic links between telomere biology and coronary disease

Her mixed-methods approach combines large-scale biobank analyses with community-based investigations to develop targeted interventions for at-risk elders.

Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal consistent emphasis on environmental determinants of cognitive aging and health equity. Key trends include leveraging UK Biobank data to examine telomere dynamics, analyzing racial disparities in cognitive outcomes, and exploring early-life influences on late-life dementia risk. Her work bridges epidemiology, environmental health, and gerontology to address modifiable risk factors in aging populations.

Major recognitions include:

• College of Health Professions Excellence in Teaching Award (2022)
• Sacred Heart University Research and Creativity Grant (2022)
• NIEHS Intramural Epidemiology Research Award (2017)
• NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence (2016)

These reflect her dual excellence in pedagogy and innovative aging research.

Dr. Liu mentors students through capstone projects and research internships while leading the active study The Effects of Sleep and Inflammation on Cognition and Dementia Risk (funded by Sacred Heart University since 2022). Her grant portfolio demonstrates sustained focus on translating epidemiological findings into preventive strategies for cognitive decline, with particular attention to vulnerable aging subpopulations.

Though specific laboratory facilities aren't detailed, her UK Biobank collaborations and community-focused environmental justice work indicate strong interdisciplinary partnerships across public health, social work, and clinical neuroscience domains.