Elissa Epel, PhD

Elissa Epel, PhD

Elissa Epel, Ph.D, is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, at University of California, San Francisco. Her research aims to elucidate mechanisms of healthy aging, and to apply this basic science to scalable interventions that can reach vulnerable populations. She is the Director of the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Lab, and the Center for Obesity Assessment, Study, & Treatment, (COAST), and Associate Director of the Center for Health and Community. She studies psychological, social, and behavioral pathways underlying chronic psychological stress and stress resilience that impact cellular aging. She also studies the interconnections between stress, addiction, eating, and metabolic health. With her collaborators, she is conducting clinical trials to examine the effect of self regulation and mindfulness training programs on cellular aging, weight, diet, and glucose control. She leads or co-leads studies funded by NIH (NIA, NCCIH, NICHD, and NHLBI) including a Stress Network, and a UCOP multi-campus center on obesity. She is involved in NIH initiatives on role of stress in aging, and on reversibility of early life adversity, and Science of Behavior Change, and is on the Steering Council for Mind & Life Institute. 

Title: "How much can we control our cellular aging?  Telomeres, mental health, and healthspan"

Disclosures: None

Hosting Faculty: Jim Abelson, MD

CME Available: Yes