Team 18

Barkha Trivedi, Purvi Vijayprakash, Chinmayee Iyer

Track: Therapy and Treatment

Utilizing IL-2-Primed MAIT-1 Cells and Tumor Vascular Normalization to Induce IFNγ-Mediated Tumor Collapse and Enhance Immunotherapy Efficacy

MAIT-1 cells are capable of secreting high levels of IFNγ, which, in sufficient concentration, can regress tumor vasculature and induce ischemic tumor collapse. We propose a two-pronged strategy combining IL-2 priming of MAIT-1 cells with tumor vascular normalization to enhance immune infiltration and trigger IFNγ-driven tumor regression, ultimately improving the efficacy of current immunotherapies.

Team 19

Emily Higginbotham, Colette Shvager

Track: Public Health

Personalized Skincare Tracking with Dermatologist-Approved Insights

Our platform, currently unnamed, is a personalized skincare platform that functions like a “Yelp for skincare,” offering dermatologist-approved insights tailored to each user’s unique skin profile. By tracking user routines, skin type, and observed results, the app recommends changes when progress stalls and allows users to search by product, ingredient, or desired outcome. The platform bridges personalized skin care with evidence-based recommendations to help users achieve consistent, measurable results.

Team 23

Alice Decugis, Charlotte Weymer, Jessica Zhou, Christian Boehmer

Track: Therapy and Treatment

Machine Learning Pipeline for Evaluating Progression of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung from CT-PET Imaging

This project presents a machine learning pipeline for evaluating the progression of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the lung using PET-CT imaging data from the NIH Cancer Imaging Archive. We implement a three-stage model: nodule-level, lung-level, and case-level, aiming to classify cancer progression based on previous applications of this pipeline toward classification of breast cancer(McKinney et al, 2020). Our goal is to improve staging accuracy and support early intervention strategies for patients with SCC of the lung.

Team 25

Diya Muchhala, Aashi Jhawer, Aadi Biyani, Archi Patel

Track: Therapy and Treatment

Smartphone-Based AI Technology for Refractive Error Assessment: Bridging Gaps in Vision Care Access

The development of smartphone-based technology for determining a person’s refractive error (eyeglass prescription) represents a significant opportunity to address critical gaps in vision care access. Current research demonstrates substantial progress in this domain, with multiple approaches showing clinical promise. This comprehensive analysis explores the scientific foundation, current technological landscape, and development pathway for a smartphone-based solution that could revolutionize how individuals monitor their vision health.

Team 27

Vijaykumar Karthikeyan, Neo Phuchane

Track: Biomedical Engineering

Predicting Stemness to Optimize Ex Vivo Expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

We propose a dashboard for the development of Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that will allow for the efficient enrichment and analysis of cell lineage progression. By analyzing the scRNA-seq data ML algorithms can be utilized to predict and control the path HSCs take, allowing researchers and clinicians to develop HSCs better than ever.

Team 28

Tina Su, Sana Meher, Joanna Rhim

Track: Public Health

What came first: Duffy-Null or Plasmodium vivax? A comparative analysis using the Plasmodium falciparum-Sickle Cell Model.

Although the evolutionary relationship between Plasmodium vivax and the Duffy-null allele has been relatively understudied, some researchers have wondered if this is similar to the relation between other forms of malaria parasites and conditions that offer immunity to them. This study aims to investigate whether the Duffy-null allele and P vivax exhibit an evolutionary relationship analogous to the relationship observed between the sickle cell trait and Plasmodium falciparum, one such parasite-condition pair.

Team 29

Nolan Kuo, Julie Chiang

Track: Biomedical Engineering

Improving Stability in Percutaneous Cannulae for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support

Team 30

Samantha Pamintuan, Aiden Chin, Helen Nguyen, Ronit Barman

Track: Public Health

Tracking Pesticide Residue Exposure in Marginalized Communities: An Analysis of Environmental Health Disparities Beyond Agricultural Fields

Pesticide exposure disproportionately affects marginalized communities who are more likely to live in close proximity to hazardous areas. Income and ethnicity come into play when influencing one’s diet and whether it consists of nonorganic foods that use harmful chemicals. Such disparities and health have called for a greater need to monitor pesticide exposure, yet tools to monitor public health risks are limited. This proposal introduces a mobile application that tracks pesticide residue exposure.

