Leslie is the Lab Lead for the Castellon-Lopez Lab, where she oversees research operations and supports the development and implementation of community-informed, culturally responsive lifestyle interventions. She earned a BA in psychology from UCLA, where she gained experience in mental health and early intervention research. Prior to joining the lab, Leslie built broad clinical research experience across Cedars-Sinai in Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, and the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, where she advanced from Clinical Research Associate to Clinical Research Coordinator while supporting observational studies and clinical trials. She is passionate about research that addresses health disparities and promotes the overall health and wellbeing of patients and communities.

Michael is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Castellon-Lopez Lab. His work focuses on advancing public health interventions in historically underserved communities. He began working with Dr. Castellon-Lopez at Cedars-Sinai's Cancer Research Center for Health Equity, which he joined in 2022. Prior to Cedars-Sinai, Michael served as a Communications Manager at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, supporting a CDC-funded initiative to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in multi-unit housing. He also served as Business Development and Communications Manager for FAME Corporations, the nonprofit outreach arm of First AME Church of Los Angeles, where he led fund development, strategic partnerships and communications across programs focused on nutrition education, obesity prevention, transportation, conservation education, housing and tobacco cessation. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Temple University and a Master of Science in Health Systems from Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University.

Dr. Guzman-Ruiz holds a PhD in Community Health Sciences from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Her research examines how social, economic and policy structures shape people's lived experiences and contribute to inequities in health and healthcare access, particularly among immigrant and other historically marginalized groups. During her postdoctoral work, she is gaining expertise in applying mixed-methods and equity-focused frameworks in collaboration with community organizations and health systems to generate evidence that improves health outcomes for historically underserved communities.

Gael is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Castellon-Lopez Lab, where he oversees the Community Advisory Board, data management and manuscript development. He graduated from UCLA with a BS in human biology and society and joined the lab in 2023. During his time in the lab, he has advanced from Research Intern to Clinical Research Associate and Clinical Research Coordinator. He is dedicated to advancing preventive, collaborative, community-based interventions and qualitative research focused on Latino and Latina health. He aspires to attend medical school in the near future.

Jennifer is a Clinical Research Associate in the Castellon-Lopez Lab. She earned a Master of Public Health from CSULB and a bachelor's degree in Public Health from UCI. Before joining the lab, Jennifer was a Health Educator at an FQHC in L.A. County, where she researched, designed and facilitated culturally responsive education for clinic staff and patients on topics including diabetes, chronic disease management, women's health and substance use. She also delivered trauma-informed trainings for staff and clients at domestic violence centers, emphasizing the intersection of health, crisis response and patient dignity. Her work focuses on health equity, community health and social epidemiology.

Sharadram is a Clinical Research Associate in the Castellon-Lopez Lab and is pursuing an MS in global medicine at the University of Southern California, where he earned his BS in human biology. Prior to joining Cedars-Sinai, he worked as a Senior Research Associate in the Emergency Department at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, coordinating multiple clinical studies and contributing to peer-reviewed research on emergency medicine and substance use disorder in urban settings. He also co-founded Honesty Hour, a nonprofit focused on cultural competency in healthcare. His work centers on community-engaged research to address health disparities and improve care for historically underserved populations.

Alia has been a research intern in the Castellon-Lopez Lab since 2025. She earned her BS in molecular, cell and developmental biology at UCLA and will begin an MS in genetic counseling at UCLA. She is passionate about understanding disease mechanisms and pathways, improving prevention and treatment strategies and addressing health disparities. She joined the Castellon-Lopez Lab to support research on obesity-related cancers and dismantling barriers in the prevention of diabetes within the Latino community. She contributes to data analysis, program development and literature reviews.

Jessica is a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She joined the Castellon-Lopez Lab through the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) program. She has a strong interest in health equity and improving access to care for immigrant and historically underserved communities. She earned her bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Vassar College, where she served as a health initiative director for the Vassar Haiti Project and supported development of a community clinic, vaccination campaigns and health worker training programs in Chermaitre, Haiti. Prior to medical school, Jessica worked as a Medical Assistant in a urology clinic serving primarily Spanish-speaking patients and as a Clinical Research Coordinator in orthopedic trauma surgery at Los Angeles General Medical Center and Keck Medicine of USC. Her experiences as a first-generation Latina from a working-class immigrant family have shaped her commitment to culturally responsive care, patient advocacy and research that addresses barriers affecting Latino and immigrant communities.

Crystal is a rising second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She joined the Castellon-Lopez Lab through the DREAMS (Discovery, Research and Education in Academic Medicine summer Scholars) program. She earned a BS in health promotion and disease prevention and an MS in stem cell and regenerative medicine from the University of Southern California. Prior to medical school, Crystal coordinated clinical research studies focused on metabolic disease, liver disease and HIV. Her research interests include health disparities, preventive medicine and improving health outcomes in historically underserved communities. She is passionate about integrating research and patient care to advance health equity and evidence-based medicine.