Bizu Gelaye, Ph.D.

Bizu Gelaye, Ph.D., is a senior investigator and chief of the Epidemiology Branch in the Division of Population Health Research. His research focuses on: understanding the role preconception and perinatal psychosocial exposures (e.g., trauma exposure) play in shaping short- and long-term maternal and offspring health outcomes; studying how biological, molecular, environmental, social, and structural factors impact prematurity, particularly among racial and ethnic groups; and identifying evidence-based solutions that promote health equity and improve outcomes in maternal and child health through prevention, early diagnostics, therapeutics, and/or policy change. 

Before joining NICHD, Dr. Gelaye was a faculty member in the departments of epidemiology and psychiatry at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts General Hospital. 

Dr. Gelaye received his doctoral and master’s degrees in epidemiology from the University of Washington School of Public Health in Seattle.

Selected Publications

Association between trauma exposure and glucocorticosteroid concentration in hair during pregnancy. 
Kelsall NC, Sanchez SE, Rondon MB, Valeri L, Juvinao-Quintero D, Kirschbaum C, Koenen KC, Gelaye B.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2023 May;151:106072. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106072. Epub 2023 Feb 23.

Psychometric properties of the mini international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) psychosis module: a Sub-Saharan Africa cross country comparison. 
Korte KJ, Jaguga F, Kim HH, Stroud RE, Stevenson A, Akena D, Atwoli L, Gichuru S, James R, Kwobah E, Kariuki SM, Kyebuzibwa J, Mwema RM, Newton CRJC, Zingela Z, Stein DJ, Alemayehu M, Teferra S, Koenen KC, Gelaye B.
Psychol Med. 2023 Nov;53(15):7042-7052. doi: 10.1017/S0033291723000296. Epub 2023 Mar 10.

SARS-CoV-2 morbidity and mortality in racial/ethnic minority populations: A window into the stress related inflammatory basis of health disparities?
Gelaye B, Foster S, Bhasin M, Tawakol A, Fricchione G.
Brain Behav Immun Health. 2020 Dec;9:100158. doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100158. Epub 2020 Oct 8.

Polygenic prediction and GWAS of depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation/self-harm in a Peruvian cohort. 
Shen H, Gelaye B, Huang H, Rondon MB, Sanchez S, Duncan LE.
Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020 Sep;45(10):1595-1602. doi: 10.1038/s41386-020-0603-5. Epub 2020 Jan 11.

Epidemiology of maternal depression, risk factors, and child outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries. 
Gelaye B, Rondon MB, Araya R, Williams MA.
Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 Oct;3(10):973-982. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30284-X. Epub 2016 Sep 17.