Mekibib Altaye, PhD

Director, Data Management and Analysis Center
Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

mekibib.altaye@cchmc.org

About

Biography

Many well-thought-out research studies fail to answer the questions they pose because of a lack of planning for appropriate study design and subsequent analysis.

I’m passionate about providing optimal design and analysis plans for such projects, so that the results of the study clearly answer the questions posed. My research focuses on the design and analysis of correlated data, particularly high-dimensional data obtained from neuroimaging studies such as MRI, functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

I have been a researcher for more than 22 years and began my work at Cincinnati Children’s in 2001. My research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Defense (DoD).

One of my significant research contributions was the development of the first infant brain template used to make inferences about neuroimaging research (2008). Since then, many researchers have downloaded this template for use in their studies.

In addition to authoring and co-authoring more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and a book chapter, I have presented my work at national meetings.

I’m currently the director of the Data Management and Analysis Center within the Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Cincinnati Children’s. In this role, — where I often work with other biostatisticians, epidemiologists and informaticists — I enjoy helping others, solving problems and making sense of data. My work takes place in a highly collaborative environment; I partner with teams of basic and clinical scientists representing a variety of disciplines that leverage neuroimaging as part of their studies.

Interests

Design and analysis of correlated data. This includes developing inference procedures for intraclass correlation, and kappa statistic. Modeling issues associated with high dimensional data that arise from brain imaging studies such as fMRI, MRI and DTI.

Research Areas

Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Publications

Effect of Transdermal Estrogen Therapy on Bone and Neurobehavioral Health in Youth with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: A Case-Control Study. Wasserman, H; Kalkwarf, HJ; Altaye, M; Yolton, K; Gordon, CM. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 2025; 38:485-491.

Examining Associations Between Manometric Measures of Lingual Function and Swallowing Physiology Using the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile. Mira, AS; Hopkins, AK; Tabangin, ME; Altaye, M; Krekeler, BN. American journal of speech-language pathology / American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2025; 34:2072-2080.

Timing and Variability of Maternal Hyperglycemia in Insulin‐Dependent Diabetes, Long‐Term Effects on Offspring Obesity—The TEAM Study. Bowers, K; Bhoopathy, K; Szczesniak, R; Ehrlich, S; Dolan, LM; Kalkwarf, H; Summer, S; Smith, E; Altaye, M; Ollberding, NJ; Catalano, P; Miodovnik, M; Khoury, JC. 2025; 1.

1182-P: Cognitive Function in Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes—Distinguishing Diabetes vs. Obesity. SHAH, AS; BEEBE, D; BRADY, R; RUSK, S; ALTAYE, M; DIFRANCESCO, MW. Diabetes. 2025; 74.

The relationship between brain perfusion and structure in youth with obesity, with and without type 2 diabetes: A pilot study. Brady, RP; Shah, AS; Altaye, M; Redel, JM; Beebe, DW; DiFrancesco, MW. NeuroImage-Clinical. 2025; 47:103828.

Poststroke Lingual Function and Swallowing Physiology. Krekeler, BN; Hopkins, A; Cooke, M; Tabangin, M; Altaye, M; Waha, S; Martin-Harris, B. Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR. 2025; 68:2318-2338.

Candidate Tear-Based Uveitis Biomarkers in Children with JIA Based on Arthritis Activity and Topical Corticosteroid Use. Maccora, I; Altaye, M; Greis, KD; Brunner, HI; Duell, A; Haffey, WD; Nguyen, T; Quinlan-Waters, M; Schulert, GS; Sproles, A; Utz, VM; Thornton, S; Angeles-Han, ST. Ocular Immunology and Inflammation (Informa). 2025; 33:603-612.

Testing Very Preterm Black Children to Examine Potential Assessment Bias in Two Language Tests. Prather, L; Creaghead, N; Vannest, J; Hunter, L; Hobek, A; Odum, T; Altaye, M; Lackey, J. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. 2025; 10:341-353.

Disordered Eating, Nutritional Intake, and Skeletal Health in Transgender and Cisgender Adolescents. DiVasta, A; Guss, C; Altaye, M; Wasserman, H; Korkodilos, R; Tyzinski, L; Kalkwart, H; Gordon, C. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2025; 76:s25.

Achieving Medication-Free Remission in Patients With Juvenile Dermatomyositis. Maccora, I; Brunner, HI; Cassedy, A; Altaye, M; Quinlan-Waters, M; Lovell, DJ; Grom, A; Angeles-Han, ST. ACR Open Rheumatology. 2025; 7:e11751.