THRIVE Lab

Alexandria Ratzki-Leewing, PhD, MSc

Dr. Alexandria Ratzki-Leewing is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Division of Gerontology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She holds affiliate appointments with the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing, the Clinical and Translational Research Informatics Center, and the Center for Research on Aging. She is also an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University (London, Ontario, Canada).

Her research centers on capturing and analyzing person-reported data to quantify the real-world burden of diabetes and medication-related side effects across sociodemographically and clinically heterogeneous adult populations. Her methodological expertise includes diabetes (pharmaco)epidemiology, real-world survey design and implementation, and person-reported outcome measures. She also brings deep experience in scientific communication and cross-sector knowledge translation. She has led large-scale, interdisciplinary projects across more than 10 countries, with findings published in leading medical journals and cited in major clinical practice guidelines, including the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care.

Dr. Ratzki-Leewing is Deputy Chair of the International Hypoglycaemia Study Group, a senior author of the forthcoming ADA textbook on hypoglycemia, and the 2023 recipient of the International Diabetes Center’s Rising Star award. She has delivered over 100 research presentations globally, developed numerous continuing medical education programs, and regularly contributes to international conference planning and scientific leadership in diabetes.

She earned her PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Western University (London, Ontario, Canada) in 2023, and her MSc in Health Research Methodology (with a sub-specialization in Health Services Research) from McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada).

Selected studies:

1. iSTOP Hypo: The upcoming iSTOP Hypo (Identifying Subgroups and Trends to Optimize the Prevention of Hypoglycemia) study targets critical knowledge gaps in the prevention and long-term impact of Level 3 (severe) hypoglycemia. Using advanced analytic techniques and real-world data from iNPHORM, OptumLabs®, and the University of Maryland Medical System, it aims to identify high-risk subgroups, track their clinical trajectories, and estimate the potential benefits of reducing hypoglycemic events. The study also examines how advanced diabetes technologies may modify risk and improve both clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Findings will inform targeted, equity-focused strategies to optimize care and reduce the burden of severe hypoglycemia in diverse diabetes populations.
2. iNPHORM: ​The iNPHORM study (Investigating Novel Predictions of Hypoglycemia Occurrence Using Real-world Models) is a pioneering US-wide, year-long prospective survey designed to assess and predict hypoglycemia risk among adults with type 1 or insulin and/or secretagogue-treated type 2 diabetes. Conducted from 2020 to 2021, it leveraged monthly web-based questionnaires to collect self-reported data on hypoglycemia events, treatment regimens, and various sociodemographic and clinical factors. The study’s main objectives included determining the incidence of Level 3 and non-severe hypoglycemia and developing related prediction models.
3. InHypo-DM: The InHypo-DM (Investigating Hypoglycemia in Diabetes Mellitus) study is Canada’s largest real-world investigation into hypoglycemia among adults with diabetes. Conducted in collaboration with colleagues at Western University (Canada), it drew on person-reported data from the InHypo-DM Person with Diabetes Mellitus Questionnaire (InHypo-DMPQ) to examine the incidence and impact of both non-severe and severe hypoglycemic events in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes treated with insulin and/or secretagogues.