Kelly M. Bakulski
· Associate Professor, EpidemiologyUniversity of Michigan · Epidemiology
Active 2009–2026
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About
Kelly M. Bakulski, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her research team aims to understand the environmental and genetic etiologies of neurological disorders, promoting rigorous science and the development of scientific expertise. Dr. Bakulski is an environmental health scientist with expertise in life course heavy metals exposure testing related to neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. She is also a molecular epidemiologist with experience analyzing across multiple levels of the genome, including the epigenome and transcriptome. Her research incorporates population approaches and laboratory experiments to develop biomarkers and cell type tools that inform molecular epidemiology inferences. Her research projects focus on the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias from perinatal lead exposure, evaluating the effects on brain regions and cell types, and understanding how early life lead exposures impact lifelong brain health. She is involved in the Study of the Environment and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (SEAD), which evaluates modifiable environmental exposures such as lead and cadmium to advance understanding of dementia etiology and inform prevention strategies. Additionally, her work includes studying DNA methylation, genetics, and modifiable risk factors of dementia in diverse populations, as well as assessing toxicant-induced disruptions in gestational tissues…
Research topics
- Genetics
- Biology
- Medicine
- Bioinformatics
- Computational biology
- Internal medicine
- Immunology
- Psychology
- Cell biology
- Chemistry
Selected publications
Heavy Metals Exposure and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Journal of Alzheimer s Disease · 2020 · 327 citations
1st authorCorrespondingAlzheimer's disease and related dementias lack effective treatment or cures and are major public health challenges. Risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is partially attributable to environmental factors. The heavy metals lead, cadmium, and manganese are widespread and persistent in our environments. Once persons are exposed to these metals, they are adept at entering cells and reaching the brain. Lead and cadmium are associated with numerous health outcomes even at low levels of e…
Genome Medicine · 2020 · 88 citations
BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with complex heritability and higher prevalence in males. The neonatal epigenome has the potential to reflect past interactions between genetic and environmental factors during early development and influence future health outcomes. METHODS: We performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of 152 umbilical cord blood samples from the MARBLES and EARLI high-familial risk prospective cohorts to identify an epigenomic signatu…
Saliva cell type DNA methylation reference panel for epidemiological studies in children
Epigenetics · 2021 · 83 citations
Senior authorCorresponding), a key process for hard palette formation. Saliva immune and epithelial cells have distinct DNA methylation profiles which can drive whole-saliva DNA methylation measures. A primary saliva DNA methylation reference panel, easily implemented with an R package, will allow estimates of cell proportions from whole saliva samples and improve epigenetic epidemiology studies by accounting for measurement heterogeneity by cell-type proportions.
Cell Types in Environmental Epigenetic Studies: Biological and Epidemiological Frameworks
Current Environmental Health Reports · 2020 · 55 citations
Senior authorCorrespondingEnvironmental Research · 2020 · 35 citations
Senior authorCorresponding
Recent grants
NIH · $1.7M · 2017–2024
NIH · $3.8M · 2020–2027
Frequent coauthors
- 134 shared
M. Daniele Fallin
Emory University
- 130 shared
John Dou
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
- 93 shared
Kelly S. Benke
Johns Hopkins University
- 89 shared
Erin B. Ware
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
- 81 shared
Irva Hertz‐Picciotto
University of California, Davis
- 75 shared
Rebecca J. Schmidt
Cohort (United Kingdom)
- 68 shared
Jason I. Feinberg
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
- 60 shared
Heather E. Volk
Johns Hopkins University
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