Head, The Herczeg Institute on Aging, Tel Aviv University

Head, PhD program, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

My current research includes epidemiology of stroke, brain health at old age, dementia, cognitive decline, and aging research. During the last 25 years, I have conducted studies focused on trends in stroke incidence and mortality, primary and secondary prevention of stroke, and physical and cognitive outcomes after stroke. Since the establishment of the triennial National Acute Stroke Israeli (NASIS) registry in 2004, as a member of the registry's steering and publications committees, I have carried out studies aimed at characterizing stroke at a national level. These studies, based on national unselected data on hospitalized stroke, provide both clinicians and health policy makers with information required for optimizing prevention strategies and care of stroke patients.

My research in the area of brain health at old age has been emphasized since October 2020, following my appointment as Head of the Herczeg Institute on Aging at TAU. The Herczeg Institute is directed jointly by the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Social Sciences and fosters multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research on aging.  

At Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, first as visiting faculty and in the last years as Adjunct Professor in Epidemiology, I analyze the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study data during regular visits and Sabbaticals at the Department of Epidemiology and the Welch Center. I have led and authored several ARIC research papers, published in high-impact journals.

In 2018, I planned and initiated the Stroke Severity in ARIC Study, aimed at adding to the large and comprehensive ARIC Neurocognitive Study data on stroke severity, a main predictor of stroke outcome. I conduct this project since its establishment and supervise the study physicians that collect stroke severity data from medical charts of ARIC participants.