Hawaii Neuroscience Scholars @ Brain Research, Innovation & Translation Laboratory (BRITL)
Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience (HPN) is committed to helping medical students pursue their passion in neuroscience, develop leadership in this field and make an impact in the local community. HPN is proud to recognize exceptional medical students who have demonstrated exemplary academic abilities in neuroscience, leadership qualities, passion, and commitment to the pursue of excellence in research and a commitment to make a difference and give back to the local Hawaii community.
BRITL Neuroscience Academic Achievement Scholarship
- Nominated by a neuroscience faculty member, current or previous project leaders
- Current active and exemplary BRITL Neuroscience Scholar for more than 1 year
- Demonstrated leadership qualities, academic abilities in neuroscience, passion, and commitment to the pursue of excellence in research and other scholarly activities.
- Demonstrated a commitment to make a difference and give back to the local Hawaii community
- Maintain a good standing academically at the medical school
2022 Hawaii Neuroscience Academic Achievement Scholarship Recipient
Connor Goo graduated from Punahou School and majored in biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California. He is a second year medical student at the University of Hawaii John Burns School of Medicine. Connor recommend other students to get involved in at least one research project during medical school.
Previous Neuroscience Academic Achievement Scholarship Recipients
2021 -Rachel Gorenflo, Frances Morden: 2020 – Arash Ghaffari-Rafi
BRITL Neuroscience Scholars Requirements
- Current active JABSOM medical or graduate student in good standing
- Interest in neuroscience and passion, and commitment to pursue research and scholarly activities.
- Commitment to make a difference and give back to the Hawaii community
2022 Graduating BRITL Neuroscience Scholars
Christian Ogasawara Neurosurgery @ University Texas Galveston
Keke Liu Ophthalmology @ Duke University
Grant Yoneoka Radiology @ Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University
Kalei Hosaka Med Peds @ UCLA
Ilana Buffenstein Fam Med @ University of Montana
Maiya Smith Emergency Med @ University of Utah
Emily Taylor Internal Med @ NYU
Kimberly Teehera Pathology @ University of Colorado
2021 Graduated BRITL Neuroscience Scholars
Arash Ghaffari-Rafi, MD, – Neurosurgery @ University California Davis
Bryce Kalei Chang, MD – Neurology @ Mayo Clinic
Julie Crocker, MD – Neurology @ Oregon Health Science University
William Harris, MD, – Neurosurgery @ University Colorado, Denver
Medical and graduate students interested in applying to be a Hawaii BRITL Neuroscience Scholar, email a cover letter, CV to:
Kore Liow, MD, Principal Investigator, [email protected]
Connor Goo, 2022 Project Leader, [email protected]
Catherine Mitchell, CCRC, [email protected]
BRITL is designed to foster collaboration, bench to bedside translation and a culture of innovation and collaboration between departments, centers, institutions, and outside organizations.
Physicians and scientists work closely within and across centers, institutes, and schools to collaborate whether they are basic laboratory-based scientists, bio statisticians or clinicians to encourage cross disciplinary translation bench to bedside research.
Our faculty also mentor aspiring residents, medical students & select graduate and undergraduate students in their work and labs under the “Hawaii Brain Research, Innovation and Translation Lab (BRITL) Neuroscience Scholar Program” each year. They work in groups and at times, will involve undergraduate students during the Hawaii Neuroscience Summer Internship Program (SIP) in this exciting research. Recent National & International Publications
Publication Director: Enrique Carrazana, MD
Research Staff; Catherine Mitchell, CCRC,
2021 Graduating Hawaii BRITL Scholars
2022 Graduating Hawaii BRITL Scholars
Stroke and Neurovascular Diseases Research Lab
Lead Investigator: Jason Viereck, MD, PhD,
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Julia Jahansooz
Ethnicity has previously been identified as a risk factor for ischemic stroke. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) were on average 11 years younger at the onset of stroke than their Caucasian and Asian counterparts. The impact of ethnicity on prevalence of carotid artery disease, a precursor to stroke, in NHOPI has not previously been documented in Hawaii. This ethnographic study aims to quantify the prevalence and extent of carotid artery disease in Hawaii to better understand the pathogenesis of carotid artery atherosclerosis in different populations.
