Thaddeus Pace, PhD

Dr. Pace studies biological mechanisms linking psychological stress to illness, and novel ways to combat stress to promote optimal health.  He is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Medicine at Emory, and also a member of the Neuroscience faculty in the Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences of Emory's Laney Graduate School. Dr. Pace received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder for his studies on brain regulation of the cortisol response to psychological stress. His work at Emory explores endocrine and immune system changes in people who suffer from stress-related psychiatric illness, including major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. He has also studied endocrine and inflammatory immune alterations as a result of adverse early life experiences. Informed by this work, Dr. Pace investigates the effectiveness of novel contemplative interventions to optimize psychological, inflammatory immune, and endocrine responses to stress including Compassion Meditation (in collaboration with Emory's Dr. Lobsang Tenzin Negi).  He is also interested in novel, natural anti-inflammatory compounds such as curcumin to promote health and wellness. Dr. Pace is the recipient of a NARSAD young investigator award, and his research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.  He is also a 2012 Pop!Tech Science Fellow.