Our Faculty

Joseph H. Lee, DrPH, studies the biology of aging traits in several unique populations in different parts of the world. To this end, he has three major areas of research. First, Dr. Lee and colleagues are studying large Caribbean Hispanic families with multiple affected relatives to identify genes for Alzheimer disease (AD). In addition to his work on late onset AD, he is focusing on early onset AD which is rare and has a strong genetic component. To identify novel AD genes, he applies genome-wide linkage and association, re-sequencing, gene expression, and functional genetic approaches. Dr. Lee has contributed to the identification and characterization of the SORL1 gene in late onset AD. Second, he and colleagues are examining the role of gene-environment interaction in common diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis. For this purpose, he is studying ethnic Koreans living in Kazakhstan and Korea, who share the same genetic background, but are exposed to disparate environments. He is extending this approach to two other ethnic groups in Kazakhstan and surrounding countries. Third, Dr. Lee is studying how genetic factors contribute to accelerated aging in humans by examining subjects with Down syndrome. In addition, he is involved in several family studies of common diseases, examining populations in the U.S., Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, Korea, Venezuela and Honduras.

DrPH, Columbia University, 1996

MPH, University of California at Berkeley, 1985

BS, University of California at Irvine, 1983

University Affiliations:

• Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons
• Taub Institute, College of Physicians and Surgeons

Additional Affiliations:

• Member, American Society of Human Genetics
• Member, International Society of Genetic Epidemiology
• Member, Human Genome Organization
• Member, American Association of Anthropological Genetics
• Affiliate Member, American Academy of Neurology
• Member, International Society of Psychiatric Genetics

Genetic epidemiology of aging traits in ethnic Koreans
The major aim of this study is to compare ethnic Koreans in Kazakhstan with those in China and Korea to understand genetic and environmental factors that influence normal variations in aging traits.

Countries: China; Kazakhstan; Korea, South

Genetic epidemiology of early onset Alzheimer disease (AD)
The goal of this study is to examine families that have multiple early onset AD to identify novel genetic variants, and also to identify genetic modifiers that alter age at onset of AD in individuals who carry an PSEN1 mutation.

Countries: Dominican Republic; Puerto Rico

Genetic epidemiology of telomere
The goal of this study is to understand the biology of aging by identifying risk factors that are associated with telomere length, which is a surrogate for cellular aging.

Countries: China; Kazakhstan; Korea, South; United States