Celina Irinea Valencia, DrPH

Dr. Valencia investigates how chronic stress leaves its mark on the body and accelerates biological aging. Through a social epigenomics lens, she explores how inflammation reshapes epigenetic signatures in ways that can shorten health span and searches for strategies to prevent it. Blending genomics, the biology of aging and cutting-edge data science, Dr. Valencia is developing bold, cross-disciplinary strategies to extend healthy years of life.

As a principal investigator or co-principal investigator, Dr. Valencia leads and collaborates on several multidisciplinary projects, including the MINDA Study with the NIA Oklahoma Nathan Shock Center for Excellence in Basic Biology of Aging, the IBISA Study supported by the University of Arizona Health Sciences Career Development Award and the NIGMS Rising Stars Program. She also spearheads translational research on how neighborhood environments shape health.