Joshua H. Cho, MD, PhD (Director)
Director, UCLA Insomnia Clinic
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Dr. Joshua Hyong-Jin Cho is director of the UCLA Insomnia Clinic at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and a board-certified psychiatrist who practices in Westwood. His clinical interests include the treatment of insomnia and depression.
Dr. Cho is also an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He currently conducts epidemiological and translational research on how inflammation is involved in the treatment of insomnia and depression. Throughout his career, his research has focused more broadly on the role of inflammation in depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance—collectively known as "sickness behavior."
Michael R. Irwin, MD (Co-director)
Director, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology
Director, Mindful Awareness Research Center
Co-Director, UCLA Insomnia Clinic
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Michael R. Irwin, MD is the Cousins Center's Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is also Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UCLA College of Letters and Sciences. Dr. Irwin is one of the world's foremost experts on the psychoneuroimmunological pathways by which psychosocial and behavioral factors influence health and disease. He pioneered basic studies to show that activation of receptor dependent mechanisms in the brain (e.g., corticotrophin releasing hormone) play a key role in the integration of the HPA, autonomic, and immune responses to stress. His clinical translational studies were among the first to demonstrate that β-adrenergic receptor mechanisms steered a reduction in anti-viral immunity and an increase in inflammatory responses. His research highlighted the role of these molecular pathways on infectious and inflammatory disease pathogenesis in older adults, in patients with depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and alcohol/cocaine use disorders. His ongoing work is focused on the reciprocal interactions between the immune and central nervous systems, the role of sleep disturbance on the molecular and cellular inflammatory signaling pathways that influence depression, and physical health risk with a focus on cancer survivors and older adults. Dr. Irwin's research has broadly integrated data from laboratory animal studies, epidemiological studies, clinical naturalistic history, prospective studies, experimental studies, and randomized controlled trials that have employed both behavioral and mind-body approaches. These examninations have resulted in publication of over 300 research articles and several books. Together, his research has been supported continuously for over 25 years by his PI leadership of over 25 R01 type awards from the National Institute of Aging, National Cancer Institute, National Heart Lung and Blood Disorders Institute, National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders, National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Irwin is past president of the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society and of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, and a Distinguished Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Psychiatrists. He was an associate editor of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, serves on the editorial board of Psychosomatic Medicine and of Sleep. He has received multiple national and international awards, and was twice the recipient of the Faculty Research Mentor Award from the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science at the David Geffen School of Medicine.
Stella Chow, PsyD (Therapist)
Stella Chow, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at UCLA Semel Institute. She is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher, Professional Level (CMTP 0151), through the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. She received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from UCLA and her Doctor of Psychology from Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology. She completed her two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Reiss-Davis Child Study Center, focusing on psychodynamic and psychoanalytic treatment for children and families. Dr. Chow completed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 5 days Teacher Training from the University of California, San Diego in 2013. In 2014, she completed the year-long Training in Mindfulness Facilitation program at UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center and has been an instructor and mentor for the program ever since. Dr. Chow worked as a staff psychologist at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services, Pacific Clinics, and various private practices. She was an adjunct professor at Argosy University teaching counseling theories, ethics, and professionalism. She enjoys working with children, adults, families, facilitating mindfulness groups, and incorporating mindfulness in her clinical practice. She is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
