Rutgers Institute for Health names Mariana Figueiro Director for New Center for Healthy Aging

LDS Rutgers 400

July 2, 2020

The Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) announced Mariana Figueiro, PhD, has been appointed to lead two new programs focused on aging and on sleep and circadian research.

Figueiro, a professor of Architecture and Biological Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is a renowned researcher in the field of lighting and health and the director of the Lighting Research Center. On Sept. 1, she will take on her new roles at Rutgers as director of the new Center for Healthy Aging at the Institute for Health and chief of the new Division of Sleep and Circadian Medicine in the RWJMS Department of Medicine.

The new programs bridge Figueiro’s research focusing on the use of lighting in real-world environments to improve health and well-being, particularly through its effects on circadian rhythms and sleep and in the treatment of conditions such as diabetes and dementia in older adults.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Rutgers community and new opportunities to expand our aging research and our clinical work on sleep and circadian rhythms,” Figueiro said. “Our focus has always been specifying and applying light as non-pharmacological treatments, and it will be exciting to incorporate more detailed patient studies and broader research areas.”

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Figueiro and to launch the Center for Healthy Aging,” said XinQi Dong, MD, MPH, director of the Institute for Health. “Dr. Figueiro brings a multidisciplinary and translational approach that will be essential to the center’s success. Aging research will be even more critical as the United States’ population continues grow older, and the center will put Rutgers at the forefront.”

The new center will catalyze innovative research and synergistic collaborations between experts, clinicians, caregivers, patients, the lighting industry and others, to develop evidencebased care strategies that will improve the lives of older adults. The center will also bring together experts in sleep and circadian rhythms from across Rutgers.

“The creation of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Medicine will allow us to unite our existing sleep experts under the leadership of an international sleep researcher,” said Fredric E. Wondisford, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine. “Just as important, Dr. Figueiro will serve as an outstanding mentor to junior faculty who will benefit from her years of experience navigating NIH funding.”

The clinical evaluation of sleep disturbance continues to evolve, where many sleep studies are currently performed at home. As this continues, the role of on-site sleep studies will need to be better defined and this division will be well placed to establish these guidelines. Rashmi N. Aurora, MD, will serve as medical director of the new division.

Figueiro has a bachelor’s degree in architecture and urbanism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. She has a master’s in lighting and a doctorate in multidisciplinary science from Rensselaer.

Figueiro has received several awards for her work and was elected a fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society in 2013. Currently she is the principal investigator of eight federally funded grants and various industry-funded projects. In addition to more than 100 scientific articles, Figueiro authored the AARP-sponsored publication, Lighting the Way: A Key to Independence, and presented a TEDMED Talk about the importance of lighting.

Source

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • LEDVANCE Expands Ontario Presence with New Specification Agent

    LEDVANCE Expands Ontario Presence with New Specification Agent

    LEDVANCE is pleased to announce the appointment of Sterling Architectural Products Ltd. (Sterling Lights) as their new specification agent in Ontario. This partnership strengthens LEDVANCE’s presence in the region and reinforces their commitment to serving the professional lighting design and specification community with innovative, reliable lighting solutions. With decades of experience and a service-driven mindset,… Read More…

  • May 29, 2025 - Eureka Wins Three 2025 Red Dot Awards for Product Design

    Eureka Wins Three 2025 Red Dot Awards for Product Design

    Eureka is pleased to announce that its Velia, Cirra, and Junction luminaires have each received a 2025 Red Dot Design Award for Product Design. It is the 11th consecutive year that Eureka products have been honored with this prestigious award, which is a testament to the company’s consistency and relentless drive to design exceptional luminaires.… Read More…


Design

  • 60-Watt vs 100-Watt Light Bulbs: Brightness & Wattage

    60-Watt vs 100-Watt Light Bulbs: Brightness & Wattage

    With the widespread use of LED light bulbs, the replacement and upgrade of different light bulbs have also made the concept of “equivalent wattage” more and more discussed. When comparing 60-watt vs 100-watt bulb, the wattage and brightness are the factors that need to be figured out first. Wattage is used to measure the energy consumption while many… Read More…

  • What is Human Centric Lighting: Benefits & Applications

    What is Human Centric Lighting: Benefits & Applications

    Human centric lighting (HCL) is a kind of illuminated way based on human physical and psychological needs. Its core goal is to imitate the changes in natural light to support the body’s circadian rhythm, improve visual comfort, and enhance mood. The key element of human centric lighting contains dynamic ​color temperature adjustment, adjustable brightness, spectrum… Read More…


New Products

  • Zaneen: Vieni Giù – Rain of Light

    Zaneen: Vieni Giù – Rain of Light

    Vieni Giù brings a touch of elegance and modernity to any space with its sleek, thin rods suspended from a cable or ceiling mount, each featuring exquisite chrome plating. These rods illuminate every corner like luminescent rain, thanks to the LED double-pin encapsulated in borosilicate glass. Available in various lengths, Vieni Giù can be tailored to… Read More…

  • LightForm: New Saule-L-01 Suspension Luminaire

    LightForm: New Saule-L-01 Suspension Luminaire

    LightForm is thrilled to introduce Saule, the newest lighting collection from Quebec atelier Larose Guyon, now exclusively available at LightForm. Inspired by the gentle grace of the willow tree, Saule is a sculptural light that feels alive. Cascading hand-formed brass leaves shimmer like foliage in the breeze, suspended from arched metal arms that echo the tree’s elegant… Read More…