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Anson Lee
Stroke is one of the primary causes of mortality and disability in the United States, and approximately 15% to 20% of all strokes are caused by carotid artery disease (CAD). Past surveys found evidence that among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) populations, individuals were four times more likely to suffer from a stroke and 30% more likely to die from a stroke compared to non-Hispanic white adults. Comorbidities associated with CAD are especially important to assess as multimorbidity was found to be common in stroke with 94% of stroke victims having at least one other long-term condition and 10% suffering from seven or more. Yet, clear-cut information and statistics about NHPI CAD risks, outcomes, and comorbidities have been difficult to ascertain. Our project investigates the types and number of comorbidities associated with CAD and its risk factors in NHPI patients compared to other ethnicities.
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Michelle Lu,
Strokes in younger patients (<45 years) are relatively uncommon, making up 10-15% of stroke diagnoses. However, the risk of death in younger patients is higher, can disable individuals before their most productive economic years and lower their quality of life disproportionately. Studies have not only shown that stroke risk in Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) populations is 30% higher than in non-Hispanic whites, but also show that NHPI patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke were also less likely to be older and more likely to be female when compared to whites. Compared to Asians, NHPI are also less likely to be older at the time of hospitalization. This study will aim to characterize the atypical stroke patients treated at Hawaii Stroke & Neurologic Restoration Center, investigating the presence of risk factors such as the use of oral contraceptives, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, vascular risk factors, congenital cardiac disease, as well as presenting symptoms such as hemiparesis, altered mental status, abnormal movements, migraine with aura. We would also like to identify atypical causes, such as hypercoagulable states, medication-induced thrombosis, vascular conditions, drug abuse, and cardiac malformations that might have led to stroke in younger patients.
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Amanda Chau
Hawaii’s multicultural community has not been thoroughly studied, despite its significantly higher prevalence of stroke. Socioeconomic status has been shown to be a factor in post-stroke outcomes. This project will investigate the effect of socioeconomic status (SES), race, and ethnicity on post-stroke disability outcomes in Hawaii. Identifying populations in Hawaii that may be at risk for worser post-stroke disability outcomes may lead to better post-stroke care amongst these groups.
Brain Mapping Research
Laboratory
Lead Investigator: Vimala Vajjala, MD
Can EEG Patterns Predict Onset of Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease?
Research Assistants: Medical Students Enze Ma, Charissa Tan, Nathan Kim
HPN BRITL Brain mapping research lab. is dedicated to studying how neuronal cortical networks interact with the external environment through neurophysiologic and neuroimaging modalities. The integration of behavioral neuroscience, neurophysiology and bio signal processing knowledge is translated into developing better understanding of cortical physiology and how to improve quality of life of those suffering from neurological disorders
Hawaii Neuro COVID Research Laboratory
Lead Investigator: Enrique Carrazana, MD,
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Hannah Bulosan
Olfactory dysfunction is widely known as one of the cardinal symptoms of COVID-19 infection. While earlier studies have suggested differences in anosmia between ethnic groups, the amount of available data at the time limited studies to compare primarily Asians and Caucasians. Since then, data regarding populations such as Africans and Latinos have been published and will be used to determine the prevalence of loss of smell as in a wider variety of groups. In addition to analyzing ethnic data, this study will also use epidemiological data regarding which strains of COVID-19 were prevalent in various regions throughout time in order to elucidate the impact of variants on anosmia.
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Stephanie Matsuura
Long Covid Syndrome (LCS) is becoming more and more prevalent across the world. Symptoms of LCS such as fatigue, shortness of breath and brain fog can be very debilitating for patients. Currently, there is no universal standard for evaluating and diagnosing LCS in patients. This review will look at the different methods and scales that have been used to evaluate LCS in previous studies and compare them to each other. The Review aims to make practical suggestions as to the use of scales for evaluating LCS for the researchers and practicing clinicians.
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Edward Weldon, I
Emerging literature continues to elucidate effects of COVID-19 that contribute to lasting exercise intolerance in many recovering patients. However, what is the severity and duration of these effects compared to other viral infections such as influenza and EBV? Is COVID-related exercise intolerance different than these other infections and how do the mechanisms create intolerance compare? By answering these questions, we hope that our research will better inform how to prevent and treat exercise intolerance both regarding COVID-19 and other viral infections.
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Theodore Huo
Since the emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic, there has been evidence showing a relationship between Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and COVID-19 infection. Our project seeks to compare GBS occurrence rates and severity among COVID-19 variants and across populations in different geographic locations. In assessing severity, we will investigate the occurrence of known GBS sequelae such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIPD). We will also compare COVID-19 GBS to GBS seen with other viral infections such as influenza A (H1N1), avian influenza, and zika virus.
