Faculty Profile

Edward Ruiz-Narvaez

Edward A Ruiz-Narvaez, ScD, MS

  • Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Dr. Ruiz-Narvaez is interested in the elucidation of the interplay between genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors on relation to different complex diseases and phenotypes. Specifically, his research has focused on identification of genetic risk variants for diverse health outcomes such as breast cancer, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, with particular emphasis in African American women. Dr. Ruiz-Narvaez is also investigating how exposure to chronic psychosocial stress may contribute to the burden of disease in minority populations. In particular, he is researching how chronic stress may affect health through its effects on the epigenome. As part of his international research, Dr. Ruiz-Narvaez is using data of the Costa Rica Longevity and Health Aging Study (CRELES), a population-based study of life-course experiences of older Costa Ricans, to examine determinants of the observed extended longevity in the Costa Rican population.

  • ScD, Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, 2006
  • MS, Human Genetics, University of Costa Rica, San Jose Costa Rica, 1999
  • Lic, Biology, University of Costa Rica, San Jose Costa Rica, 1995

Research Interests:
Genetics of chronic diseases, burden of disease in minority populations, aging, social epigenomics

Research Projects:
Dr. Ruiz-Narvaez is collaborating with investigators of the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS) to examine how chronic psychosocial stress may affect the epigenome.
Dr. Ruiz-Narvaez is using data from the Costa Rica Longevity and Health Aging Study (CRELES), a population-based study of life-course experiences of older Costa Ricans, to examine determinants of the observed extended longevity in the Costa Rican population.

Wu Y, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L, Ruiz-Narvaez EA. Admixture mapping of anthropometric traits in the Black Women's Health Study: evidence of a shared African ancestry component with birth weight and type 2 diabetes. J Hum Genet. 2022 Jun;67(6):331-338. doi: 10.1038/s10038-022-01010-7. Epub 2022 Jan 12. PMID: 35017682.

Ruiz-Narvaez EA, Baylin A, Azofeifa J, Leal A, Rosero-Bixby L. Diet and Leukocyte Telomere Length in a Population with Extended Longevity: The Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES). Nutrients. 2021 Jul 28;13(8):2585. doi: 10.3390/nu13082585. PMID: 34444746; PMCID: PMC8401744.

Castro-Webb N, Cozier YC, Barbhaiya M, Ruiz-Narvaez EA, Li S, Costenbader KH, Rosenberg L. Association of macronutrients and dietary patterns with risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in the Black Women's Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Oct 4;114(4):1486-1494. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab224. PMID: 34225359; PMCID: PMC8488878.

Ruiz-Narvaez EA. Genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes and its shared genetic component with low birth weight in African Americans. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2021 Jul 1;24(4):326-332. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000757. PMID: 33883416.

Zhao W, Smith JA, Bielak LF, Ruiz-Narvaez EA, Yu M, Hood MM, Peyser PA, Kardia SLR, Harlow SD. Associations between polygenic risk score for age at menarche and menopause, reproductive timing, and serum hormone levels in multiple race/ethnic groups. Menopause. 2021 Apr 19;28(7):819-828. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001775. PMID: 33878091; PMCID: PMC8225555.

Bacon KL, Stuver SO, Cozier YC, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L, Ruiz-Narvaez EA. Perceived racism and incident diabetes in the Black Women's Health Study. Diabetologia. 2017 Nov;60(11):2221-2225. doi: 10.1007/s00125-017-4400-6. Epub 2017 Aug 15. PMID: 28812096; PMCID: PMC5817630.

Email: [email protected]
Office: 734-647-0623
Fax: 734-936-7283
Address: 1860 SPH I, 1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

For media inquiries: [email protected] 

Areas of Expertise: Aging,  Chronic Disease,  Genetics,  Nutrition