CV Science

Karen Ritchie PhD Epidemiology

Course and current status

BSc Clinical Psychology, University of Tasmania 1971

MPsych Neuropsychology, University of Tasmania 1977

PhD Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montpellier 1992

Research fellow with the Health Services Evaluation Unit, University of Oxford (Sir Richard Doll) and the Social Psychiatry Research Unit, MRC Australia (Professor Scott Henderson). Following 5 years as head of department of Neuropsychology, Calvary Hospital, Canberra and a two year posting as Principal Investigator of an NIH Epidemiological Project in Jerusalem, Research Director with the French National Institute of Medical Research (INSERM), directing Research Unit 1061(Epidemiology and Clinical Research into Nervous System Pathologies). Former member of the Advisory Council of the Director General of INSERM (CORES 2000-2009), the Scientific Board of the University of Montpellier, and the Board of Directors of the International Psychogeriatric Association. She is currently a Board member of the European Institute of Women’s Health, and member of the Editorial Board of the following journals: Dementia, International Psychogeriatrics, Psychogeriatrics, International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Gerontology. Since 2010 Honorary Professor, Dept of Public Health, Imperial College, London.

Scientific summary

Current scientific activities :

The development of etiological models of cognitive decline for the detection of potentially reversible risk factors

Exploration of putative mid-life biomarkers for persons at risk of late-life neurodegeneration

Development of populaiton intervention strategies to reduce dementia incidence

Risk factors for late-life depression