Faculty Labs

The Guerrero Lab for Youth Mental Health and Family Well-Being is dedicated to advancing research that supports the emotional health of adolescents and the families and communities who care for them. Our work centers on understanding how cultural identity and strengths, family communication and racial-ethnic socialization, and experiences in young people’s social environments, such as racial-ethnic discrimination, shape mental health and well-being. We partner closely with Latine communities, schools and youth-serving organizations to develop and refine approaches that strengthen caregiver-adolescent relationships, reduce stress and promote resilience. Across projects, we use mixed-methods and community-engaged research to co-create strategies that help youth thrive. Grounded in adolescent medicine and prevention science, our lab aims to generate knowledge that informs clinical practice, empowers families and drives meaningful improvements in youth mental health.

The Building Research Innovation in Neighborhoods after Gun Violence Exposure (BRIDGE) initiative works to reduce firearm injuries, behavioral health, social and justice disparities. The BRIDGE initiative is committed to creating a data-informed, community-driven ecosystem that identifies and supports children exposed to firearm violence — whether or not they are physically injured. Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of children, families and neighborhoods by expanding access to the resources, knowledge and support systems needed to cope with trauma and promote safe, healthy childhoods. Our research team, in close partnership with community advocates, mental health providers, healthcare organizations and police, delivers social and behavioral services to survivors of firearm injury. We aim to prevent future firearm injuries by broadening screening efforts and implementing evidence-based interventions for children who have witnessed or been affected by firearm violence. Through sustained collaboration with local partners and families, BRIDGE aims to ensure that every child impacted by firearm violence receives the support necessary to heal and thrive.

The major focus of the Health Equity through Autism Research Translation (HEART) Lab is to reduce autism and neurodevelopmental health disparities. Our team of scientists, health care clinicians, caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, autistic advocates and learners are passionate about applying cutting-edge research methods to solve real-world health care problems and improve the lives of children, their families, and the health care clinicians and systems that care for them.

The primary mission of the Neonatal and Early Pediatric Kidney Health Lab is to advance early-life kidney health and reduce disparities in the diagnosis, management and outcomes of acute and chronic kidney conditions in infants and young children. Our team collaborates to understand the biological, developmental and social determinants of kidney health beginning in the neonatal period. We are committed to applying innovative research methods to address real-world clinical challenges, improve the quality of care delivered to pediatric populations and strengthen the systems that support children, their families and the health care professionals who care for them.

The Grassroots Maternal and Child Health Initiative, led by Jack Turman, PhD, builds the capacity of individuals and organizations in marginalized communities to bring about systems change to improve maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes.