Dementia and Aphasia Research and Equity Laboratory
Our work aims to reduce health disparities in dementia and aphasia research and care through community-based scientific investigations, educational outreach, and public advocacy.
Projects
Projects in the DARE Lab aims to improve the quality of and access to healthcare services for adults with acquired neurogenic cognitive and language disorders, such as dementia and aphasia, particularly from historically underrepresented communities. Our research seeks to identify the behavioral, neural, and sociolinguistic factors impacting diagnosis and treatment in adults with neurogenic communication disorders across diverse populations. We also conduct culturally-informed educational outreach to spread awareness of aphasia as well as early signs of dementia, highlight healthcare disparities in aphasia and dementia care and research, and explain the role of speech-language pathologists in the evaluation and intervention of aphasia and dementia.
Current projects in the lab include:
Characterizing language and cognitive profiles in healthy aging and dementia in multilingual/multicultural individuals. This research is being done in collaboration with the de Leon Lab at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center.
Identifying gaps in speech-language service delivery for multilingual/multicultural individuals with dementia or aphasia.
Spotlight [coming soon]
Lab Members
Director: Eduardo Europa, PhD, CCC-SLP
contact: eduardo.europa@sjsu.edu
Dr. Europa (he/him/siya) is Speech-Language Pathologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences at San José State University. He earned a B.A. in Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley and M.A./Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University. He completed a Clinical Fellowship in Speech-Language Pathology and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, both at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center and the UT Austin Aphasia Research and Treatment Laboratory. [Personal website] [Google Scholar]
Research Assistant: Celeste Laing
contact: celeste.flaing@sjsu.edu
As a research assistant, Celeste assists with general lab operations, participant recruitment efforts, development of research stimuli, and educational materials. Celeste is also a current MS1 student majoring in Speech Language Pathology here at San Jose State University.
Media Coordinator: Gela Costales
contact: angela.costales@sjsu.edu
Gela is both the media coordinator for the DARE Lab and volunteer research assistant. With this role, Gela manages the lab’s website and social media pages along with working on Language and Cognition in Underrepresented Communities. She is also a senior undergraduate in CD&S at San Jose State University.
Volunteer Research Assistant: Aylín Rojas
contact: aylin.rojas@sjsu.edu
Aylín is a current MS2 SLP student here at San Jose State University. As a current VRA, she transcribes and analyzes english and spanish connected speech transcripts to support the literature review on connected speech.
Volunteer Research Assistant: Bernardine Santos
contact: bernardine.santos@sjsu.edu
Bernardine is a MS2 Speech Language Pathology Student here at San Jose State University. As a research assistant, Bernardine assists in data analysis of Tagalog-English Assessments. This includes creating data sheets, collaborating, transcribing, and scoring Tagalog/English Responses from bilingual aphasia tests
Volunteer Research Assistant: Jairei (Jai) Olarte
contact: jaireialexis.olarte@sjsu.edu
Jai is a current MS2 Speech Language Pathology student at San Jose State University. As a VRA, Jai organizes Tagalog and Spanish data collection supporting the lab’s ability to serve in Language and Cognition in Underrepresented Communities.
Volunteer Research Assistant: Jesus Carrillo
contact: carrillo674j@gmail.com
Jesus is a current MS2 within the Speech language Pathology program here are San Jose State University. As a VRA, Jesus transcribes connected speech samples in both English and Spanish along with analyzing research findings through data collection.
Volunteer Research Assistant: Kayleen Rafael
contact: kayleenjrafael@gmail.com
Kayleen has earned her B.S in Communicative Disorders and Sciences while working as a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant. With being a VRA, Kayleen works closely with Emmaluz in analyzing syntax production and comprehension of Tagalog speakers.
Volunteer Research Assistant: Emmaluz Colorina
contact: emmaluz.colorina@sjsu.edu
Emmaluz closely works with Kayleen in assisting the Symmetrical Voice and Word Order Preferences of Cognitively Healthy Adults During Tagalog Syntax Comprehension project. She also assists with translating, transcribing, scoring, and analyzing the data. Despite being a VRA, Emmaluz is a current MS 1 student in speech language pathology.
Collaborators
Jessica de Leon, MD
(UCSF Memory and Aging Center)
Ivan Bondoc, PhD
(University of Toronto)
Maya Henry, PhD, CCC-SLP
(University of Texas at Austin)
Stephanie Grasso, PhD, CCC-SLP
(University of Texas at Austin)
Heather Dial, PhD
(University of Houston)
Eugenie Mamuyac, MS
(UCSF Memory & Aging Center)
Lab Alumni
Graduate Student Researchers: Alyson Jimenez
Undergraduate Student Researchers: Pav Chhina
Research Assistants: Angela Costales, Kaylina Moreno, Ryan Parham, Aylín Rojas
Volunteer Research Assistants: Gabriel Bernal, Rae Enriquez, Ruth Garcia Galvez, Samantha Gonzalez, Connor Hupp, Caryn Iwakiri, Sandra Flores Lopez, Allyssa Madriaga, Lizeth Manzo, Paige McFarlane, Kalana Parker, Alexandra Romo, Juniper Troyanker