Sandra Laston, PhD

Sandra Laston

Title(s): Professor of Research, Co-Investigator, Community Engagement Core
Unit(s): Center for Genome Research, Primary and Community Care, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Human Genetics, Research Faculty

Contact Info
BBRHB 2.236 (Brownsville)
956-882-7490
Sandra.Laston@utrgv.edu

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Research Focus

Dr. Laston’s research efforts have been focused on the oversight of large-scale genetic studies conducted with human populations. With specialized expertise in medical anthropology and nursing, Dr. Laston has directed the fieldwork for studies of several minority populations, including Alaska Natives, the Jirel population of eastern Nepal, Zuni Indians, and other American Indian tribes.

Dr. Laston currently works as Co-Leader of the Community Engagement Core in the Center for Genome Research in the Division of Human Genetics at the UTRGV School of Medicine.

At the national level, she serves on the Steering Committee for the NHGRI Centers for Genome Research Consortium and she is a member of the Community Engagement Working Group for the NHGRI Centers of Genome Research Consortium. She was a member of the UTRGV IRB for six years and served as Vice Chair for the final five years. Dr. Laston has strong interests in the design of human subjects’ research projects and cross-cultural research.