.APPOINTMENTS .

Carlos Montezuma Professor, Department of Anthropology
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
Senior Fellow, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research

 CONTACT .
Email: t-mcdade(at)northwestern.edu

Phone: 847-467-4304
Office: 1810 Hinman Ave., Rm 202

 

 EDUCATION .
Ph.D. Anthropology. Emory University, Atlanta, GA
B.A. Biosocial anthropology. Pomona College, Claremont, CA

 

 RESEARCH INTERESTS .

I am a biological anthropologist and human biologist, and my research investigates how social, cultural, and ecological contexts shape human development, physiological function, and health. Much of this work focuses on the long-term effects of early environments, the causes and consequences of health disparities, and the integration of biological measures into community- and population-based research settings. I am the director of the Laboratory for Human Biology Research, and of Cells to Society (C2S): The Center on Social Disparities and Health.

 

 PROJECTS .

Social epigenetics and the embodiment of early environments. Epigenetic processes are responsive to experiences during development and play important roles in regulating gene expression. A focus on epigenetics in community-based studies encourages us to reconceptualize the human genome as a dynamic substrate that incorporates information from the environment to alter its structure and function—an approach that moves beyond simplistic “nature vs. nurture” and “DNA as destiny” metaphors. Several studies are investigating epigenetic signatures of socioeconomic adversity early in life, epigenetic modifications to inflammatory genes as a mechanism linking early environments with inflammation in adulthood, and the social and ecological factors that predict gene expression during pregnancy.

Pathways linking social disparities, inflammation, and health within and across generations. Inflammation is an important part of normal immune function, but excessive or chronic activation of inflammation contributes to adverse birth outcomes, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic degenerative diseases. I am conducting research in the United States and the Philippines that investigates the social and developmental factors that shape the regulation of inflammation. Recent papers have documented significant impacts of stress, breastfeeding duration, birth weight, and microbial exposures in infancy on inflammation in adulthood. 

Human ecological immunology. Building on a series of theoretical papers, I am conducting analyses with data from studies in Bolivia, Ecuador, the Philippines, and the US which demonstrate the importance of ecological factors—particularly early in life—in shaping the development and function of the human immune system. Life history theory provides a framework for testing hypotheses regarding tradeoffs in immune development and function. In addition, these studies provide opportunities for investigating the impact of social, economic, and cultural transitions on health in remote populations.


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS .

For a complete and up-to-date list of publications please visit my Google Scholar page

  1. 2022 McDade, T.W. and K.M. Harris. From society to cells and back again: New opportunities for discovery at the biosocial interface. Discover Social Science and Health 2:
  2. 2022 McDade, T.W., Sancilio, A., D’Aquila, R.T., Mustanski, B., Vaught, L.A., Reiser, N.L., Velez, M.E., Hsieh, R.R., Ryan, D.T., Saber, R., McNally, E.M. and A.R. Demonbreun. Low levels of neutralizing antibodies following natural infection with SARS-CoV-2 in a community-based serological study. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 9: ofac055.
  3. 2021 McDade, T.W., Miller, A., Tran, T.T., Borders, A.E. and G. Miller. A highly sensitive multiplex immunoassay for inflammatory cytokines in dried blood spots. American Journal of Human Biology 33: e23558.
  4. 2021 McDade, T.W. and S.M. Koning. Early origins of socioeconomic inequalities in chronic inflammation: Evaluating the contributions of low birth weight and short breastfeeding. Social Science & Medicine 269: 113592.
  5. 2021 McDade, T.W., Meyer, J.M., Koning, S.M. and K.M. Harris. Body mass and the epidemic of chronic inflammation in early mid-adulthood. Social Science & Medicine 281: 114059
  6. 2021 McDade, T.W., Aronoff, J.E., Leigh, A.K.K., Finegood, E.D., Weissman-Tsukamoto, R.M.,Brody, G.H. and G.E. Miller. Out of the laboratory and into the field: Validation of portable cell culture protocols. Psychosomatic Medicine 83 (3): 283-290.
  7. 2019 McDade, T.W., Ryan, C.P., Jones, M.J., Hoke, M.K., Borja, J., Miller, G.E., Kuzawa, C.W. and M.S. Kobor. Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in relation to socioeconomic status during development and early adulthood. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 169: 3-11.
  8. 2017 McDade, T.W., Ryan, C., Jones, M.J., MacIsaac, J.L., Meyer, J.M., Morin, A.M., Borja, J.E., Miller, G.E., Kobor, M.S., and C.W. Kuzawa. Social and physical environments early in development predict DNA methylation of inflammatory genes in young adulthood. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114: 7611-7616.
  9. 2014 McDade, T.W., Metzger, M., Chyu, L, Garfield, C. and G. Duncan. Long term effects of birth weight and breastfeeding duration on inflammation in early adulthood. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B 281: 20133116.
  10. 2012 McDade, T.W. Early environments and the ecology of inflammation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109: 17281-8.
  11. 2012 McDade, T.W., Tallman, P.S., Madimenos, F.C., Liebert, M.A., Cepon, T.J., Sugiyama, L.S. and J.J. Snodgrass. Analysis of variability of high sensitivity C-reactive protein in lowland Ecuador reveals no evidence of chronic low-grade inflammation. American Journal of Human Biology 5: 675-81.
  12. 2007 McDade, T.W., Williams, S., and J.J. Snodgrass. What a drop can do: Dried blood spots as a minimally-invasive method for integrating biomarkers into population-based research. Demography 44: 899-925.
  13. 2003 McDade, T.W. Life history theory and the immune system: Steps toward a human ecological immunology. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 46: 100-125.