Dr. Melissa Armstrong, MD, MSc, is the Director of the UF Health Mangurian Clinical-Research Headquarters for Lewy Body Dementia at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases.

She earned her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, where she also completed her neurology residency. Following her residency, she pursued a movement disorders fellowship at Toronto Western Hospital and obtained a Master of Science in clinical epidemiology and healthcare research from the University of Toronto, both in 2011.

Dr. Armstrong specializes in conditions within the Parkinson’s disease family, including Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and atypical parkinsonisms such as corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, and multiple system atrophy. She is dedicated to a patient-centered approach, working closely with individuals and their families to tailor treatment strategies that align with their personal goals and support network. While there is no cure for these conditions, she employs a combination of medications, non-drug therapies, and multidisciplinary support to enhance quality of life.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Armstrong leads research at the LBD Life Lab, focusing on the lived experiences of individuals with parkinsonisms and dementia, as well as their care partners and caregivers. Supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Florida Department of Health, her research explores various aspects of Lewy body dementia, including hospitalization outcomes, diagnostic and treatment advancements, clinician-patient communication, and the priorities of those affected by the disease. She also studies the moderate-to-advanced stages of dementia with Lewy bodies to improve care strategies for patients and families.

Beyond her clinical and research commitments, Dr. Armstrong serves as the Associate Chair of Faculty Development for the Department of Neurology at the University of Florida.

Dr. Rosie Curiel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and faculty member of the Center on Aging. As a geriatric neuropsychologist, she has an expertise in the assessment of neurodegenerative conditions among elders. Dr. Curiel is Principal Investigator of a study entitled: Precision-based Computerized Assessment for the Detection of MCI in Older Adults, and is an active Co-investigator on various state and federally funded longitudinal Alzheimer’s disease studies including the 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Her program of research focuses on the development of novel and cross-culturally applicable cognitive assessment paradigms. She and her team have generated promising pilot data that these novel cognitive outcome measures are sensitive enough to detect subtle deficits specific to preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, and are highly associated with biological markers of early AD pathology. Her program of research focuses on technologically enhancing these innovative cognitive paradigms into user-friendly clinical outcome measures with the goal of advancing cognitive assessment efforts in clinical trials targeting preclinical AD.

Dr. Mary Ganguli is a Professor of Psychiatry, Epidemiology, and Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her medical degree from Christian Medical College in India and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health. Dr. Ganguli completed her general psychiatry training at both Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC. She holds board certifications from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry, as well as from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Psychiatry. 

For over 35 years, Dr. Ganguli has conducted seminal research on the epidemiology of the aging brain and late-life mental disorders, particularly cognitive impairment and dementia. Her work has been continuously funded by the National Institute on Aging since 1986, significantly contributing to the understanding of the origins and progression of these disorders and informing the development of improved treatment strategies for the elderly. 

In recognition of her significant scientific contributions, Dr. Ganguli received the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award for Research from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Additionally, in 2019, she was honored with the Distinguished Scientist Award by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry for her outstanding research and mentorship in the field of geriatric psychiatry. 

Dr. Roger C. McIntosh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Miami, specializing in health psychology. He earned his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Florida Atlantic University in 2012, following a Master of Arts in Psychology from the same institution in 2010. He also holds a Master of Science in Education from Nova Southeastern University (2005) and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Jacksonville University (2002).

Dr. McIntosh’s research focuses on the psychosocial determinants of immunosuppression and cardiovascular disease in older adults. His work examines risk factors associated with accelerated cognitive aging in chronic disease populations, with a particular emphasis on how cognitive-emotional impairment impacts disease management among individuals living with HIV.

In addition to his research, Dr. McIntosh is a Public Voices Fellow of the OpEd Project, contributing to public discourse on health psychology topics.

Dr. Tatjana Rundek is a Professor of Neurology, Executive Vice Chair of Research and Faculty Affairs and Director of Clinical Translational Research Division in the Department of Neurology of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is Scientific Director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Miami. She is also Director of a Master of Science degree in Clinical Translational Investigation and Director of the KL2 mentored career development research training program at the Miami Clinical Translational Science Institute.

Dr. Rundek is a vascular neurologist, clinical researcher and a leader of several NIH-funded projects and programs on determinants of stroke, age-related memory loss and cognitive decline, and brain health. Dr. Rundek completed a neurology and research fellowship at Columbia University in the City of New York. Dr. Rundek was the first Fulbright Scholar at the Neurological Institute of Columbia University, NY.

Dr. Rundek is a productive and collaborative investigator with over 500 peer reviewed publications, editorials, and book chapters. She has extensive research collaborations with multiple national and international research teams, including investigators from Columbia University on large NIH-funded population-based studies of age-related neurovascular disease (NOMAS, INVEST, CABLE, PHPT, eMERGE) and Albert Einstein in the Bronx (Einstein Aging Study) on vascular cognitive decline and dementia. She serves as a team scientist-leader of large international stroke and aging projects and consortia including NIA Precision Aging Network.

Dr. Rundek is a dedicated clinician scientist, educator, and mentor, who continues to lead local and national research, educational and mentorship programs. She serves as Training Director of two large NINDS-funded clinical trial networks, StrokeNet and NeuroNEXT, and of NIA OneFL Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (1FL ADRC). She was a recipient of an AHA Mentor award and an NIH K24 research training and career development grant.

Dr. Rundek has been an active member of a broader scientific community. She is a Section Editor of Stroke for Brain Health and serves on the Editorial Boards of several influential scientific journals including Neurology, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, and Cerebrovascular Diseases. She also serves on the NIH and other professional organization review study sections. She is a fellow of the American Heart Association (AHA). She is currently President of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) Vascular Testing Board of Directors, a US organization that accredits clinical nuclear/PET, MRI, CT, ultrasound, and carotid stenting programs. She is Immediate Past President of the Neurosonology Communities of Practice of the American Institute in Ultrasound in Medicine, the largest professional medical ultrasound organization in the US. In Florida, Dr. Rundek serves on the AHA South Florida Board and is a recipient of the prestigious AHA Cor Vitae for Stroke Award, In the Company of Women- Outstanding Woman in Science and Technology Miami-Dade award, and the Women in Academic Medicine Career Achievement Award.

Dr. Glenn E. Smith is a Professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida. He currently serves as contact PI of the 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. He served as department chair from 2015-2021. He is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. A board-certified neuropsychologist, Dr. Smith has been a practicing clinician for over 30 years and has authored or co-authored over 250 original articles, 14 book chapters, and 2 books on the neuropsychology of cognitive aging and dementia.