Assistant Professor
Center for Health Aging Research, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research
Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
edmarie.guzmanvelez@rutgers.edu
Dr. Guzmán-Vélez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a Resident Member of the Institute for Health (IFH) Center for Health Aging Research (CHAR). She is also a licensed neuropsychologist. Dr. Guzmán-Vélez earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology from the University of Iowa in 2016, under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Tranel. She completed her Clinical Psychology Internship Program at the Boston VA. Following her doctoral training, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Multicultural Alzheimer Prevention Program at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School, directed by Dr. Yakeel Quiroz. Her research focused on testing sensitive neuropsychological tests to detect early pathological changes in Presenilin-1 E280A mutation carriers with familial Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and using plasma biomarkers and neuroimaging techniques to identify those in the preclinical stage of AD. In 2019, Dr. Guzmán-Vélez was awarded a NIA K23 grant to investigate how physical activity and fitness relate to the progression of preclinical AD and to explore underlying mechanisms. She was promoted to Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School in 2022, where she expanded her research to study the neurological impact and dementia risk associated with long COVID. She is the Principal Investigator of a clinical trial examining whether nicotinamide riboside supplementation improves NAD⁺ metabolism and supports recovery from cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and systemic symptoms in individuals with long COVID. Until 2025, she also served as a staff neuropsychologist at the MGH Multicultural Assessment and Research Center. Her work has been recognized through numerous honors and awards. Dr. Guzmán-Vélez’s research has been supported by the NIH, MGH awards, the McCance Center for Brain Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, and industry partners.
In parallel with her accomplishments in research and clinical practice, Dr. Guzmán-Vélez has established herself as a leader in efforts that aim to increase the representation and inclusion of minoritized groups in STEAM. She co-founded InnovaSTEAM PR, Inc, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing academic and professional resources to students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in STEM careers. She also co-directs the InnovaSTEAM Precollege Summer Program, a collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
She has also contributed to several NIH-funded training initiatives, including serving as a co-investigator on the LINC (Large-scale Imaging of Neural Circuits) Fellows and High School Summer Camp Programs. Over the years, she has mentored numerous students, many of whom have gone on to graduate school and postdoctoral training. In addition, Dr. Guzmán-Vélez served for three years on the Board of Directors and Science/Medical Advisory Committee of the Alzheimer’s Association New England chapter. Her contributions to education and the community has earned her multiple recognitions, including being named as Boston Latino 30 under 30 in 2019, an ALX100 honoree in 2023, and inclusion in the Atlas of Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists in 2024.
In October 2025, Dr. Guzmán-Vélez joined Rutgers University, where she is launching a cutting-edge research program focused on culturally-sensitive, interdisciplinary observational and intervention studies. Her work aims to address brain health and dementia risk in diverse populations, with particular interest in: 1) Identifying midlife risk factors for AD and related dementias; 2) Understanding the pathophysiology and mechanisms underlying long COVID-related neurological symptoms; 3) Testing interventions that can improve brain health and cognition.