Alex DeCasien, PhD, is an evolutionary neuroscientist and computational biologist dedicated to improving human health outcomes. Their research efforts are directed at understanding the underlying causes of sex/gender differences in the prevalence and presentation of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. DeCasien received their BS, MA, MPhil, and PhD degrees from New York University. Their postdoctoral work in the Section on Developmental Neurogenomics at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) involved: i) demonstrating functional differences between genes shared by the X and Y chromosomes; ii) characterizing sex differences in the human brain transcriptome with cell type resolution; and iii) outlining issues with and recommendations for research on sex differences in the human brain. For the latter, they were awarded the 2024 Early Career Award by the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences. Dr. DeCasien is now the Principal Investigator of the Computational and Evolutionary Neurogenomics (COEVOLviNG) Unit at the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Their group focuses on understanding how sex-related mechanisms: i) contribute interindividual variation; ii) drive sex differences in aging and neurodegenerative disease; and iii) have evolved in humans and nonhuman primates.