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Christopher G. Engeland
Professor of Biobehavioral Health
Summary Statement

Christopher Engeland is interested in how stress, age, gender, and hormones affect immunity, inflammation, and health. He has a particular interest in wound healing and surgical recovery, dementia, depression, and preterm birth.

Department
  • Biobehavioral Health - BBH
  • Research and Labs
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Education
  • University of Western Ontario, PhD, Behavioral Neuroscience, 2002
Currently Accepting Graduate Students
Phone
Email
Office Address
229 Biobehavioral Health
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
Fax
814-863-7525
Interests
  • Effects of stress, age, and sex on wound healing and inflammation (human, animal)
  • Stress, inflammation, cognitive aging, and dementia (human)
  • Inflammatory biomarkers and stress as predictors of preterm birth (human)
  • Inflammation and depression (human)
Professional Experience

Honors

  • 2021: Janet Williamson Award for Excellence in Training (Nursing)
  • 2016: Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health Best Research Article of the Year
  • 2013: Faculty Scholarship Award (Research)
  • 2004: 1st Place Postdoctoral Research
  • 2004, 2005: PNIRS Research Scholars Award
  • 1999, 2000, 2001: Accuscan SFN Research Award
  • 2000, 2001, 2002: IBNS Research Scholars Award
  • 1999-2001: Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology
  • 1999-2002: Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Grants and Research Projects

How factors such as stress, age, gender, and hormones affect immunity, inflammation, and health. I am particularly interested in tissue repair (mucosal and dermal wound healing). Also the feasibility of biomarkers for predicting health outcomes. I conduct both human and animal research.

Current Funded Research Projects

  • Einstein Aging Study 04/01/2022-03/31/2027
    • 1) P01 - Project Leader (Engeland, Graham-Engeland), Depression, inflammation, biological age, and cognitive function, Role: Project Leader (multiple)
    • 2) P01 - Core Leader (Engeland, Pavlovic), Biomarker Core, Role: Core Leader (multiple)
  • Integrative biobehavioral and psychosocial risk for cognitive decline in the elderly (Engeland, Graham-Engeland) 07/01/2018-3/31/2023, Role: PI (multiple)
  • Sex hormones, inflammation, and cognitive decline in older men and women 09/15/2019-05/31/2022, Role: PI (multiple)
  • Social stressors and inflammations: A mixed methods approach to preterm birth 01/06/2017-07/31/2022, Role: Co-I (PI at Penn State)
  • Stress, racism, and cardiovascular risk among urban African American adults: A multilevel, mixed methods approach 04/01/2021-03/31/2026, Role: Co-I (PI at Penn State)
  • Psychosocial and neighborhood mechanisms and consequences of Black-White sleep disparities on cognition 08/15/2021-07/31/2024, Role: Co-I
  • Elucidating the necessary components and mechanisms of cognitive training (ENACT) 09/30/2018-05/31/2021, Role: Co-I
  • A non-pharmacological multi-modal therapy to improve sleep and cognition and reduce mild cognitive impairment risk 06/01/2020-05/31/2022, Role: Co-I
  • Neural, Inflammatory and Behavioral Markers of Anhedonia in Treatment Resistant Depression 09/01/2019-08/31/2021, Role: Co-I
  • A neurobiological model of anticipatory anhedonia: The association of inflammation and reward circuitry dysfunction in treatment resistant depression 06/01/2020-06/30/2023, Role: Faculty Mentor/ Co-I
  • Brain-gut-genome profiling in connective tissue disorder-related gastrointestinal dysfunction 06/01/2022-05/31/2024, Role: Consultant

Previous Funded Research Projects

  • CTSI Bridges to Translation Award (Engeland) 11/01/2015 – 12/31/2016 $45,980 Penn State University. Hyperglycemia and impaired healing in medically complex surgical patients. Role: PI 
  • Inflammatory Mediators of Stress and Cognitive Aging. NIH (R01AG042595), 2012-2017. C. Engeland (MPI), J. Graham (MPI).
  • Feasibility of a Stress Reduction Intervention Study in Sickle Cell Disease. UIC Midwest Roybal Center for Health Promotion and Translation, 2014-2015. C. Engeland (Co-I).
  • Healthy Aging in a Changing Climate: Heat Wave Survival, Critical Biomarkers and Interventions. University of Sydney, 2015-2016. C. Engeland (Co-I).
Publications