Staff Spotlights
The Institute for Translational Research
LaShundra Marshall
Business Coordinator
What is your "Why", and how does that passion show up in your work here?
My 'Why' is creating meaningful connections and supporting others in a way that makes a real difference in the community I serve. I’m very passionate about helping our team operate smoothly and efficiently, allowing their efforts to improve brain health and education in the community to be as effective as possible. This part of my passion shows up in my work through my dedication to organization, proactively supporting, and collaborating with our team, ensuring they can focus solely on the work that matters most which is making a meaningful impact in the world.
How do you see your role contributing to better brain health outcomes or educational impact in our community?
As a member of the Administrative Support Team, I strive to ensure that our team, particularly the managers, are able to focus on their critical work in brain health initiatives. By assisting with any administrative tasks, that allows the day-to-day operations transition smoothly that allows them to dedicate more time and energy to achieving meaningful outcomes and impact in our community.
What's one insight or experience you've had here that deepened your understanding of Alzheimer's and other brain aging diseases?
One experience that deepened my understanding of the work that we do was hearing and observing the full process across all of our cores, and then hearing the results of their efforts, shared in a heartfelt testimony by Dr. Vintimilla, from one of our participants during a team meeting. This experience highlighted the full journey from start to finish, and it personally and emotionally had a profound impact on my perspective of brain aging diseases, education, resources and the importance of supporting both individuals affected and their families.
Fun fact?
I looooove to sing, talk, act, write and make people laugh. I deeply enjoy music, movies, fashion, food, history, and spending time with my husband. I’ve been one of the music leaders at our church alongside my husband for the past 23 years. I don’t like clowns, the dark, anything non-human, heights, and a few other things—especially my food touching. There are 2 beliefs I love sharing, the 1st, you can’t control what someone does or says to you, you can only control how you respond, receive and react, so act accordingly. The 2nd one is that all candies of any kind, that are the same color should be eaten together and not mixed up!😊
Harris Matthews
Administrative Associate
What is your "Why", and how does that passion show up in your work here?
I had a family member suffer from dementia which is not a uncommon experience but it is a difficult individual experience for everyone. Dementia and Alzheimer’s slowly hollows out a person’s most important qualities such as personality and lived experiences and can very freighting for the caretakers and loved ones who have to see it. I take that feeling and put it into my work and make sure I do the best I can do to hopefully find a way, someday, to finally be free of this disease.
How do you see your role contributing to better brain health outcomes or educational impact in our community?
I have a humble role of administrating office procedures but I think even small efforts measure up. Without the participant folders I make or the blood draws I help facilitate, useful data needed for treatment is lost. I hope that my job helps in moving progress forward!
What's one insight or experience you've had here that deepened your understanding of Alzheimer's and other brain aging diseases?
It affects many different people in many different stages of their life. Brain aging is a spectrum.
Fun fact?
I’m an amateur video game maker!
Priya Murali
Data Analyst
What is your "Why", and how does that passion show up in your work here?
My grandfather had Alzheimer’s, and my grandmother was his primary caregiver. My mom and I would often travel back home to help arrange care for both of them, as she was also elderly, well into her 80s. As caregivers, we didn’t fully understand what was happening. Back in 2020, Alzheimer’s was often dismissed as simple memory loss that comes with age. I watched my grandfather deteriorate from being a respected head of chartered accountants for the government to a man who became completely dependent and couldn’t recognize my grandmother or my mother. My “why” is deeply personal. If I can help even one family better understand this condition and how to care for a loved one going through it, I’ll feel that I’ve accomplished my purpose. I still remember receiving a postcard from a partner thanking us for saving her daughter’s life—our study helped detect a brain tumor through a simple scan that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Moments like that remind me why I show up every day and do what I do.
How do you see your role contributing to better brain health outcomes or educational impact in our community?
My role in managing and quality-checking data to the highest standards helps researchers carry out their work effectively and enables key personnel to better understand this condition. I’ve been fortunate to work with an incredible team that takes the time to help me deepen my understanding. Working here has truly opened my eyes to how much impact we have. Although I may not be directly involved in research, the ITR family is undoubtedly the backbone supporting much of the research happening across the country and around the world.
What's one insight or experience you've had here that deepened your understanding of Alzheimer's and other brain aging diseases?
Learning about blood-based biomarkers truly blew my mind. My understanding of Alzheimer’s disease used to be very black and white, mostly based on brain imaging data. Through more interactions with my coworkers and learning from everyone around me, I realized there’s so much more to it than just one factor—and that really changed my perspective. Working in a research setting has transformed the way I think. Collaborating with faculty on different projects has broadened my understanding of the many contributing factors to Alzheimer’s and other brain aging diseases, as each researcher explores a different piece of the puzzle.
Fun fact?
I love airplanes! You’ll often catch me stopping mid-walk to look up at the sky whenever I spot one. I’ll immediately open my plane-spotting app to find out all the details about the aircraft—I just can’t help it!
Tania Hernandez
Front Desk Patient Coordinator
What is your "Why", and how does that passion show up in your work here?
I am a strong believer that it matters how you do and say things, more than what you do/say. If you keep in mind how the other person might take it, it's a game changer. It is important that you are being careful, respectful, kind and empathetic. All of this positively impacts my work.
How do you see your role contributing to better brain health outcomes or educational impact in our community?
At the front desk I provide the best experience that I can. Kindness, respect and empathy contribute to better brain health emotionally and possibly more than that. I also tell others what I learned from a conference recently: some factors contribute to develop the disease and there are changes we can make to our everyday lives that could minimize the risk, for example taking care of ourselves by eating properly or exercising.
What's one insight or experience you've had here that deepened your understanding of Alzheimer's and other brain aging diseases?
An elderly couple was here to get scanned. The woman had a hard time interacting, she was forgetting where her belongings were at. It made me feel sad and realize that it's important what is being done here. This research can help people change their lives or at least have a better quality of life. I can't imagine how terrible it would be if someone I love didn't remember me or how it would make me feel if I started to forget things or people. I am happy that I am part of this, working here makes me feel part of the amazing possibilities for people and families that have this disease.
Fun fact?
My inner child takes over once I am behind closed doors and I am not ashamed of it. I'll sing, dance, make a fool of myself and the funny part is I love it!
