As the developer of OpenMx, a globally-adopted statistical modeling package for analyses of continuous, ordinal and binary data, especially data from relatives. The versatile open source software has been downloaded around 2 million times. I have collaborated and coauthored articles with MPI Dr. Gillespie for over 25 years. I bring extensive expertise in statistical genetic modeling to the VETSA Wave 5 project. Our 20-year partnership with the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA) has produced over 25 co-authored publications with collaborators, including a landmark study mapping genetic correlations of the human cortex (Chen et al., 2012, Science), which advanced ADRD-related neuroimaging research. With over 500 peer-reviewed publications, an h-index of 107 (ISI), and awards like the James Shields Award for twin studies, my methodological innovations have shaped genetic epidemiology.
Dr. Gillespie and I have analyzed high-dimensional longitudinal data, including VETSA’s NULISA biomarker panel and neuroimaging measures, to uncover causal pathways and heterogeneity in ADRD risk factors, delivering high-impact results. My expertise in Mendelian randomization, extended through novel twin-design and longitudinal integrations (Minica et al., 2018), directly supports Aim 1’s causal association tests between ADRD risk factors and late-life outcomes. For Aim 2, I will develop advanced models to evaluate heterogeneity, including pathology levels (2B) and early-life influences from age 20 (2D), leveraging OpenMx’s matrix algebra and numerical optimization for rapid, robust analysis of complex datasets. Our joint work on longitudinal twin models ensures precise handling of VETSA’s multi-decade data.
Our Leadership Plan, refined over decades of collaboration, ensures seamless MPI coordination and analytical precision. Our 25-year partnership, proven through consistent delivery of groundbreaking analyses, guarantees that we will achieve VETSA Wave 5’s aims, advancing ADRD research through impactful publications and presentations.
I have worked at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia since 1986. Since 2002 I have also been Professor of Statistical Methods for Behavioral Genetics at the Free University of Amsterdam.
Website: https://medschool.vcu.edu/about/portfolio/details/neale/
