The Granados Lab is a transdisciplinary research group housed at San Diego State University dedicated to tackling Chagas disease through science, outreach, and education. Led by Dr. Paula Stigler Granados, our mission is to build bridges between research and public health action by addressing neglected parasitic diseases in the United States.
About Us
Leaders in Chagas Research
Our Disciplines
What we focus on
Through these initiatives and our growing network of collaborators, the Granados Lab is committed to reducing disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Chagas disease.
We welcome students, veterinarians, public health professionals, and concerned community members to connect and collaborate with us.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Paula Stigler Granados
Dr. Paula Stigler Granados is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Division Head of the Environmental Health Division. She is a subject matter expert in Chagas disease and has been the PI for the last 9 years on a Center for Disease Control-funded cooperative agreement award to raise awareness among healthcare providers in the U.S. about Chagas disease. She also works with the U.S. military on Chagas disease surveillance activities and helped launch the Texas Chagas Taskforce in 2015.
Dr. Paula Stigler Granados
Dr. Paula Stigler Granados is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Division Head of the Environmental Health Division. She is a subject matter expert in Chagas disease and has been the PI for the last 9 years on a Center for Disease Control-funded cooperative agreement award to raise awareness among healthcare providers in the U.S. about Chagas disease. She also works with the U.S. military on Chagas disease surveillance activities and helped launch the Texas Chagas Taskforce in 2015.
Dr. Shannon McBride
Dr. Shannon McBride (she/they) is a veterinarian and global health researcher with over a decade of experience bridging veterinary medicine and public health. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in 2015 and, after practicing veterinary medicine for a decade, completed a Master of Public Health with an Epidemiology concentration at San Diego State University in 2024. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in the Joint Doctoral Program in Global Health at San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, researching One Health approaches to zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, focusing on Chagas disease. Her work integrates clinical practice, research, and global health initiatives to address complex health challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. Passionate about teaching and mentorship, she actively engages in public education and fosters the next generation of One Health professionals.
Dr. Shannon McBride
Dr. Shannon McBride (she/they) is a veterinarian and global health researcher with over a decade of experience bridging veterinary medicine and public health. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in 2015 and, after practicing veterinary medicine for a decade, completed a Master of Public Health with an Epidemiology concentration at San Diego State University in 2024. Currently, she is a PhD candidate in the Joint Doctoral Program in Global Health at San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, researching One Health approaches to zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, focusing on Chagas disease. Her work integrates clinical practice, research, and global health initiatives to address complex health challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. Passionate about teaching and mentorship, she actively engages in public education and fosters the next generation of One Health professionals.
MAJ Cassandra Kerwin, DVM
MAJ Cassandra Kerwin is an active duty officer in the Army Veterinary Corps, graduating from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. She has held various roles as a Veterinary Corps Officer, including branch and clinic officer, team officer in charge of a deployable unit, food protection and procurement laboratory team officer, and operations officer. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at San Diego State University through the Army’s Long-Term Health Education program. Her research focuses on canine Chagas Disease and understanding prevalence among San Diego County shelter dogs. MAJ Kerwin seeks to apply the knowledge gained from her Chagas disease research to deepen the understanding of the disease’s epidemiology for military working dogs and to advance diagnostic and surveillance protocols for those populations.
MAJ Cassandra Kerwin, DVM
MAJ Cassandra Kerwin is an active duty officer in the Army Veterinary Corps, graduating from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. She has held various roles as a Veterinary Corps Officer, including branch and clinic officer, team officer in charge of a deployable unit, food protection and procurement laboratory team officer, and operations officer. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at San Diego State University through the Army’s Long-Term Health Education program. Her research focuses on canine Chagas Disease and understanding prevalence among San Diego County shelter dogs. MAJ Kerwin seeks to apply the knowledge gained from her Chagas disease research to deepen the understanding of the disease’s epidemiology for military working dogs and to advance diagnostic and surveillance protocols for those populations.
Guadalupe Luján
Guadalupe Luján is a first year graduate student at SDSU pursuing a Master in Public Health-Environmental Health. She is an active-duty Environmental Science Officer (72D) in the U.S. Army with service in a variety of Health Service Support and Force Health Protection assignments across the U.S. and overseas. Her public health experience includes global health initiatives in the U.S. Central Command, deployed environmental health surveillance, force health consultation, and health risk communication. Her research interests include zoonotic disease and vectorborne pathogens and their implications on force readiness.
Guadalupe Luján
Guadalupe Luján is a first year graduate student at SDSU pursuing a Master in Public Health-Environmental Health. She is an active-duty Environmental Science Officer (72D) in the U.S. Army with service in a variety of Health Service Support and Force Health Protection assignments across the U.S. and overseas. Her public health experience includes global health initiatives in the U.S. Central Command, deployed environmental health surveillance, force health consultation, and health risk communication. Her research interests include zoonotic disease and vectorborne pathogens and their implications on force readiness.