Team
The Jain Lab Dream Team
We strive for diversity in our team. We have a fun and collaborative group.
We are looking for motivated, hard working researchers interested in making a difference and learning new skills.
Meet the Principal Investigator
Mamta K. Jain, M.D., M.P.H., FIDSA
Dr. Jain specializes in infectious diseases and conducts clinical trials to evaluate new therapies for HIV, hepatitis C, influenza, and now COVID-19.
She earned her medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Baylor Affiliated Hospitals and received advanced training in infectious diseases through a fellowship at UT Southwestern. She also holds a Master of Public Health degree with a focus on epidemiology and statistics from the University of Texas Houston School of Public Health – Dallas branch.
Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in infectious diseases, she joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2002.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jain has been at the forefront of conducting clinical trials to find effective therapies for the disease. Her investigations have brought access to novel therapies for more than 100 COVID-19 patients at UT Southwestern and Parkland Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Jain’s research is also aimed at improving clinical outcomes for patients with HIV and viral hepatitis, and she has received significant grant support for her work. She has delivered scores of international, national, and regional invited lectures, contributed to the book HIV and Liver Disease, and published a number of academic articles.
Current Lab Members
Alessandra Ahmed, M.S.
Research Associate
Alessandra joined our research team in February 2025. She holds an M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Biology from the University of Florida and a B.S. in Biological Science from Miami Dade College. With experience in microbiology, molecular biology, and oncology, she is passionate about translational research that connects lab discoveries to clinical impact. Her published work on telomerase-targeting compounds in colorectal cancer reflects her commitment to advancing cancer research. Alessandra plans to pursue a Ph.D. to further contribute to biomedical science.
Laura Hansen, M.S.
Clinical Research Coordinator I
Laura joined our team in 2018 and currently supports both Dr. Jain and Dr. Nijhawan. She is an expert in regulatory and biosafety documentation, bringing extensive experience to the role. Laura also mentors and trains colleagues in the preparation and management of regulatory documents.
Olakunbi Latona, R.N., BSN
Research Nurse
Kunbi joined our research team in January 2023. She earned her BA from UCLA in 2017, where she worked as a researcher in the UCLA School of Nursing HPV Research Lab, and her BS in Nursing from Baylor University in 2021. Following graduation, she became a Neuro Cardiac Telemetry Intermediate Care RN, gaining experience caring for patients with acute and critical conditions. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
Kunbi joined our unit to gain hands-on experience in research and clinical trials that drive innovative medical advances. She is currently contributing to COVID-19 and HIV studies.
Nicole Naiman, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Instructor
Nicole joined our research team in September of 2023. She received her MD/PhD from the University of Washington. After completing an intern year in pediatrics residency, she decided to leave residency to pursue a full-time research career. Nicole is working on a retrospective data analysis and works with the team on various clinical trials.
Tianna Petersen, M.S.
Manager of Clinical Research
Tia joined our research team in 2000. She completed her Master of Science in Exercise Physiology and was hired at UTSW in 1996. She worked in the Orthopedics, Cardiology, and Urology departments before joining the infectious diseases group as a research study coordinator. Since 2008, she has been working as a research manager, bringing her extensive knowledge of NIH/DAIDS regulatory guidelines, and INSIGHT/STRIVE/ACTIV protocols. Currently, she serves as the DAIDS CRS coordinator for ACTG Reprieve Trial/STOMP/ACTIV-2.
Stephanie Reyes, MA
Clinical Research Coordinator II
Steph joined our research team in August 2023. She has extensive expertise in methodology, study design, statistics, and experimental psychology. Since 2018, she has been with UTSW, previously coordinating research in the Departments of Psychiatry and Population Data and Science. At DPDS, she managed research assistants, trained new coordinators, and supported operational and administrative functions. She also has several years of project management experience, overseeing multiple research projects and clinical trials for various Principal Investigators.
Minerva Santos
Clinical Research Coordinator I
Minerva joined our research team in 2007 and has since become an integral member of our Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit. She coordinates multiple complex clinical trials, ensuring smooth study operations, participant engagement, and compliance with regulatory standards. Fluent in both Spanish and English, Minerva plays a critical role in connecting with and supporting diverse patient populations, particularly within the HIV community. Her dedication to participant care, attention to detail, and expertise in study coordination make her a valued resource for both the research team and the patients we serve.
Shivani Sundar, MS, MBA
Clinical Research Assistant II
Shivani joined our research team in August 2023. She holds a BS in Biology and a minor in Music from the University of Texas at Dallas, where she conducted an independent research project on past patient health history, molecular viral structure and mechanism, and immune responses in COVID-19 patients in 2021. In 2022, she completed an internship at Texas Health's IEEM and later obtained her MBA in Healthcare Management from the University of Texas at Tyler in 2023. She earned her MS in Clinical Epidemiology in 2024, is interested in infectious diseases, and has been involved in many clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies in the lab.
Diana Triana Gomez, M.D., M.A.I.S.
Population Research Project Associate II
Diana joined our research team in March 2023. She earned her medical degree in Colombia and completed a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas in 2022. Bringing experience in outpatient clinical settings, Diana has supported participant interactions in research studies and is now contributing to COVID-19 and HIV trials, gaining further expertise in clinical research and trial operations.
Former Staff Members
And what they are doing now
Barbine T. Agbor Agbor
Resident, Family Medicine
BronxCare Health System
New York, New York
Adrian Arrington, Jr.
Dallas, Texas
Lucia Cabrejos Hirashima
Resident, Internal Medicine
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
Savannah Davis, M.S.
Currently applying to Osteopathic Medical School
Dallas, Texas
Ximena Fernandez Lango
Resident, Internal Medicine
Yale New Haven Health
Bridgeport, Conn.
Angie Garcia Pernia, PhD
Department Project Specialist - SHP
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
Samantha Heredia
Dallas, Texas
Dena Kamel
Medical Student, UTMB
Galveston, Texas
Rubria Marines Price, Ph.D., D.N.P., APRN, ACNP-BC,
Program Mngr Advanced Practice Providers, UTSW
Dallas, Texas
Mansi Naik, M.B.B.S, RDCS, RCS
Cardiovascular Sonographer II
Fountain Valley, California
Alice Osuji, RN
Senior Research Nurse
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas
Yolanda Reedy, RN
Parkland Health and Hospital System
Dallas, Texas
Laura Reyes
Dallas, Texas
Nadir Samory, MPH
Infection Prevention
Medical City Healthcare, Dallas, Texas
Smruthi Senthil
MPH Student
Columbia University
New York, New York
Kimberly Turner-Gray
Quality Assurance Coordinator
Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center