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2026 Team Science Awardees

Congratulations to the 2026 Team Science Awardees!

We are pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Team Science Award. These awards, provided by the ICTR Community and Collaboration Core, are designed to recognize the great work that Johns Hopkins researchers have been doing as interdisciplinary teams. They are also intended to highlight best practices and to share lessons learned in Team Science.

The 2026 Team Science Teams:

Brain Health Program

This team formed to advance understanding of cognitive impairment across complex conditions, including HIV and long COVID, by integrating clinical neuroscience, data science, and translational research. Led by Dr. Leah Rubin, the Brain Health Program brings together a multidisciplinary group spanning neurology, psychiatry, engineering, immunology, and radiology. The team focuses on identifying cognitive phenotypes, linking them to biological mechanisms, and developing scalable approaches to improve diagnosis and patient care.

Key accomplishments:

  • Integrated machine learning and data science approaches to identify latent cognitive patterns and trajectories.
  • Applied advanced neuroimaging techniques to study mechanisms such as blood-brain barrier disruption.
  • Built a multidisciplinary research program spanning clinical, computational, and biological domains.
  • Advanced understanding of cognitive impairment in HIV and long COVID populations.
  • Established a collaborative infrastructure supporting multimodal brain health research.
Team Member Name Degree(s) Primary Affiliation Position School/Department Research Role(s)
Leah Rubin PhD; MA; MPH Johns Hopkins University Professor SOM/Neurology Program leadership; Study design; Translational research
Jennifer Coughlin MD UT Southwestern Professor SOM/Psychiatry Program leadership; Molecular neuroimaging (PET)
Alba Azola MD Johns Hopkins University Assistant Professor SOM/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinical leadership; Long COVID clinical-translational research
Ana Ehrenspeck CRNP Johns Hopkins University SOM/Psychiatry Clinical operations; Research coordination
Alison Shearon Bucholz PhD Johns Hopkins University Assistant Professor SOM/Psychiatry Neuropsychological assessment
Megan Hosein MD Johns Hopkins University Instructor SOM/Psychiatry Clinical research collaborator
Rebecca Easter PhD Johns Hopkins University Postdoctoral Fellow SOM/Psychiatry Research fellow
Julie Fang BS Candidate Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate researcher SOM/Neurology Research trainee
Olivia Fox BS Johns Hopkins University Research Coordinator SOM/Neurology Study coordination
Thordar Han BS Johns Hopkins University Research Coordinator SOM/Neurology Study coordination
Sofia Karras BA Johns Hopkins University Research staff SOM/Neurology Research support
Emily Lu BS Johns Hopkins University Research Coordinator SOM/Neurology Study coordination
Noel Pi BA Johns Hopkins University Research Coordinator SOM/Neurology Study coordination
Riley Ricci BA Johns Hopkins University Research Coordinator SOM/Neurology Study coordination
Holly Schultz MS Johns Hopkins University Research Coordinator SOM/Neurology Study coordination
Lott (Quint) Steffey BA Candidate Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate researcher SOM/Neurology Research trainee
Hanniel Uwadia BS Johns Hopkins University Research Coordinator SOM/Neurology Study coordination
Ariadni Xydia BS; MHS Johns Hopkins University Research Coordinator SOM/Neurology Study coordination
Yanxun Xu PhD Johns Hopkins University Professor JHU/Applied Mathematics and Statistics Method development; Statistical modeling
Raha Dastgheyb PhD Johns Hopkins University Assistant Professor SOM/Neurology Data science; Method development
Haoyue Sun BS Johns Hopkins University Data Manager JHU/Applied Mathematics and Statistics Data management
Kathryn Fitzgerald PhD Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor SOM/Neurology and Epidemiology Research scientist
Aparna Bhattacharyya PhD Johns Hopkins University Postdoctoral Fellow SOM/Neurology Postdoctoral research
César Higgins Tejera PhD Johns Hopkins University Postdoctoral Fellow SOM/Neurology Postdoctoral research
Lang Lang PhD Candidate Johns Hopkins University Team member JHU/Applied Math & Statistics Data Science Research trainee
K Ridgeway PhD Johns Hopkins University Postdoctoral Fellow SOM/Neurology Implementation/behavioral science research
Avery Ye BS Candidate Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate researcher JHU/Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science Data Science Research trainee
Eero Korpela PhD Candidate Johns Hopkins University Research trainee JHU/Applied Math & Statistics Data Science Research trainee
Rebecca Veenhuis PhD Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor SOM/Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology Immunology lead; Biomarker science
Edna Ferreria PhD Candidate Johns Hopkins University PhD Candidate SOM/Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology Immunology Research trainee
Katherine Haas BS Johns Hopkins University Team member SOM/Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology Immunology Research trainee
Hayley Romero BS Johns Hopkins University Team member SOM/Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology Immunology Research trainee
Erin Shirk MS Johns Hopkins University Team member SOM/Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology Immunology Research trainee
Ruoyu Wang PhD Candidate Johns Hopkins University PhD Candidate SOM/Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology Immunology Research trainee
Mary-Elizabeth Zipparo PhD Candidate Johns Hopkins University PhD Candidate SOM/Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology Immunology Research trainee
Arnold Bakker PhD Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor SOM/Psychiatry Neuroimaging lead
Kylie Alm PhD Johns Hopkins University Research Associate SOM/Psychiatry Neuroimaging research
Gregory Wade PhD Johns Hopkins University Senior Analyst SOM/Psychiatry Neuroimaging Data analysis
Carrie Wagandt BA Johns Hopkins University Research Manager SOM/Psychiatry Neuroimaging Research operations
Quntara Williams RN Johns Hopkins University Research Program Coordinator SOM/DOM ID Cognitive Assessments

