Biography

Dr. Rubin is a cognitive neuroscientist and epidemiologist whose work is deeply rooted in advancing brain health—particularly cognition and mental health—among vulnerable populations, both in the U.S. and globally. With over 15 years of experience leading NIH-funded research, she has dedicated her career to understanding the patterns, predictors, and mechanisms of brain health disorders, with a particular focus on individuals living with HIV and those affected by long COVID. She currently leads the Johns Hopkins Brain Health Program, a multidisciplinary initiative at the forefront of clinical translational research. This program brings together experts in clinical and translational research, data science and mathematical modeling, and molecular and translational immunology—all united in their mission to optimize brain health and reduce the stigma associated with brain health disorders. In the field of NeuroHIV, Dr. Rubin also co-directs the Johns Hopkins Center for the Advancement of HIV Neurotherapeutics, which focuses on investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying brain health disorders in people with HIV and translating these discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies. In addition to her leadership roles, Dr. Rubin is an active collaborator in several major cohort studies, including the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study and CHARTER.