Principal Investigator
Aaron Leong
Current Research Team
Nopporn Thangthaeng
Griffin Duffy
Griffin is a research nurse in the Diabetes Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, and comes from previous work in neurology clinical trials at MGH. Griffin is delighted to be a part of the PROGRESS study and enjoys the process and exploratory nature of clinical trials as a research nurse. In his spare time, Griffin loves to read, stay active, and play the guitar.
Rachel Huynh
Abigail Jones
Zoe MacDiarmid
Zoe MacDiarmid is a sophomore cell and molecular biology at Northeastern and a research assistant for PROGRESS. Previously, she worked in a lab studying DNA repair mechanisms and volunteered as an EMT in her hometown fire department. Currently, she is an editor for Northeastern’s student-led independent newspaper, and she dedicates any free minute to writing or reading the news.
Rachel Bartholomew
Rachel Bartholomew is a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator currently working on the EDIC and DPPOS studies at the Diabetes Research Center. Over the past several years, she has worked on various research studies related to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes at MGH. She has personal connections to diabetes and hopes that by being a part of studies related to the disease, she can help lead to the betterment of everyone living with it. In Rachel’s free time, she loves hanging out with her partner and 2 cats, along with biking to and from work.
Scientific Collaborators
Mahaek Vora
Mark O’Connor
Josep Maria Mercader
Alicia Huerta
Vicky Kaur
Hasan S. Dashiti
Past Team Members
Saadhvi Kartik – Graduate Student at Tufts University
After working at the DRC for two years, where she was a Northeastern University co-op student and then a Clinical Research Coordinator, Saadhvi is now completing a Master’s program at Tufts University in Biomedical Sciences.
Cassandra Quinones
Mariella Facibene – Medical Student at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
Mariella worked at the DRC for two years. She started as a Northeastern co-op student and then as a Clinical Research Coordinator. She is now pursuing her medical degree at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.
Dang Van Khanh (Stacey) Nguyen – Psychology Student at Northeastern University
Stacey Nguyen is a fourth-year Psychology major at Northeastern University. She completed her first co-op at the DRC and is now in her second co-op at Boston Children’s Hospital in the Division of Developmental Medicine. She plans to further her education in the field of mental health after graduation.
Mary Banick
Sophia Anain
Julie Parikh – Research Technician at the Koch Institute of MIT
During my undergraduate career, I was a co-op student working at the DRC as a clinical research assistant. After I pursued my master’s in biotechnology at Northeastern University. I am currently working on a Bridge Project between the Koch Institute of MIT and Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center titled Achieving Equity In Precision Oncology Through Integrative Functional Genomics.”
Grace Nobile – Research Specialist II, Feghali-Bostwick Lab at the University of South Carolina
I worked with Dr. Leong in 2020 as a Clinical Research Coordinator Co-op from Northeastern University. Together we worked on the TARGET (Targeted Assessment of participants through Recall by Genotype for Evaluation and Translation) – Diabetes study. I recently started a new job as a Research Specialist II in the Feghali-Bostwick Lab at the Medical University of South Carolina. My current project is focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying organ fibrosis, specifically looking at Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). My project is centered around developing a therapeutic for these diseases.
Lauren Mendez – Medical Student at Nova Southeastern University School of Osteopathic Medicine
After working at the DRC for a year where she was a Clinical Research Coordinator as a Northeastern University co-op student, Lauren is now completing her Medical degree at NSU Kiran C. Patel School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Nara Norgil
Edgar Dorsey Trevino
Philip Schroeder
Abigail Jones
Manvi Lohia – Founder, Science to Plate & Ekaanta Wellness Retreat
After working at the DRC as a Clinical Research Coordinator under Dr. Aaron Leong, I am now focused on my ventures. Science to Plate is an evidence-based nutrition platform emphasizing gut, women’s, and cardiac health. Ekaanta is a wellness retreat on the Ganges, integrating sustainable practices and holistic health approaches.