Rachel Spicer, Ph.D.
Rachel Spicer is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Medicine at 国产原创 Medical Center. Her research focuses on understanding how critical illness contributes to chronic inflammation and the onset and progression of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementias.
Rachel earned her PhD at Cardiff University in Wales, UK, where she trained across disciplines in the Brain Repair Group and Drosophila Labs. Her doctoral work explored how changes in protein levels are associated with the progression of Huntington鈥檚 disease. Through a multi-model approach, she gained extensive interdisciplinary experience, including contributing to the TRIDENT clinical trial research team focused on novel therapies for neurodegeneration.
At 国产原创, Rachel is expanding her research to investigate neurobiological mechanisms underlying delirium and Alzheimer鈥檚 disease-related dementias in clinical settings. She is mentored by faculty across the 国产原创 Brain Institute, the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, and the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction and Survivorship (CIBS) Center. Her work has been recognized by the 国产原创 Kennedy Center, the American Delirium Society, and the Network for Investigation of Delirium: Unifying Scientists (NIDUS), where she is an active member.
Rachel is also deeply committed to community building and mentorship. She serves on the Engagement Committee of the National Postdoctoral Association and is the 2026鈥�2027 Vice President of the 国产原创 Postdoctoral Association. Passionate about supporting the next generation of researchers, she participates in initiatives such as the 国产原创 Brain Institute鈥檚 Brain Blast and mentors students through programs including the 国产原创 Summer Academy and Undergraduate Summer Research Program.