Jonathan D. Santoro, MD
Dr. Jonathan Santoro serves as the Director of Neuroimmunology and Demyelinating Disorders Program and Director of Research for the Neurologic Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He is also an Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at Keck School of Medicine of USC. Dr. Santoro completed his undergraduate, master's, and medical degrees at Tulane University. He completed residencies in pediatrics and child neurology at Stanford University, followed by sub-specialty training in neuroimmunology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Santoro is one of only a handful of national physician-scientists who treat the neurologic disorders associated with Down syndrome. His research focuses on identifying the mechanisms of neurologic disease in individuals with Down syndrome and unraveling the role of neuroinflammation in these conditions. His research in cerebrovascular disorders such as Moyamoya vasculopathy and neuroinflammatory conditions such as Down syndrome regression disorder in this population is internationally recognized, making Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Keck School of Medicine a hub for research in these areas. In addition to Dr. Santoro’s research in neuroinflammation in Down syndrome, he leads multiple national and international research investigations in other pediatric-onset inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated disease (MOGAD), and leukodystrophies such as Aicardi Goutières syndrome. Dr. Santoro advocates for persons with disabilities at both the state and federal levels through the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Neurology.
Saba Jafarpour, MD
Dr. Saba Jafarpour received her MD with the highest distinction from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She pursued a research fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School and a residency in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. She continued her clinical training at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where she completed her residency in Child Neurology and fellowship in Neuroimmunology. Her research interests include the genetics of autoimmune and inflammatory central nervous system disorders, and Down syndrome regression disorder.
Lina Nguyen, BSN, RN, CPN, MSCN
Lina Nguyen graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Psychology and obtained her BS in Nursing from California State University, San Marcos. She began her nursing career working in the neonatal intensive care unit and later found her passion working in pediatric neuroimmunology. Lina leads efforts on investigational therapeutic interventions and longitudinal outcomes studies in the STORM lab.
Natalie Boyd
Natalie Boyd graduated with a BS in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles with college, Latin, and departmental honors. Natalie manages regulatory and clinical trial affairs in the STORM lab. She is the principal investigator on a grant examining risk factors for pediatric post-lumbar puncture headaches.
Benjamin Vogel
Benjamin Vogel graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California, earning a BS in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention with a minor in Natural Science. He is passionate about working with individuals with intellectual disabilities and rare diseases. As an aspiring physician-scientist, Benjamin is committed to using research as a tool for advocacy, aiming to advance treatments for medically marginalized communities. Currently, Benjamin leads the STORM lab’s translational biomarker studies and preventative cerebrovascular studies.
Lilia Kazerooni
Lilia Kazerooni graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California with a BS in Human Biology and a minor in Spanish. She is passionate about working with underserved communities and bridging the language and culture gap in a clinical setting. As an aspiring physician-scientist, Lilia aims to incorporate the values of inclusive healthcare into her practice and advocate for marginalized groups by championing diversity and representation in research. Lilia leads multi-center collaborative efforts for the STORM lab, in addition to neurodiagnostic study investigations.
Jessica Rios
Carlos Amaya
Carlos graduated from CSUN in 2021 with a BS in Accounting. During his undergraduate studies, he developed a strong interest in financial management through various internships and projects. After graduation, Carlos worked in several roles focused on financial oversight and budgeting, where he honed his skills in budget development, grant management, and financial reporting. Before joining the Neurology team, Carlos worked in a financial management role at a healthcare organization, ensuring compliance and effective expense allocation. Outside of work, Carlos enjoys spending time with his family and watching sports.
Shermila Pia, MD
Dr. Shermila Pia is a child neurologist and Clinical Neuroimmunology Fellow at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and USC Keck School of Medicine. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Molecular & Cell Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology at the University of California Berkeley (2015) with minors in Spanish Language and Global Poverty. She completed her Medical Doctorate at California Northstate University College of Medicine (2019) and residency in child neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Golisano Children’s Hospital. Her current area of training is in pediatric neuroimmunology, which includes a wide range of disorders including multiple sclerosis, MOG-antibody-associated disease, neuromyelitis optica, optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, autoimmune encephalitis, CNS vasculitis, and other neuro-rheumatologic and neuroinflammatory conditions affecting the central nervous system.
