Maheen Mausoof Adamson, Ph.D.

Dr. Maheen Mausoof Adamson is the Director for Research in Women’s Operational Military Exposure Network Center of Excellence (WOMEN CoE), Senior Scientist in Rehabilitation Department at VA Palo Alto Healthcare System and Clinical Professor (Affiliated) in Neurosurgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.

As Director of Research at the national WOMEN CoE, Dr. Adamson is responsible for investigating the impact of Military Environmental Exposures (MEE) on women Veteran’s health (particularly reproductive health, cancers, infertility, autoimmune, and cardiovascular issues). She has been a leader in identifying sex differences in brain injury, particularly in the Veteran population.

After finishing undergraduate degrees in Biology and Women's Studies at UC Irvine, she went to complete a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Southern California, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. She has a Master’s in Healthcare Leadership from Brown University and is a Faculty Fellow of Byers Biodesign at Stanford University.

As the Principal Investigator of the Adamson Lab, Dr. Adamson is striving to decipher the underlying factors associated with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Alzheimer’s disease, pain, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and cognitive aging. For patients with complex physical, neurological, and psychiatric health histories an accurate diagnosis is a critical first step in their recovery journey. As a global leader in neuroimaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neuromodulation, and related biomarkers, Dr. Adamson is using her expertise to translate innovative diagnostic tools and treatments into clinical care. In addition, by partnering with various academic institutions, VHA and DOD the Adamson lab is developing and testing the efficacy of innovative treatments such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, virtual reality and, very recently, low-intensity focused ultrasound.

The Adamson lab has a strong commitment to bench to bedside translational research and rehabilitation. She is also intricately involved in mentoring research postdoctoral fellows and clinical residents in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Psychiatry & Neurosurgery Departments at Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Adamson is a passionate advocate for health equality, accessibility to care, and minority groups where she continuously presents epidemiological research on gender differences in TBI to policy leaders.

The Adamson Lab is involved in a range of studies for TBI, AD, Depression, Pain and Women’s Health:

• A non-invasive treatment (rTMS) to improve memory, attention, and focus following a TBI.
• A non-medication (rTMS) treatment for Gulf War Veterans with headaches and joint pain.
• Therapeutic ultrasound and hypnosis for the treatment of headaches in Veterans with TBI.
• Creating a map of the brain to understand where impairments to memory and attention may be located.
• A range of biomarker studies with women’s health related outcomes.
• Recently funded NIA study to leverage consanguinity to understand genetic architecture of Alzheimer ’s disease – An ENIGMA-Pak study.

For additional information, to participate in research, or to support our research contact Gina Piehl at Gina.Piehl@va.gov