Our team
Adys Mendizabal, MD, MS
Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor of Neurology at UCLA
Dr. Mendizabal earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology from the University of Miami and completed medical school at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. While in medical school, she also earned a Master of Arts in Urban Bioethics, focusing on social determinants of health in urban communities. She completed her neurology residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. As a neurology resident, she developed a health equities curriculum for neurology residents in addition to research and community engagement efforts. She recently completed a movement disorders fellowship at UCLA and a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management from the Fielding School of Public Health.
Paola Perez
Staff Research Associate III
Paola Perez graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelors of Science in Psychological and Brain Sciences. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong interest in the neurobiology of attachment, specifically how relationships with caregivers influence brain development. She has since gained hands-on clinical experience as a Mental Health Clinical Assistant and Registered Behavioral Technician, providing compassionate care to individuals with psychiatric disorders and developmental disabilities. Her career goals are focused on assisting individuals with mental or neurological disorders on their journey to recovery. As she steps into her new role as a Research Associate, Paola is eager to be a part of the lab whose knowledge will be used to eliminate inequities in neurologic disease. Outside of work, she likes to snowboard, read, paint, or take her dogs on walks.
Derrick Okine
MS3 at UCLA
Derrick Okine is a third-year Medical Student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He graduated from Grinnell College where he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in Neuroscience. Since then, he’s pursued his interest in Neurology through Stroke and Parkinson’s research at the University of Iowa and National Institutes of Health. Derrick hopes that through his research, he will be able to reach those underserved in the area of Neurology. Outside of school and research, he enjoys playing badminton and pickleball.
Angie Roman Ramirez
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Angie Roman Ramirez is a second year undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience at UCLA with a strong interest in studying neurodegenerative diseases. She is passionate about serving and helping underrepresented communities overcome barriers faced in the education and healthcare systems. Angie hopes to become a physician specializing in brain-related disorders, combining clinical care with research to better support patients and their communities. In her free time, Angie enjoys going to the gym, shopping, drinking coffee, and donating blood at the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center.
Past Lab Members
Mariann Alexa Tobar
(11/2022 - 12/2025)
Alexa Tobar graduated from USC with a B.A. in Biological Sciences and a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures. Over her three years in the lab, she made significant contributions, including leading EHR data collection, onboarding new lab members, and developing both the lab website and lab manual. She also presented a focus group abstract at the 2025 HSG HD Clinical Research Congress. Alexa plans to attend medical school next year and continue pursuing research in health equity and community engagement.
Lina Shammas
(09/2023 - 12/2025)
Lina graduated from UCLA in Winter 2025 with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. During her time in the lab, she led an independent project examining misdiagnosis patterns among Huntington’s disease (HD) patients and assessing the accessibility of specialized HD care across California. She presented two abstracts, one at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology and another at the 2025 HSG HD Clinical Research Congress. Lina aims to pursue a career in neurology with a focus on caring for patients with movement disorders.
Karla Luna
(01/2024 - 06/2025)
Karla graduated from UCLA with a Masters in Genetic Counseling Spring 2025. She joined the Huntington's Disease Society as a board member, which allowed her to learn about HD from a patient-centered perspective. During her time in the lab, Karla presented an abstract on Disparities in access and outcomes for hospitalized HD patients at the 2025 Annual Clinical Genetics. She also developed her research colloquium project: Exploring Conversations of Genetic Risk in Latino Families with Huntington’s Disease. Karla hopes to continue developing outreach events to spread awareness and garner interest in genetic counseling.
Darlene Hernandez
A 3rd year undergraduate student at UCLA studying Human Biology and Society (HBS). She is a first-generation college student from Mid City, Los Angeles aspiring to become a physician who treats endocrine/neurological disorders. During her time in the lab, she assisted Karla in transcribing participant interviews for her Capstone Project.