August 2026 – We are pleased to announce that the Parra-Rivas Lab, together with the Francis Lab, has received a University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Pivoting Programmatic Research Grant (PPRG) to study chaperone networks in Parkinson's disease. By combining expertise in synaptic biology, neurophysiology, and molecular neuroscience, this project seeks to advance our understanding of Parkinson's disease and accelerate the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. We sincerely thank UMB for supporting this collaborative research initiative.
August 2026 – We are excited to welcome Juan Colberg-Martínez to the Parra-Rivas Lab as a Ph.D. student in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Juan will pursue his doctoral thesis in our laboratory, where he will investigate the roles of molecular chaperones, autophagy, and lysosomal pathways in Parkinson's disease. We look forward to supporting his scientific development and are thrilled to have him join our growing team.
July 2026 – The Parra-Rivas Lab has been awarded a 2026 UMB FIRST Pilot Award to support innovative research on synaptic biology and the mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease. This funding will accelerate our efforts to understand how synaptic dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration and will provide critical preliminary data to support future extramural funding opportunities. We are grateful to the UM FIRST Program for its support of this work.
July 2026 – Congratulations to Dr. Leonardo Parra-Rivas on being selected as a 2026 CARTI Scholar at UMB. Through the CARTI Basic Science Research Training Track, Dr. Parra-Rivas will join a cohort of investigators receiving advanced training and mentorship aimed at fostering innovative, collaborative, and translational biomedical research.
June 2026 – Dr. Leonardo Parra-Rivas has been selected as a recipient of the IBRO Rising Stars Award, an international award recognizing outstanding early-career neuroscientists and supporting the establishment of innovative, independent research programs.
June 2026 – Our laboratory, in partnership with Dr. Peg McCarthy (UM-MIND) and Dr. David Mintz (Department of Anesthesiology), has been awarded a Research Infrastructure Investment Grant (RIIG) to advance stem cell and brain organoid research at the University of Maryland Baltimore.
June 2026 - We welcome Juan Colberg-Martinez from the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program for his Ph.D. rotation.
April 2026 – Daniela Requena-Gibert has been awarded the Leadership Service Award by the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) San Diego. Congratulations, Daniela!
April 2026 – The Parra-Rivas Lab IACUC protocol has been approved.
March 2026 – The Parra-Rivas Lab officially moves into its new space on the sixth floor of the HSFIII Building. Hooray!
February 2026 – Dr. Parra-Rivas presented at the 2026 Parkinson's Foundation Summit in Atlanta
February 2026 – The Parra-Rivas Lab IBC protocol has been approved. Hooray!
January 2026 – Daniela Requena-Gibert joins the Parra-Rivas Lab as a Lab Manager
December 2025 – Leonardo Parra-Rivas joins the University of Maryland Baltimore, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and UM-MIND