Congratulations Dr. Diego Leal

Dr. Diego Leal has been awarded a $2.8M grant from the National Cancer Institute to study adolescent nicotine product use in Tijuana, Guadalajara, and Los Angeles.

Leal's innovative research uses social network analysis and Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) to understand how peer interactions, including online and in-person relationships, influence e-cigarette and tobacco use. His team will survey thousands of high school students over the next two and a half years to inform policy recommendations aimed at reducing nicotine use among teens.

Charlie Pollard, a third-year doctoral student in the department, has been a key contributor to the project since 2023. Pollard has contributed to statistical modeling, expanded the literature included in the grant proposal, and ensured consistency in the study’s framework. Her contributions have been invaluable to the success of this ambitious research endeavor.

To learn more, read the full article here.