University of Houston · PsychologyCultural Cognition Lab
Luis D Medina · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Medina's lab focuses on improving Alzheimer’s disease research among Hispanic and Latino communities, who are often underrepresented in studies despite being at higher risk for these conditions. The lab works to create culturally relevant tools and resources that encourage participation from these communities. By building connections with local organizations, they aim to better understand the unique risks and needs of Hispanic/Latino individuals regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Alzheimer's DiseaseHispanic/Latino HealthCommunity EngagementCulturally Responsive ResearchRisk AssessmentPrecision MedicineMixed Methods ResearchBehavioral Data CollectionHealth Disparities
Research Aims
5AIM 01Refine and disseminate a multimedia toolkit for engaging Hispanic/Latino adults in Alzheimer's research.
AIM 02Develop a risk registry for collecting behavioral data and biological specimens.
AIM 03Monitor the reach and uptake of recruitment tools within Hispanic/Latino communities.
AIM 04Characterize relationships between risk factors and clinical phenotypes in a diverse sample of Hispanic/Latino individuals.
AIM 05Establish a well-characterized data repository for future Alzheimer’s research.
Skills the Lab Values
Community-based research methodsCulturally tailored communication strategiesData collection with diverse populationsSurvey designRisk registry developmentFocus group facilitationQualitative and quantitative analysisMultimedia toolkit creationStatistical software (e.g., SPSS or R)
Output against the department
Publications178top 39% of dept.115th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.2kbottom 22% of dept.232nd of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.