Gillian Einstein

Gillian Einstein is a faculty member at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto,[1] and holder of the inaugural Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair in Women's Brain Health and Aging.[2]

Gillian Einstein
BornJune 1952
New York City
NationalityAmerican, Canadian
Alma materHarvard University, University of Pennsylvania
Scientific career
FieldsNeuroscience specializing in women's health
InstitutionsDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
ThesisThe Pattern of Synaptic Input from the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus to Layer IV, Area 17 of the Cat
Academic advisorsPeter Sterling
WebsiteOfficial website
Notes
Distant cousin of Albert Einstein

Early life and education

Einstein was born in New York City, US.[3] As her father was a member of the U.S. Air Force, her family moved between New York City, Texas and Massachusetts.[4] She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in the History of Art at Harvard University.[1] Einstein then earned her PhD in 1984, working on neuroanatomy at the University of Pennsylvania.[1][5]

Research and career

Einstein joined Duke University in 1989 as an assistant professor and moved to the Centre for Research on Women's Health at Women's College Hospital in 2004.[4]

In 2006, Einstein established the University of Toronto’s Collaborative Graduate Program in Women's Health (now known as the Collaborative Specialization in Women's Health).[6][7] This program is based at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and is affiliated with the Women's College Research Institute (based at the Women's College Hospital). Einstein led the program as a Director from 2006 to 2016.[6]

In 2007, Einstein edited Sex and the Brain for MIT Press.[8]

Einstein's work is focussed on women's health, specifically, the anatomy of the female brain.[4] With 72% of Canadian Alzheimer's sufferers being represented by women, Einstein explores why brain disorders like Alzheimer's disproportionately affect women.[9] Einstein's research looks at the relationship between early menopause and decreased estrogen levels, and how this may negatively affect cognition.[10][11] Further to the differences that gender may play on the human brain, Einstein further posits that the social and cultural context that accompanies being female or male can also have a significant effect on our biology.[4][10]

Einstein has been outspoken on the subject of gender disparity in clinical health research. She participated in the scientific discussion that led to the US National Institutes of Health to form policies requiring even gender distribution in cell and animal studies.[4]

In 2016, Einstein was awarded the inaugural Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair in Women's Brain Health and Aging.[2][12] This chair is supported through the Wilfred Posluns' Family Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alzheimer Society of Canada, and the Ontario Brain Institute.[13]

Personal life

Gillian Einstein is a distant cousin of Albert Einstein.[9]

References
  1. "Faculty member: Gillian Einstein". dlsph.utoronto.ca. Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  2. Jankovic, Jovana (14 March 2014). "Gillian Einstein leads research in women's brain health with inaugural Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair". Women's Brain Health Initiative. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  3. George, Meghan. "Gillian Einstein - Psychology's Feminist Voices". www.feministvoices.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  4. "Toronto neuroscientist tackling science, sex and sexism in women's health | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  5. Einstein, Gillian; Davis, Thomas L.; Sterling, Peter (1987-06-01). "Pattern of lateral geniculate synapses on neuron somata in layer IV of the cat striate cortex". The Journal of Comparative Neurology (in French). 260 (1): 76–86. doi:10.1002/cne.902600107. ISSN 0021-9967. PMID 3036913. S2CID 25960996.
  6. "About Us". www.dlsph.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  7. "Women's College Hospital - WCRI Provides Home to Graduate Program in Women's Health Research". www.womenscollegehospital.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  8. Einstein, Gillian (2007). Sex and the brain. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. ISBN 9780262050876.
  9. Allen, Kate (3 June 2017). "Toronto neuroscientist tackling science, sex and sexism in women's health". Toronto Star. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  10. Research, Government of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health (2018-01-09). "Why do more women develop Alzheimer's disease than men? - CIHR". www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-11-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. "Delving into the link between estrogen and dementia | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  12. "Gillian Einstein Leads Research in Women's Brain Health with Inaugural Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair". www.dlsph.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  13. "University of Toronto researcher receives The Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair in Women's Brain Health and Aging". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
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