Lucette’s Bio 2021
Associate Professor Lucette Cysique is a neuropsychologist with extensive neuroimaging training, who has led a research program in NeuroHIV, neuropsychology and neuroimaging at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney since 2009. She has been leading cross-disciplinary research into the neurocognitive and brain changes associated with HIV and aging, HIV and cardiovascular diseases, and HIV and mental health. Dr. Cysique has expertise in the measurement of cognitive trajectories in longitudinal cohort studies and clinical trials, and contributes to the development of normative neuropsychological data for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Additionally, Dr. Cysique has extensive experience in cross-cultural neuropsychology. Dr. Cysique is currently employed as a Senior Research Fellow at UNSW Psychology via a visiting scholar support from the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, support from the Sydney St. Vincent’s Hospital Applied Medical Research Centre in the Applied Neuroscience Unit, and support from the Melbourne Alfred Hospital Infectious Diseases research.
Dr. Cysique’s cursus includes a master’s degree in clinical neuropsychology/neuroscience with research and clinical training in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (Lyon I University, Paris VI University France). She migrated in 2001 in Australia and completed a Ph.D., (09/2005, UNSW) in the neuropsychology of HIV infection and a 3 -year post-doctoral fellowship at the prestigious HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program in San Diego, US, where she was trained in the neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry of HIV and Hepatitis C. While at UCSD and at the Laboratory of Cognitive Imaging, Dr. Cysique also received training in structural and functional MRI applied to HIV and HCV. Upon her return to Australia in 2008, she was awarded a 3-year Brain Sciences UNSW fellowship and subsequently a 3-year NHMRC project grant (as young investigator PI/CIA), along with several industry support grants. This funding allowed Dr. Cysique to complete further training in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Diffusion Imaging). In 2013, Dr. Cysique was awarded a 4-year NHMRC Clinical Career Development Fellowship, extended 2 years by UNSW Medicine, to pursue her independent research career into the chronic effects of HIV on brain, cognitive and mental health.
In the last 10 years, Dr. Cysique has had major international and national research responsibilities, and associated funding, on more than 20 NeuroHIV studies/trials as a neuropsychology or neuroimaging leader. Dr. Cysique has extensive experience in one-on-one research instruction and supervision (total career completed in neuropsychology, HIV clinical sciences and neuroimaging: 11 Hons; 10 Masters; 3 co-supervised PhD, 2 post-docs; Current: 2 Masters, 1 PhD, 3 post-docs).
With the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Cysique has initiated a new research axis into the neurocognitive, olfaction/taste and mental health changes associated with COVID-19. Currently, she is Chair of the International Neuropsychological Society NeuroCOVID-19 special Interest Group and the neuropsychology leader of the landmark ADAPT COVID-19 prospective study at Sydney St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Dr. Cysique is also currently employed at Sydney St. Vincent’s Hospital as a clinical neuropsychologist in the neurology clinical trial unit. Dr. Cysique was originally trained in the field of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in France (see also clinical training at the end of the CV).
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