Lab Members - Bairey Merz Lab Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog English English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Translation is unavailable for Internet Explorer Cedars-Sinai Home 1-800-CEDARS-1 1-800-CEDARS-1 Close Find a Doctor Locations Programs & Services Health Library Patient & Visitors Community My CS-Link RESEARCH clear Go Close Navigation Links Academics Faculty Development Community Engagement Calendar Research Research Areas Research Labs Departments & Institutes Find Clinical Trials Research Cores Research Administration Basic Science Research Clinical & Translational Research Center (CTRC) Technology & Innovations News & Breakthroughs Education Graduate Medical Education Continuing Medical Education Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Professional Training Programs Medical Students Campus Life Office of the Dean Simulation Center Medical Library Program in the History of Medicine About Us All Education Programs Departments & Institutes Faculty Directory Bairey Merz Lab Back to Bairey Merz Lab Lab Members Personal Statement Publications Research Areas Lab Members C Noel Bairey Merz MD Principal Investigator SEND AN EMAIL Roberta Gottlieb, MD Research Scientist, Heart Institute Roberta Gottlieb, MD, joined the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center in September 2013. She is conducting translational research on ischemia/reperfusion injury and cardioprotection with an emphasis on the effects of age and metabolic syndrome on adaptive autophagy and cardioprotection. Gottlieb is principal investigator on a prestigious NIH Program Project grant and has published more than 100 papers in respected peer-reviewed journals, as well as many review articles and book chapters. She was the editor for Autophagy in Health and Disease, a textbook recently published by Academic Press. Gottlieb holds four patents and has founded two biotech startups, Radical Therapeutix in 2005 and TissueNetix in 2011. SEND AN EMAIL Jennifer Van Eyk, PhD Director, Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute Jennifer Van Eyk, PhD, is a prominent proteomic and cardiac scientist and has been named the inaugural director of Cedars-Sinai's Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute. She leads basic research at Cedars-Sinai's Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center aimed at unlocking the mysteries of gender differences in heart disease. In addition to publishing numerous research articles on her work, Van Eyk has co-edited books on clinical proteomics, including Clinical Proteomics: From Diagnosis to Therapy and Proteomic and Genomic Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease. SEND AN EMAIL Margo B. Minissian, ACNP-BC, CLS-BC, CNS, AACC, FA Cardiology Nurse Practitioner, Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center Margo B. Minissian, ACNP-BC, CLS-BC, CNS, AACC, FA, is nationally board-certified as an acute care nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and holds California licensures as an acute care nurse practitioner and a clinical nurse specialist. Her primary research interests focus on women and heart disease, specifically microvascular disease and endothelial wall dysfunction in women. Minissian is a co-investigator at Cedars-Sinai. SEND AN EMAIL Janet Wei, MD Cardiologist, Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center Janet Wei, MD, treats persistent chest pain, microvascular dysfunction, atherosclerosis, hypertension, high cholesterol and heart failure. In addition to cardiology, she is board certified in echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and cardiac computed tomography. Wei received her medical degree from Northwestern University and completed her internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai. She remained at Cedars-Sinai for her general cardiology fellowship and was a Chief Cardiology Fellow in 2012-2013. She completed an additional year of advanced training in women’s heart disease as the 2013-2014 Constance Austin Women's Heart Fellow at the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center. SEND AN EMAIL Leslie Aguilar-Hernandez Clinical Research Coordinator I Leslie graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s in psychology, and she plans to pursue a career in medicine to address health disparities and barriers to wellness. Leslie has worked in pediatrics, studied depression in patients at Cedars-Sinai, and worked in early intervention programs to promote positive client outcomes in families. At the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, she has worked on the WISE studies, MRI atherosclerosis, the WARRIOR trial and ancillary studies. Odette Chida Ibarra Clinical Research Coordinator II Odette is currently working on the following studies: “Cardiac MRI-Normal Reference Group,” “Autologous CD34 Cells for the Treatment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (CMD),” “Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) Mechanisms of CMD Leading to Pre-Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)” and its “Brain Supplement and Vascular Inflammation” sub-studies. Alexandra Damron Clinical Research Associate II Lilit Gevorkian Clinical Research Coordinator I Lilit is studying biology and plans to pursue a career in medicine. Since joining the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, Lilit helps investigate whether intensive medical therapy in women with nonobstructive coronary artery disease improves their health and lifestyle. Lilit has received a standing ovation for providing high-quality care to clinical trial patients. Erika Gonzalez Clinical Research Associate I Erika graduated from UCLA with a BS in molecular, cell and developmental biology, with a biomedical research minor. Her work in the Bairey Merz Lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms