Healthspan Lab Director
Emma K. Stapp (GWSPH, Epidemiology)
Dr. Emma K. Stapp’s (PI, Healthspan Lab) is a psychiatric epidemiologist and Assistant Research Professor of Epidemiology and affiliated faculty in the GW Institute for Brain Health and Dementia. She completed her PhD and MHS at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore, MD, and postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health in the Intramural Research Program in Bethesda, MD.
Dr. Stapp’s main research interests are the fundamental processes influencing the development, maintenance versus recovery, and consequences of neuropsychiatric conditions, and, increasingly, both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions to promote recovery and prevent or reduce excess morbidity and mortality at the intersection of mind and bodily health.
Accordingly, Dr. Stapp’s long-range vision is 1) to contribute to the restoration of healthspan of persons experiencing or at risk for mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, and 2) to generate insights and scalable approaches to reduce mental and physical suffering due to neuropsychiatric dysregulation more broadly in the population.
Healthspan Lab Staff and Trainees
Bernice ThambiRaja, Research Program Coordinator
Bernice ThambiRaja is a passionate advocate for public health and evidence-based research, currently making her mark as a Research Program Coordinator in the Healthspan Lab. Born in Kwantan, Malaysia and brought up in Muscat, Oman, Bernie’s upbringing was marked by a rich tapestry of cultures, having lived in various countries across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Bernie graduated with highest honors, summa cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where they majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Building upon her strong foundation in biological sciences, Bernie pursued a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Epidemiology at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University (GWU). Their commitment to advancing public health and addressing global health challenges is evident in her academic pursuits and professional endeavors. In their role as a research program coordinator and, before that, an evidence synthesis research assistant, Bernie combines her scientific acumen with her passion for improving health outcomes. She plays a vital role in facilitating research projects, synthesizing evidence, and contributing to the development of strategies to tackle pressing public health issues.
Lauren Chatfield, Mood-CPET Graduate Research Assistant
Lauren Chatfield, a native of Lexington, KY, is deeply passionate about public health and behavioral neuroscience. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Centre College. She is pursuing her Master of Public Health degree at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, with an emphasis on Epidemiology. As a HRSA Public Health Scholar, Lauren is dedicated to advancing her knowledge and skills in addressing public health challenges. Her research interests include substance use disorders, addiction behaviors, rural health, psychiatric epidemiology, and mood disorders. With hands-on experience in rural healthcare and substance abuse recovery, Lauren is committed to making meaningful contributions to public health initiatives with compassion and scientific inquiry. Lauren is a research assistant for the Mood-CPET study.
Akhilesh Jakhete, Mood-CPET and Evidence Synthesis Practicum Research Assistant
Lab Alumni
Fernando Hern Munoz, Evidence Synthesis Practicum Research Assistant