Charlotte DiStefano
Dr. Charlotte DiStefano is a clinical psychologist who specializes in neurodevelopmental disorders and related neurogenetic syndromes. She is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
After receiving a BS in Special Education from New York University and an EdM in Mind Brain and Education from Harvard University, Dr. Charlotte DiStefano received her PhD in Psychological Studies in Education from University of California Los Angeles. She completed her postdoctoral training in developmental neuroscience at the UCLA Center for Autism Research. Before earning her PhD, Dr. DiStefano worked as a special education teacher in both New York City and Los Angeles.
Dr. DiStefano’s primary research interests are language and cognitive development in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly those who are minimally verbal. Her work has been funded by the Dup15q Syndrome Alliance, Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Autism Science Foundation, Autism Speaks and National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders.
Clinically, Dr. DiStefano is the Lead Psychologist for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Services in the Developmental and Behavioral Health Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she oversees evaluation and treatment of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Viviana Rodriguez
Viviana Rodriguez graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a BA in Psychology and Sociology. With over eight years of research experience, she currently works at UCLA with Dr. Rujuta Wilson and Dr. Nicole McDonald as a Clinical Research Coordinator, supporting the design, implementation, and management of clinical and natural history studies focused on neurodevelopmental disorders and rare genetic conditions.
Eva Swartz
Eva is a Clinical Research Coordinator at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), where she supports the ARIA IMPACT Network and a range of clinical trails. Her work spans behavioral, pharmaceutical, and translational research focused on advancing overall health and well-being with real-world impact. She earned her BA in Neuroscience from Pitzer College, where she studied the neural mechanisms of emotion and decision-making using EEG and psychophysiology. She is driven by a commitment to using scientific innovation to meaningfully improve people’s lives.
Jonathan Santoro
Dr. Santoro serves as the Las Madrinas Endowed Chair and Chief of Neurology, Co-Director of the Neurological Institute and Director of Neuroimmunology and Demyelinating Disorders Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He is also an Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. Dr. Santoro completed his undergraduate, masters, and medical degrees at Tulane University. He completed residencies in pediatrics and child neurology at Stanford University, which was followed by sub-specialty training in neuroimmunology at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Santoro is one of only a handful of national physician-scientists who treat neurologic disorders associated with Down syndrome. Dr. Santoro’s research focus is in identifying the mechanisms of neurologic disease in individuals with Down syndrome and unraveling the role of neuroinflammation in these disorders. His research in cerebrovascular disorders such as moyamoya vasculopathy and neuroinflammatory conditions such as Down Syndrome Regression Disorder in this population is internationally recognized, making Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Keck School of Medicine a hub for research in these areas. In addition to Dr. Santoro’s research in neuroinflammation in Down syndrome, he leads multiple national and international research investigations in other pediatric onset inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated disease (MOGAD), and other neurogenetic conditions and leukodystrophies, such as Aicardi Goutières Syndrome.