Pitt Psychiatry is pleased to feature the work of two talented early career faculty on March 7, 2025 as part of our Researchers on the Rise lecture series. Join us as we welcome Thomas Karikari, PhD and Swathi Gujral, PhD as our featured speakers.
Dr. Karikari is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Karikari’s research aims to further understand the molecular and biochemical basis of pathological brain changes that occur in Alzheimer’s patients, and to apply this knowledge to develop new biofluid-based diagnostic tools for clinical use. As a postdoctoral scholar, Dr. Karikari developed the most widely used and reliable blood test for Alzheimer’s disease to date, which reliably quantifies blood p-tau across all age groups to enable diagnosis and prognosis. In the Department of Psychiatry, he serves as director of the Mass Spectrometry Biomarker Laboratory and of the Single Molecule Array (SIMOA) Biomarker Program. He collaborates with multiple Pitt Psychiatry investigators in the field of Alzheimer’s disease research and leads the Fluid Biomarker Core of the recently renewed National Institute on Aging Alzheimer’s Program Project Grant
Dr. Gujral is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Gujral has specialty training in geriatric neuropsychology and behavioral medicine, and her clinical and research work focus on assessing and treating cognitive dysfunction and depression in older adults. Her long-term research goal is to optimize brain health in older adults with psychiatric and cognitive comorbidities using lifestyle interventions. Dr. Gujral is principal investigator of a National Institute of Mental Health-funded K23 career development award investigating the effects of aerobic exercise training on structural and functional brain abnormalities and cognitive functioning in those with late-life depression.
Join us in person in the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital Auditorium or via Zoom using the following information:
Zoom Link: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/96626965534
Passcode: 425774
For More Information. Please contact Shardai Key Ward at keysj4@upmc.edu.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS. The entirety of this program will be a lecture by the speaker(s). All individuals able to control the content of this educational activity are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with any proprietary entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services, used on, or consumed by, patients. Registration is not required for this event. This event is free and there will be no refunds. The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other health care professionals are awarded .15 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 1.5 contact hours. In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials which will be distributed at the time of the conference. WPH is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. WPH maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. This program is being offered for 1.5 continuing education credits. The indicated number of clock hours of continuing education is provided through UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s Office of Educational Resources and Planning, a PA-approved provider of social work continuing education in accordance with all the applicable educational and professional standards of the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist. These clock hours satisfy requirements for LSW/LCSW, LPC and LMFT renewal. For more information, call (412) 204-9085.
