2023 George Grannis Award for Excellence in Research and Scientific Publication
Dr. Ayala-Lopez is director of clinical chemistry in medical affairs at Labcorp Drug Development, where she provides medical, scientific, and regulatory support for the Central Laboratory Services in the areas of hematology, clinical chemistry, special chemistry, analytical chemistry, and toxicology. She also serves as the medical laboratory director for Labcorp Bioanalytical Services in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dr. Ayala-Lopez completed a fellowship in clinical chemistry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Additionally, she completed an National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported research fellowship at the Yale University School of Medicine in the department of laboratory medicine. Dr. Ayala-Lopez earned a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from Michigan State University, where she was awarded an NIH Individual Training Grant for her research on the adrenergic system of perivascular adipose tissue. She is board certified in clinical chemistry by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, is a certified clinical chemist by the National Registry of Certified Chemists, and holds a board certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Dr. Ayala-Lopez has over 30 publications spanning the topics of laboratory medicine, clinical toxicology, and adrenergic pharmacology. She has received research and presentation awards from the Academy of Clinical Physicians and Scientists (ACLPS), American Society for Clinical Lab Sciences (ASCLS), Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC), American Heart Association (AHA) Council on Hypertension, and the American Society for Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Her contributions to the medical laboratory profession include numerous activities supporting the professional development and mentoring of laboratory professionals, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in laboratory medicine.