Rubin LH, Shi W, Azola A, Bhattacharyya A, Dastgheyb RM, Wu J, Penna CD, Parker H, Santiuste I, Ehrenspeck A, Coughlin JM, Vannorsdall TD, Lu H, Veenhuis R. (2025). Blood-Brain barrier disruption in long COVID and cognitive correlates: A cross-sectional MRI study. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 129, 989–999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2025.07.024  

Dastgheyb RM, Buchholz AS, Fitzgerald KC, Xu Y, Williams DW, Springer G, Anastos K, Gustafson DR, Spence AB, Adimora AA, Waldrop D, Vance DE, Milam J, Bolivar H, Weber KM, Haughey NJ, Maki PM, Rubin LH. (2021). Patterns and Predictors of Cognitive Function Among Virally Suppressed Women With HIV. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 604984. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.604984  

Rubin LH, Shirk EN, Pohlenz L, Romero H, Roti E, Dastgheyb RM, Santiuste I, Coughlin JM, Brown TT, Clements JE, Veenhuis RT. (2025). Intact HIV Reservoir in Monocytes Is Associated With Cognitive Function in Virally Suppressed Women With HIV. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 231(1), 165–174. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiae460

 

Project VITAL (Vacant Lot Improvements to Transform Adolescent Lives)

This team formed to examine how improvements to vacant urban spaces can enhance adolescent health and reduce disparities in historically disinvested communities. Led by Dr. Kristin Mmari, Project VITAL brings together researchers, community organizations, and city partners across public health, urban ecology, and youth development. The team focuses on evaluating how greening vacant lots influences safety, well-being, and opportunity for adolescents.

Key accomplishments:

  • Created the first comprehensive, publicly accessible database of greened and ungreened vacant lots in Baltimore City.
  • Geocoded and analyzed over 6,000 parcels to support research and community use.
  • Demonstrated that greening vacant lots is associated with improved adolescent well-being and reduced exposure to violence.
  • Developed tools and training resources enabling community organizations to contribute and use data.
  • Integrated youth engagement into research, supporting leadership and advocacy development.
First Name Last Name Degrees  University/Institution/Organization  College/School  Department Position  Research Role
Kristin Mmari Dr.PH, MA Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Population, Family, and Reproductive Health Professor PI
Megan Weil Latshaw PhD MHS Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Environmental Health and Engineering Associate Teaching Professor Co-I
Cara Wychgram MPP Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Epidemiology Sr. Research Data Analyst Spatial analysis
Rebecca Fix PhD, MS Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Mental Health Assistant Professor Co-I
Dexter Locke PhD, MESc USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Baltimore Field Station Research Geographer Co-I
Beth Marshall DrPH, MPH Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Population, Family, and Reproductive Health Associate Practice Professor Co-I
Dustin Fry PhD, MPH University of Minnesota Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation Postdoctoral Associate Co-
Tamar Mendelson PhD Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Mental Health Professor Co-I
Michelle Kondo PhD USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Philadelphia Field Station Research Social Scientist Co-I
Amanda Phillips de Lucas PhD Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance University of Baltimore Director Co-I
Katie Lauter Former Director of Baltimore Green Space Co-I
Michael Dorsey MSW Grow Home Baltimore Executive Director Co-I
Laura Connelly Parks and People Director of Parks Programs Co-I
Natasha Neale Baltimore City Environmental Control Board B’More Beautiful Liaison Co-I
Brandi Welsh Baltimore City Environmental Control Board B’More Beautiful Liaison

Kondo M, et al. (2024). A Greening Theory of Change: How Neighborhood Greening Impacts Adolescent Health Disparities. American Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12735

Mmari K, et al. (2025). Cultivating Health: The Role of Urban Greening in Supporting Baltimore’s Youth. Journal of Urban Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-025-01022-6

Fry D, et al. (2025). The Effect of Place-Based Nature Interventions on Human Health: A Systematic Review. Environmental Research, 123157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.123157