Leah Graham, Ph.D.

Program Director, MCGI

Graham is the Program Director of MCGI. Graham joined MCGI in January 2021 with previous experience as a former researcher focusing on advocacy and communicating the importance of science to policymakers and the public.

Graham joined the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative in January 2021. Previously, Graham was the manager of Government Affairs for JAX, where she focused on managing public policy issues in the state of Maine, at local, state and federal levels. Other responsibilities included community relations and supervising special projects. She brought a wealth of scientific knowledge to Government Affairs, having received her Ph.D. in Genetics from the School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine in April 2017. Graham’s research background is in environmental and genetic contributions to age-related cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, and she has produced a number of primary research articles, including first author publications. Her dissertation work was funded partially through an F31 Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Grant Award from the National Institute on Aging. She is currently the Board Chair of the Maine Council on Aging.