of coronary microvascular dysfunction and pre-HFpEF. Erika is passionate about improving clinical outcomes for patients and aspires to become a clinician-scientist. Taylor Heryford Clinical Research Coordinator I Taylor received her bachelor of arts in psychology at UCLA. She quickly moved from a CRA to a CRC and has facilitated study startup, close-out and restoration while at the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center. Taylor’s main project is Takotsubo brain-heart connection, which focuses on establishing a connection between the brain and heart in patients who have been diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Samantha Long Clinical Research Associate I Samantha Long is a Clinical Research Associate I at the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center. She graduated from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in neural science and is planning on attending medical school in 2023. Some of her clinical research work includes investigating the relationship between hypothalamic amenorrhea and cardiovascular risk in young women, as well as the role autonomic dysregulation can play in the occurrence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Jenna Maughan Clinical Research Data Specialist II Jenna received her BA from UC Berkeley in molecular and cell biology in 2018. She joined the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center in 2015 and grew into her current position as Clinical Research Data Specialist II. Jenna manages data collection and study implementation alongside Investigators and CRCs. She is also the Biobank coordinator, managing the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center biorepository studies. Okezi Obrutu Clinical Research Data Specialist II I synthesize, analyze and interpret data to inform healthcare practice and improve patient outcomes. As a data specialist at the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, I manage studies focusing on heart diseases that predominantly affect women and communicate research findings through scientific publications. Sue Park Clinical Research Associate II Since joining the team, Sue has facilitated the start of an NIH-funded study on myocardial steatosis in women with coronary microvascular disease (MISSION), and has been awarded the Employee of the Quarter for her stellar service for patients and broad expertise of research studies within the Bairey Merz Lab. Rohan Paul Clinical Research Coordinator I Sabrina Pierre Clinical Research Associate I Sabrina Pierre graduated from the University of Southern California with a BA in health and human sciences (emphasis on international health) and two minors, occupational sciences and international relations. Sabrina joined the Bairey Merz Lab to contribute to the intersectionalities in cardiology research and strives to become a pediatric occupational therapist in her future. Natalie Rojas Clinical Research Associate I Natalie received an associate of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies—arts and sciences from Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Natalie began working for the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center on the Takotsubo Registry and currently works for the Bairey Merz Lab on the WARRIOR trial. Natalie is working on her BSN and aspires to become a NP. She hopes to incorporate her love of nursing with her focus on cardiovascular disease prevention in women. Nicole Tovar Research Administrative Coordinator Brandon Wanke Clinical Research Coordinator I Brandon graduated from Yale University with a bachelor of science in molecular, cellular and developmental biology. After serving a year in the City Year and AmeriCorps programs, he has been actively engaged in clinical research at many different sites. He worked in the Emergency Department at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston as well as for the Department of Anesthesiology at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and through those positions has been exposed to many different areas and types of research. Now, as a coordinator at Cedars-Sinai, he is excited to be able to bring his knowledge from different fields to the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center. Brandon plans on attending medical school in the coming years. Outside of work, you can find Brandon cooking, rock climbing and playing with his two cats. Robert (Robby) Ward Research Administrative Coordinator Claire Yi Clinical Research Associate I Claire graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a bachelor’s in cognitive neuroscience. Previously, as an undergraduate researcher in the Cardiopulmonary Biomedical Engineering Group, Claire had assisted with the artificial lung implementation and carotid artery cannulation surgeries, along with blood incubation studies she conducted in testing coagulation on fibers coated with poly-carboxybetaine (pCB) polymers on the surface. Since she joined the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, she has been part of the Women’s Ischemia Trial to reduce events in nonobstructive CAD and the WARRIOR ancillary study for CCTA analysis, and her career interests are centered around medicine and healthcare. Eileen Yu Research Operations Associate Eileen graduated from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) with a BA in sociology. She joined Cedars-Sinai in 2015 as a management assistant. Through dedication and hard work, she found passion in taking on an administrative leadership role. Eileen is well organized and able to multitask, while maintaining a high level of professionalism and attention to detail. Contact the Bairey Merz Lab 127 S. San Vicente Blvd. Pavilion, A9300 Los Angeles, CA 90048 310-423-9680 Send a Message Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility