Jinkook Lee

Dr. Jinkook Lee is a Research Professor of Economics and Director of the Global Aging, Health, and Policy Program at the Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California. Her research focuses on the economics of aging. She has spearheaded the development of large-scale, interdisciplinary population surveys, harmonized the data for cross-country and longitudinal analyses, and built accessible infrastructure for data sharing, such as the Gateway to Global Aging Data (www.g2aging.org). She also leads the Gateway Exposome Coordinating Center, which promotes the interdisciplinary study of how environmental exposures over one’s life span influence cognitive health. Her pioneering work in Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) research includes developing the Harmonized Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia for the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI-DAD) — which laid the groundwork for many cognitive aging and dementia studies, particularly in the Global South and low- and middle-income countries — as well as innovative research efforts that have deepened understanding of the complex interplay of AD/ADRD risk factors, ranging from biological markers to environmental exposome. In addition to her project leadership and research, she provides scientific advice for the World Health Organization, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank and serves on the editorial boards for several scientific journals. She received a Ph.D. from Ohio State University and a B.S. from Seoul National University and previously held a professorship at Ohio State University and the Pardee RAND Graduate School.