Team 35

Sina Issayas, Megan Hoang, Lilah Mansky, Savannah Zhang

Track: Biomedical Engineering

Designing an Automated Microscope For Neuroimaging

We are collaborating with Molecular Screening Shared Resource (MSSR) in CNSI and aiding them in building a Spatiotemporal Illumination Microscope (STIMscope) that is designed for pattern illumination for neuroscience applications at a cellular resolution level with large field of view imaging. This microscope will be applying real time imaging and analysis in centralized control and automation of the neural dynamic imaging. We will be prototyping specific parts of the microscope such as the sliding door, ceiling, and back wall as well as back outlets for the microscope to demonstrate its versatility in creating an automated microscope to have increased efficacy in large field of view neuroimaging.

Team 36

Reva Diwan, Huanyan Zheng

Track: Biomedical Engineering

Gene-Based Drug Resonse

According to the American cancer society, creating a treatment plan is a long detailed process. With our algorithm, we aim to speed up the process of effective treatment planning, to improve drug effectiveness and patient outcomes.

Team 37

Htet Khant, Kaung Zaw Hein, Gauri Vanjari, Dev Gupta

Track: Therapy and Treatment

Identification of Quorum sensing proteins produced by Cavities-Associated Bacteria and their pH-Dependent Expression for CRISPR-Targeted Gene Disruption

The purpose of this study is to identify Quorum sensing (QS) proteins produced by cavities-associated bacteria and investigate the protein expression levels under different pH levels. By analyzing major QS proteins contributing to biofilm formation in cavities, we intend to propose the method of CRISPR-based strategy to disrupt genes involved in the bacteria’s native CRISPR-Cas immune system, particularly in Bacteria strains where these systems are linked to quorum sensing regulation and biofilm maintenance. This technique may lead to innovative strategies for preventing dental cavities by interfering defenses of major quorum sensing contributors which in turn interferes with their communication and biofilm development at the gene level.

Team 39

Andrew La, Jiayuan Li

Track: Biomedical Engineering

Basketball Knee Brace Design

This project aims to design high-performance, role-specific basketball knee pads tailored to guards, centers, and forwards. By combining functionally optimized knitted materials with intelligent structural features, the design addresses both on-court protection and post-game recovery needs for male players aged 30–45. Developed for Keepolo, the knee pads are crafted to meet the demands of semi-professional and committed basketball enthusiasts.

Team 41

Yiqiao Wang, Ayush Patel

Track: Biomedical Engineering

De novo design of viral capsids for custom payload delivery to target cell cytosols

This project aims to de novo design an icosahedral protein superstructure (essentially a viral capsid) capable of targeted and efficient cytosolic delivery of genetic material or other bioactive substances. We intend to design this superstructure to be metastable (and specifically disassemble in the cytosol) by incorporating several conditionally-stable bridges (such as calcium-chelating sites) between each asymmetric unit using tools such as RFdiffusion; we additionally eventually aim to employ an adenovirus-like strategy to penetrate the endosomal membrane upon V-ATPase-mediated endosomal acidification to mediate initial delivery of the vehicle to the cytosol.

Team 42

Isaias Roberson, Brianna Gianetto, Sanyukta Joshi

Track: Mechanism

Understanding How to Build the Bridge to Sexual Differentiation in the Mouse Germline

Sexual differentiation of primordial germ cells has been shown to occur through cues from the embryonic gonad. However, specific molecular mechanisms have not been elucidated. Leveraging in-vitro systems that promote the sexual differentiation of primordial germ cells, we test the role of the midkine molecule, expressed by gonadal somatic cells, in this process.

Team 46

Shimona Gupta, Chenrui Zhang

Track: Public Health

The Impact of Intensifying Droughts on Opioid Consumption Behaviors in Southern California: A Research Proposal

Team 50

Becca Lee, Benjamin Dewey, Litong Wu

Track: Therapy and Treatment

The Unseen Side Effects and Implications of Ozempic Use in Non-Diabetic Populations

Ozempic, originally developed for type 2 diabetes, is increasingly used off-label for weight loss. While it shows promising results in appetite suppression and glycemic control, emerging reports indicate potential physical and psychological side effects that merit deeper investigation.