Hawaii Neuro COVID Research Laboratory
Lead Investigator: Kore Liow, MD
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Connor Goo (Lead), Hannah Bulosan, Theodore Huo, Stephanie Matsuura, Edward Weldon IV
As of April 2022, Hawaii Neuro COVID Clinic is 1 of 16 US sites selected by NIH to serve as a participating site for the NeuoCOVID Project.
The NeuroCOVID project has been initiated at New York University Langone Health to create and maintain a national resource documenting and studying neurological complications of COVID-19 funded by NINDS, NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through its Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program.
COVID-19 Neuro Databank: The databank will collect information on adults, children with confirmed COVID-19 infection to assess neurological symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, headache, loss of smell & taste, pain, numbness, autonomic dysfunction and others.
COVID-19 Neuro Biobank: The biobank will collect a wide variety of biosamples, including blood, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue, from patients who have COVID-19 and experience neurological complications.
More Information: Hawaii Neuro COVID Clinic or NIH website, NYU website
Neuromuscular Research
Lead Investigator: Jason Chang, MD,
Investigating the Neuropathic Electromyography Findings in COVID-19 Patients
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Nathan Kim
COVID-19 is an acute infectious respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although symptomatic patients with COVID-19 predominantly present with respiratory complaints, neurological manifestations have become increasingly recognized. However, the prevalence of these neurological complaints has been poorly quantified. A diagnostic procedure commonly utilized in the evaluation of patients with neuropathy is electromyography (EMG). Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the presence of neuropathic EMG findings in patients who previously contracted COVID-19.
TBI Research Unit
Lead Investigator, Kent Yamamoto, MD
Can Mild to Moderate Exercise Modalities actually Enhance Recovery Following Traumatic Brain Injury?
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Edward Weldon, I
Long standing literature has shown that contact sports and strenuous exercise should be avoided following traumatic brain injury (TBI).. The majority of this research focuses on treadmill aerobic exercise which may be jarring to the patient’s recovering brain. Furthermore, for patients with concurrent lower body injuries, treadmill exercise may not be possible. However, emerging literature indicates that some level of mild to moderate exercise may enhance patients’ recovery time. We aim to analyze TBI patients’ exercise modalities and patterns following TBI in order to identify effective exercises that improve symptoms and recovery time. Chart review to identify demographics, TBI severity, discharge from hospital time.
Sleep Research Unit
Lead Investigator: Sriharsha Vajjala, MD
Investigating CPAP Adherence Rates Among Sleep Apnea Patients in Hawaii
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Theodore Huo
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered the gold standard treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Unfortunately, CPAP is known to be related to issues with adherence, with many patients abandoning the device or using it infrequently. However, adherence rates have not been described extensively in isolated, racially diverse island populations like those in Hawaii. The purpose of our project is to investigate CPAP adherence rates in Hawaii among patients with OSA who were treated at the Sleep and Insomnia Center at Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience
Lifestyle Research Unit
Lead Investigator, Paul Smith, MD,
Utilization of a Risk Acuity Scorecard for Comparison of Stroke Pre and Post Therapeutic Lifestyle Intervention Efficacy?
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Vanessa Rubel, Hannah Bulosan, Stephanie Matsuura,
Lifestyle interventions are a way to prevent, treat, and reverse diseases. The risk factors for stroke (i.e. obesity, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, etc.) are addressed by behavioral changes implemented by an individual undergoing therapeutic lifestyle intervention. By introduction of the Lifestyle Medicine Assessment (LMA) tool at the initial entry of a stroke patient into therapeutic lifestyle intervention we are able to capture subjective information and quantify that data into five objectively measurable domains- connectedness, movement, nutrition, recovery, and substance use. Our study will determine if a six month therapeutic lifestyle intervention produces any significant changes within deficient domains and across all five domains as reflected in the Lifestyle Score Total. These scores will also be assessed by grouping of patients based on their initial risk acuity scorecard categorization of: low, moderate, or high risk.
Alzheimer’s Research Unit
Lead Investigator, Kore Liow, MD
Analyzing Barriers & Methods to Improve Clinical Trial Participation among Minority Population especially Asians and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islands in Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Anson Lee
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the United States and disproportionately burdens minority populations. However, clinical AD trials regularly face a shortage of eligible participants numbering in the thousands and this number is set to increase in the next several years. Previous research into barriers to clinical trial participation has found that economic constraints, structural and logistical obstacles, a lack of trust in medical institutions, or a scarcity of information about clinical trials, all negatively impact recruitment efforts. Amongst ethnic minority populations, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI), as well as Asians are the most underrepresented with Pacific islanders frequently found absent in AD clinical research. Minority representation is a key part of the generalizability of trial results, so identifying how ethnic minority engagement can be bolstered is crucial. This study explores the barriers to AD clinical trial participation in patients diagnosed with AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Hawai’i, the state with the largest relative population of Asian and NHPI individuals in the U.S.
