Diana Munera, BS
Clinical & Research Program Manager
Diana Munera joined Dr. Quiroz’ Lab in September 2019. She received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 2013 from Northeastern University. Before joining MAPP, Diana worked as a Practice Manager for the Psychology Assessment Center at MGH, where she worked closely with the MUNDOS program and Dr. Quiroz. Diana’s interest are: helping Latino families navigate the healthcare system. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her two toddlers, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Paola Garza
Clinical & Research Program Manager
Paola Garza joined Dr. Quiroz’s Lab part-time in July 2024. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science in 2011 from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. She completed her Master of Science in Health Communication 2016 from Lasell University.
Paola is also working part-time for the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. In this role, she collaborates closely with local organizations and healthcare professionals to enhance awareness and education about brain health, preventive measures, and the importance of research participation, particularly within underrepresented Hispanic communities. Before joining the teams, Paola was a Research Coordinator for the Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS). Her passion lies in lifestyle prevention programs and understanding how dietary choices can impact cognitive function. Paola enjoys cooking, exploring new culinary experiences, and spending quality time with her son, family, and friends outside of her professional life.
Nikole Bonillas Felix, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator
Nikole joined the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP) as a Clinical Research Coordinator in August of 2022. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Latin American and Latinx Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022, where she previously worked as a research assistant in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and as an emergency medical technician with the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT). Nikole is interested in understanding health disparities in multicultural and immigrant communities, especially risk factors that may contribute to the development of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and increasing access to healthcare for these populations in hopes of joining the 2.4% of Latina physicians in the US. In her free time, Nikole enjoys playing and writing music, curating Spotify playlists, cooking and trying new foods, and exploring the outdoors.
Lusiana Martinez, BS
Clinical Research Coordinator
Lusiana joined the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP) in August 2023 as a bilingual Clinical Research Coordinator. She received her B.S in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology at the University of North Florida in 2023 where she did some research in environmental toxicology. Lusiana is Interested in environmental toxicology and public health. In her free time, she enjoys trying new foods, discovering new places and working out.
Elizabeth Kaplan, BS, BA
Research Assistant
Liz joined the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP) in January of 2022 as a Research Assistant. She received her B.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience and B.A. in Contemplative Studies in 2022 from Brown University. She is interested in novel biomarkers and treatment interventions for individuals on the Alzheimer’s Disease pathology spectrum. She enjoys going to the beach with friends, reading, and meditating in her free time.
Isabela Gonzalez, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator
Isabela joined the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program as a Clinical Research Coordinator in December of 2023. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and minor in Nutrition and Health Promotion from the University of Southern California in 2023, where sh e was a research assistant for the Braskie Research Group at the USC Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute. She is interested in determining preclinical biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease and examining neuroimaging data. In her free time, Isabela enjoys spending time with family, hiking with her dog, trying new recipes, and reading with her cats.
Alexandre Closs Fanfa Ribas
Clinical Research Coordinator
Alexandre joined the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP) in March 2024 as a bilingual Clinical Research Coordinator. He is currently pursuing his Biomedical Engineering education at Boston University and is set to graduate in December 2025. Alexandre has a strong interest in neuropsychology and biomedical research. In his free time, watching new movies, and exploring different cultures through their culinary ways.
Randy Medrano, BS
Clinical Research Coordinator
Randy joined the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program as a Bilingual Clinical Research Coordinator in June of 2024. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Biological and Chemical sciences in 2023 from Northeastern University where he conducted research on child development and aggressive behaviors while working part time as a lifeguard with Northeastern Athletics. Randy has strong interests in clinical operations and data collection specializing in neurological disorders with the hope of attending medical school one day. In his free time, Randy enjoys strength training and cooking.
Nadeshka Ramirez Perez, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator
Nadeshka grew up in Aguada, Puerto Rico, where family unity and community were central. Inspired by her grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras, where she developed a keen interest in the intersection of neuroscience and psychology research. This passion led her to her current role as a Clinical Research Coordinator at MARC.
As a member of the Hispanic community, Nadeshka is passionate about addressing disparities in healthcare access and research representation within her community, fueling her commitment to MARC’s team and fostering an inclusive environment. She is particularly interested in using neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods to research Alzheimer’s and enjoys collaborating with like-minded enthusiasts. Outside of work, she loves reading, baking, and visiting art museums.
Ana Baena, BA, MA
Clinical Research Coordinator (Colombia)
Ana received her undergraduate degree with a major in psychology from the University of Antioquia (Colombia), and she completed her MSc in Neuropsychology from the University of San Buenaventura. She joined the Group of Neuroscience of Antioquia as a neuropsychology psychometrician right after graduation, in order to study cognitive impairment in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Ana’s current research interests include the study of the personality traits, as risk factors of the cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. For the past five years, she has worked as research study coordinator in Colombia for Dr. Quiroz’s NIH grant on memory network dysfunction in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. Ana is a full-time professional who passionately dedicates herself not only to her research, but also strives to maintain the well-being of patients and their families.
Paula Ospina Lopera, BA, MA
Clinical Research Coordinator (Colombia)
Paula Ospina Lopera completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, in 2012. She completed her master’s degree in Psychology and Mental Health at the same university. Recently, she completed her master’s degree in Clinical Neuropsychology at the Valencia International University, Spain. From her professional practice until today, she has been affiliated with the Neuroscience Group of Antioquia (Colombia), where she has gained experience in research, neuropsychological assessment, social and educational intervention with families, caregivers, and patients with neurodegenerative diseases, primarily Alzheimer’s disease.
She has worked as a cognitive rater for the API Colombia Clinical Trial and other projects of the GNA, experiences that have allowed her to strengthen her knowledge in research and clinical practice.
Currently, she is the Clinical Research Coordinator for the Nerve Growth Factor project (Rita-NGF Study), which she considers as an opportunity to integrate research, clinical work, patient and family support, and also to continue promoting scientific outreach and social appropriation of knowledge.
Yesica Zuluaga, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator (Colombia)
Yesica Zuluaga, completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Envigado and completed her master’s degree in neuropsychology at the University of San Buenaventura in Medellin. She currently works in the Neurosciences Group of Antioquia (Colombia) and teaches neuropsychology and neurophysiology at the Grancolombiano Polytechnic. Her main interest is the investigation of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease. In recent years, it has been approached and motivated by cerebrovascular diseases, mainly of autosomal dominant origin caused by mutation in the Notch3 gene, such as CADASIL.
