Research Projects

How do dietary patterns influence age-related cognitive decline through gut microbiome-mediated inflammatory and metabolic pathways, and which dietary interventions show the greatest potential for preserving cognitive function?

Through a synthesis-driven research project led by research director Arianne Hosseini, committee members will learn how to critically evaluate neuroscience literature, identify gaps in the current understanding of the gut microbiome and its role in neurological health, and collaboratively produce a publishable review article for the INI Journal while developing practical research skills. 
 

Our goal is to review post-operative reports from patients having undergone spinal surgery. Led by research director Lucy Wang, committee members will familiarize themselves with medical terminology and understand surgical outcomes and recovery patterns. This information will be used to develop research papers that may contribute to future research and presentations.

Led by research director Tanvi Mahajani, this committee aims to explore chronic pain as a major health crisis, focusing on its neurobiological roots, clinical challenges, and modern management strategies. Our focus will span key topics including central sensitization, non-opioid treatments, neuropathic pain, and systemic health disparities. By looking at current medical literature, members will broaden their perspective of chronic pain, and develop a polished research review to be published in the INI journal and presented at research symposiums in the spring.

This committee examines sex-specific immune gene expression patterns following ischemic stroke, building on a validated signature from the previous year toward a full prognostic model. Led by research director Jashan Mahajan, members will gain hands-on experience with real patient data, machine learning, and bioinformatics, with findings aimed at peer-reviewed publication.