Parkinson’s Research Unit
Lead Investigator: Jason Viereck, MD, PhD
Does Parkinson’s Disease Patients with Depression have a Worse Outcome Compared to Those without Depression?
Research Assistants/Medical Students: ZoeAnn Kon
In patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity and is often under-diagnosed and under-recognized. This can lead to worsened outcomes for patients and caregivers. To find the prevalence of depression in patients with PD at our institution using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). We retrospectively reviewed patients at the Hawaii Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders with PD. Including patients on sleeping medications and antidepressants using two self-rating scales (Zung Self-rating Depression Scale and 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale).
Headache Research Laboratory
Lead Investigator, Vimala Vajjala, MD
Does Headaches Disrupt Quality of Life Different in Minority Population?
Research Assistants: Medical Students Michelle Lu
Headaches of all kinds, including tension headaches, cluster headaches, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia and headaches that are refractory to treatment can be extremely disruptive to patients’ quality of life, and occur more frequently in women of all races. We would like to examine the profiles of minority patients in Hawai’i and see whether they are characterized differently from white populations.
Pain Research Unit
Lead Investigator, Jason Chang, MD
Evaluating the Relationship Between Pain and Disability in Lumbar Radiculopathy Patients in Hawaii Undergoing Conservative Pain Treatment
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Amanda Chau
While the numeric rating scale (NRS) is a commonly used in assessing pain intensity, it only captures one dimension of a patient’s pain experience and may not necessarily reflect the extent of a patient’s resulting disability and their actual capacity to participate in daily activities. Can a patient with lumbar radiculopathy be completely rid of pain, yet still only gain back minimal functional capacity? This retrospective study will investigate the relationship between traditional NRS questionnaires and patients’ level of disability or dependence according to the Rankin Scale. Doing so can help us better identify patient outcomes related to functional capacity following conservative pain treatment in lumbar radiculopathy patients.
Neuromodulation & Brain Computer Interface Laboratory
Lead Investigator, Kore Liow, MD,
Is Neuromodulation like Vagal Nerve Stimulator Improving the Quality of Life, Reducing HealthCare Utilization in Geographic Island State like Hawaii?
Research Assistants/Medical Students: ZoeAnn Kon
Neuromodulation-based therapies such as vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is used for patients with refractory epilepsy. Many studies have shown VNS reduces seizure frequency and the impact on quality of life (QOL) in patients implanted with VNS treatment in many epilepsy centers. However, the efficacy, utilization and QOL of life in VNS patients has not been looked at in geographic isolated island populations like those in the state of Hawaii and whether they are any different from other epilepsy centers. Our project seeks to investigate the efficacy, utilization and QOL impacts of patients implanted with VNS at the Hawaii Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and Hawaii Center for Neuromodulation.
MS Research Unit
Lead Investigator: Jason Viereck, MD, PhD
Investigating the Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in MS Patients with Immune Comorbidities?
Research Assistants/Medical Students: Shin Chang
The immune system plays a vital role in the onset and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies have shown that certain immune comorbidities such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Type I diabetes, and psoriasis are more prevalent in patients with MS. Other studies have also indicated a higher rate of anxiety and depression among patients with MS. In this study, we will research the patterns of immune comorbidities in patients with MS and how they may correlate with diagnoses of depression and anxiety.
Epilepsy Research Unit
Lead Investigator, Vimala Vajjala, MD
Investigating the Etiologies of Seizures in Patients Undergoing Video-EEG at Hawaii Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
Research Assistant/ Medical Students: Julia Jahansooz
Routine electroencephalograms (EEG) are a first-line diagnostic tool used to detect abnormalities in brain waves. Outpatient Video-EEG monitoring (vEEG) is a more extensive, multi-day procedure that helps to determine the cause of these abnormalities. The distribution of etiologies of Hawaii Comprehensive Epilepsy Center patients who underwent an vEEG is currently unknown. This project aims to identify the percentage of patients with vEEG abnormalities and whether they experienced an epileptic versus a non-epileptic event. Other factors that will be considered include age, gender, duration of epilepsy, types of seizures, and number of anti-epileptic drugs (AED) used.
