Staff Spotlight: Fredda De La Torre

Fredda De La Torre joined CHLA in early 2022 to work on the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HBCD)—a groundbreaking national study that aims to better understand how environmental factors influence brain development.

“I always liked research, but I wasn’t sure which path to take,” she shares. “This study intersects with so many areas that I am passionate about, from child development to equity in research.”

In her role on the study—which is led at CHLA by Pat Levitt, PhD, Jessica Wisnowski, PhD, and Beth Smith, PhD, DPT—she meets with children and families and leads recruitment efforts. That includes engaging with community partners to build awareness of the study, which follows participants from pregnancy through a child’s first decade of life.

“One of the things I love about my job is this aspect of building community,” says Fredda, who recently earned a master’s in diverse community development leadership at California State University, Northridge. “I also love that the team is very focused on equity. We want to make sure that anyone who wants to participate has the opportunity to do so.”

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Fredda is “a huge foodie” who enjoys gardening, cooking and exploring local restaurants—especially taco stands. “You can never say you’ve been to every taco stand in L.A.!” she says, laughing. One of her favorites: Villa’s Tacos in Highland Park.