Lab Members

Janelle Liu, PhD, earned her doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2019. Under the guidance of Mirella Dapretto, PhD, she used neuroimaging techniques and behavioral measures to examine the early structural and functional architecture of the developing brain in infants at high and low risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). More specifically, Janelle used resting-state and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as well as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the development of language networks across the first year of life. As a postdoctoral scientist in the Gao Lab, she aims to better understand the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders as well as the impact of environmental risk factors on early brain connectivity. She currently uses neuroimaging techniques and statistical models to examine the complex interplay between various risk factors such as prenatal drug exposure and socioeconomic status, early brain connectivity, and divergent cognitive outcome.

Sankalp Tikoo received his PhD in neuroscience from the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, in 2021. His doctoral research focused on exploring structural and functional alterations in medication-naive children with Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sankalp is currently a postdoctoral scientist at the Cedars-Sinai Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, where he primarily focuses on delineating neurophysiological mechanisms underlying normal/abnormal human brain development using advanced neuroimaging techniques. Outside of work he enjoys traveling, photography and playing the ukulele.

Haitao Chen received his bachelor of science degree at Peking University in Beijing, China in 2018, majoring in electrical engineering. He is currently a PhD student at UCLA, majoring in bioengineering. He is interested in neuroimaging data processing, with a focus on early brain development related to functional architecture using resting-state fMRI. He is currently focusing on functional development in infancy and early childhood, as well as its association with later behavioral outcomes.

Mai earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a specialization in chemical engineering through Pomona College. Currently, in the HBCD Study, she is a research associate at Cedars-Sinai and a clinical research coordinator at UCLA. As the study's scheduler, she works to ensure strong retention by connecting with each family, keeping them informed on study windows, and helping them fit study participation into busy schedules or challenging life transitions. Simultaneously, Mai enjoys recruiting mothers, performing EEGs and EKGs, inspecting MR images, coding EHR abstractions, collecting biospecimens, facilitating visits and making gift boxes to thank families for their contribution to science.

Sara Flores was born and raised in East L.A.. She interned for NBC Universal before working with children at the L.A. Unified School District. There, she connected with the community and helped it thrive. After obtaining her CPT license, she became a phlebotomist. Because Sara still wanted to work with children, she joined the Healthy Brain and Child Development Study. This is the best of both worlds. In her free time, Sara loves to sew, crochet, play Dungeons and Dragons, and play video games. She also plays several instruments, including the drums and the viola.

Carolina Lopez, known as Loki, is a clinical research associate for the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study in Dr. Gao’s lab. Born and raised in East L.A., Loki has a history of working with children. This includes volunteering with a local Boys and Girls Club and tutoring LAUSD students from transitional kindergarten to sixth grade in the Beyond the Bell after-school program. As a licensed phlebotomist, Loki draws blood for the study. They lead EEG data collection, perform behavioral assessments and administer Spanish assessments. Loki enjoys reading, video games, watching hockey and photography.

Ruth Mateos earned two bachelor of science degrees in sociology and education, with a minor in psychology and social behavior, from the University of California, Irvine. She serves as a study navigator for the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, supporting participant engagement, study retention and regulatory compliance. Ruth interned with the Cedars-Sinai COACH for Kids program and subsequently joined the team, completing a community health worker certification through Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Her background includes community-focused work as a client aide supporting transitional housing, reentry and recovery services.

Jacob Solorzano Orellana earned a bachelor of science in psychobiology, with a minor in LGBTQIA+ studies, from UCLA in 2023. His passions lie in advancing the understanding of mental illnesses, brain functions, and their development, to better address health disparities experienced by historically marginalized groups. In 2025, Jacob joined Wei Gao's laboratory as a clinical research associate at the Cedars-Sinai Biomedical Imaging Research Institute. He is a part of the Healthy Brain and Child Development Study, where he conducts EEG sessions, behavioral assessments, and bio-specimen collections, and facilitates participant recruitment, retention, and visit coordination.

Catherine Ramos earned a bachelor of arts in history and a minor in healthcare studies from the University of Southern California in 2022. They are a clinical research coordinator in the Gao Lab at Cedars-Sinai, working on the National Institutes of Health-funded Healthy Brain and Child Development Study. This project examines early brain development and how prenatal and environmental exposures affect child outcomes. Ramos coordinates multi-visit study protocols and aids participant recruitment. Drawing on prior experience as an EMT, they bring a trauma-informed approach to working with high-need populations to improve access to inclusive research.

Carli Roberson is a clinical research associate for the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study. She received her bachelor of science in behavioral neuroscience and political science in 2023. She is currently working on her master's degree in biomedical neuroscience at the University of Florida. She has worked in the health and mental health fields for over five years, mainly focusing on neuropsychological assessments, which she performs as part of Dr. Gao’s lab. She currently works face to face with child and adult participants, gathering behavioral, EEG, survey and specimen data. Carli intends to pursue a PhD in clinical neuropsychology to further her work in the research space.