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Leonardo "Leo" Parra-Rivas, PhD
Team leader
Leo is the group leader and is passionate about understanding synaptic mechanisms in neurodegeneration and developing gene-based therapies. He is deeply committed to mentoring students and postdoctoral fellows and fostering an inclusive, collaborative lab environment. Leo earned his PhD and MS in Clinical Investigation from the University of Utah and completed his postdoctoral training at UC San Diego.
Outside the lab, Leo loves the outdoors and sports—especially biking, hiking, and camping—and is currently thinking about joining a soccer team. In his free time, he also enjoys watching soccer matches and going to live music concerts.
Daniela Requena-Gibert, MS
Lab Manager
Dani is an experienced scientist with a background spanning both academia and industry, and broad expertise in neuroscience and stem cell biology. She is deeply committed to mentoring and the dissemination of scientific knowledge, having trained numerous students, postdoctoral fellows, and MD/PhD trainees throughout her career.
Dani is also a strong advocate for women in science. She has served as Chair and Board Member of AWIS–San Diego, part of a global organization dedicated to advancing women in STEM. Outside the lab, Dani enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, knitting, and reading.
Vishu Sundaram
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Vishu is a freshman at Johns Hopkins University, majoring in neuroscience with a minor in psychology. He is passionate about studying neurological conditions to deepen our understanding and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Outside of the lab, Vishu enjoys watching movies, listening to classical music, and playing Quizbowl. He also loves traveling abroad and is eagerly looking forward to his next adventure.
Rebecca Weimer, BS
Lab Assistant
Rebecca completed a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland in 2021. She began working as a research assistant for an NIH study at her university in her senior year. The project delved deeper into the connection between Alzheimer’s and exercise, suggesting exercise could help alleviate Alzheimer’s symptoms or maintain cognitive performance. She now works full-time as a clinical research assistant on Parkinson's research, with hopes of pursuing a graduate degree in neurosciences. Outside of the lab, Rebecca enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her loved ones (her cat, Haru).
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