Katherine D. Blizinsky
About Katherine D. Blizinsky
Katherine D. Blizinsky serves as the Policy Director for the All of Us Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, where she integrates research and policy to advance understanding of psychiatric and neurological conditions. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Northwestern University and has contributed to various research and policy roles throughout her career.
Work at National Institutes of Health
Katherine D. Blizinsky has been serving as the Policy Director for the All of Us Research Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2017. In this role, she focuses on integrating research and policy to advance health research and medical breakthroughs. Her tenure at NIH includes a previous position as a Research Fellow and Health Science Policy Analyst from 2016 to 2017. The All of Us Research Program aims to gather health data from diverse populations to improve health outcomes.
Education and Expertise
Katherine D. Blizinsky earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Neuroscience from Northwestern University, where she studied from 2008 to 2014. Prior to her PhD, she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Neurobiology from the University of Washington from 2001 to 2003. Additionally, she studied French Language and Literature at Université Paris-Sorbonne and Philosophy at Smith College. Her educational background supports her expertise in neurology and health policy.
Background in Research and Policy
Blizinsky has a diverse background in research and policy roles. She worked as a Research Associate at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in 2004 and as a Research Technician at the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute from 2007 to 2008. She also served as a Health and Science Policy Fellow at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions from 2015 to 2016, and as a Genetics and Public Policy Fellow at the National Human Genome Research Institute from 2014 to 2015.
Current Role at Rush University
In addition to her role at NIH, Katherine D. Blizinsky has been an Assistant Professor at Rush University since 2017. At the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, she contributes to research focused on Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions. Her dual roles in academia and policy allow her to bridge the gap between research findings and practical applications in health care.
Involvement in All of Us Research Program
Katherine D. Blizinsky has been involved in the All of Us Research Program since its early stages. This initiative is designed to accelerate health research and medical breakthroughs by collecting health data from a wide range of participants. Her work emphasizes the importance of integrating research with policy to enhance the understanding and treatment of psychiatric and neurological conditions.