Departmental Affiliations
Christine Ladd-Acosta, PhD, studies how genes and the environment contribute to health outcomes, including neuropsychiatric disorders, and identifies intervention targets.
Contact Info
Research Interests
autism spectrum disorder; epigenetic epidemiology; genetic epidemiology; environmental epigenomics; child health; gene-environment interaction; prenatal; environmental exposures; biomarkers; neurodevelopment; mental health; pregnancy
Experiences & Accomplishments
Dr. Ladd-Acosta is Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Mental Health. She serves as the Vice Director at the Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities and Associate Director for epigenomic analysis at the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes, Data Analysis Center (ECHO-DAC).
Dr. Ladd-Acosta is recognized for her contributions to the fields of epigenetic epidemiology, autism spectrum and neuropsychiatric disorders, and environmental epigenomics. Her research findings have been recognized as 2 of the top 20 scientific advances in the field of autism research by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (IACC) and she also received a 2016 Environmental Research paper of the year award. She currently leads several federally funded research projects to investigate: (a) epigenomic changes associated with socio-environmental stressors, and their contribution to health outcomes and disparities, (b) genetic, environmental, and epigenetic risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders, including their interplay, and (c) the development of epigenetic biomarkers
In addition to her research goals, Dr. Ladd-Acosta is dedicated to training the next generation of researchers through mentorship and classroom activities. She is the Director of the Genetic Epidemiology track and her mentees currently lead successful research-based careers in both the private industry and academic settings. Her courses consistently receiving outstanding ratings and she received the 2021 Advising, Mentoring & Teaching Recognition Award (AMTRA) given by the Johns Hopkins Student Association for outstanding mentoring and teaching service. She currently serves as Preceptor for several training programs including the Maryland Genetics, Epidemiology and Medicine (MD-GEM), Cancer T32, and Psychiatric Epidemiology T32 (PET) training programs and co-mentors or advises junior faculty on their mentored awards.
Honors & Awards
2023 Excellence in Teaching, Introduction to Omics in Public Health
2023 Excellence in Teaching, Genetic Epidemiologic Seminars in Current Research and Methodology
2021 Advising, Mentoring & Teaching Recognition Award (AMTRA)
2021 Excellence in Teaching, Introduction to Omics in Public Health
2020 Excellence in Teaching, Introduction to Omics in Public Health
2020 Excellence in Teaching, Principles of Genetic Epidemiology 2
2019 Excellence in Teaching, Principles of Genetic Epidemiology 2
2017 2 of top 20 advances in autism research by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
2017 Best Original Article 2016, Environmental Research
2016 Excellence in Teaching, Principles of Genetic Epidemiology 4
2014 Excellence in Teaching, Principles of Genetic Epidemiology 4
2009 Mette Strand Young Investigator Research Award, Johns Hopkins University