2025–26 BRAIN (Bridging Research And Innovation in Neuroscience) Program
The BRAIN (Bridging Research and Innovation in Neuroscience) Scholar medical student research program is part of the University of Hawaiʻi John Burns School of Medicine MD5 MED 599 Neuroscience Research Course. University of Hawaiʻi medical students may sign up for elective credit while working at BRAIN in MD5 MED 599 Neuroscience research credit.
Hawaiʻi BRAIN (Bridging Research & Innovation in Neuroscience) is a hybrid research ecosystem that leverages the innovative powerhouse of our global research partners and government agencies to support high impact neuroscience research in Hawaiʻi and beyond. Our primary mission is to turn data driven discoveries through basic science, translational and clinical research to fuel hope and contribute to the scientific knowledge and advance progress in the fight against neurological diseases especially those affecting Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands. The BRAIN is responsible for driving and leading Hawaiʻi’s Neuroscience RIDE (Research, Innovation, Discovery & Education) for over a decade now.
BRAIN’s mission is to support aspiring students to pursue their passion in neuroscience, research and develop leadership in this field to make an impact in their local community. It provides students the opportunity to work in a team setting working with seasoned investigators, junior investigators, residents, senior student leaders and junior students. BRAIN is proud to recognize exceptional medical students as “neuroscience academic scholars” and project leaders 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 in the local and global community. See their Publications & International Presentations
Neurology/Neuroscience Faculty
Neurology, Publication Director
Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, BRAIN Project Manager
Director of Medical Student Research
Questions, contact BRAIN Scholar Program Director Kore Kai Liow, MD, kliow@hawaii.edu
2025–2026 BRAIN Scholars/Medical Students
Kenji Aoki, MS2, Program Leader
Albert Jiang, MS2, Program Leader
Titan Alexio, MS2, Project Lead
Joshua Grube, MS2, Project Lead
Bryce Hong, MS2, Project Lead
Matthew Kao, MS3, Project Lead
Ryan Nishi, MS3, Project Lead
Cameron Nishida, MS2, Project Lead
Jenna Tsuzaki, MS2, Project Lead
Yash Vyas, MS2, Project Lead
Kristal Xie, MS2, Project Lead
Chris Aguirre, MS2
Miranda Eddins, MS2
Jake Wakahiro, MS2
Stryder Williams, MS2
Haley Yamamoto, MS2
Anjeleigh Dela Cruz, MS1
Karalyn Fong, MS1
Jayson Guo, MS1
Taryn Kaneko, MS1
Emily Kang, MS1
Emi Luo, MS1
Lindsay Oshiro, MS1
Anna Peters, MS1
Lauren Seu, MS1
Kacie Sumikawa, MS1
Hollis Tam, MS1
Thayne Tsuneoka, MS1
Mia Viola, MS1
Jaelynn Yim, MS1
BRAIN Research Faculty Supervisor: Barbara Pitts PhD, Qi Zhi, DNP, MPH
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Josh Grube (lead), Stryder Williams, Karalyn Fong, Taryn Kaneko
Comparison of EEG Biomarkers in Mild Cognitive Impairment with Controlled versus Uncontrolled Hypertension
Hypertension has a well-established association with Alzheimer’s disease and is known to accelerate the progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease. A prior project within this program identified statistically significant differences in cognitive and biological biomarkers between patients with MCI alone and those with comorbid MCI and hypertension; however, the extent to which hypertension itself drives these biomarker changes remains unclear. The objective of this retrospective chart review is to determine how hypertension severity —blood pressure control, management strategies, and response to antihypertensive treatment — influences biomarkers associated with cognitive decline in patients with both MCI and hypertension. Patients have already been identified from earlier studies, with inclusion criteria consisting of a diagnosis of MCI, a diagnosis of essential hypertension or current use of at least one antihypertensive medication, prior BEAM testing, and an MMSE score obtained near the time of BEAM testing. Remaining study steps include extraction of longitudinal blood pressure measurements and hypertension management data, followed by statistical analysis in collaboration with JABSOM biostatistics. Recent Publications
BRAIN Research Faculty Supervisor: Barbara Pitts, PhD, Chathura Siriwardhana, PhD
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Albert Jiang (lead), Jaelynn Yim
BRAIN Interns: Alanna Nicole Rillorta, Clara Lee, Emily Kulaga, Rishika Isanaka
Attitudes Toward Alzheimer's Disease Testing, Risk Disclosure, and Treatment in Hawaiʻi
This study aims to characterize and compare patient and caregiver perspectives on Alzheimer’s disease, with particular attention to preferences and attitudes surrounding ApoE genetic testing, blood-based biomarkers, monoclonal antibody therapies, and diagnostic modalities such as EEG, PET, MRI, and cerebrospinal fluid testing. The project seeks to understand how cultural beliefs, health literacy, trust in Hawaiʻi’s healthcare system, and perceived accessibility influence willingness to pursue Alzheimer’s disease screening and treatment, with an additional focus on differences in prevalence, demographics, and disease dynamics in the West Oʻahu region compared with greater Oʻahu. Using a dyadic survey design, the study will administer parallel questionnaires to patients and their primary caregivers, when applicable, to capture complementary and paired perspectives on diagnosis and treatment decision-making. Comparing these paired responses allows for a more nuanced understanding of how cognitive status, caregiving experience, and psychosocial factors shape attitudes toward Alzheimer’s disease care, while also mitigating bias and feasibility challenges by incorporating caregiver input for participants with varying levels of cognitive impairment. Recent Publications
BRAIN Research Faculty Supervisor: Janette Abramowitz, MD, Qi Zhi, DN{, MPH
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Kenji Aoki (lead), Jayson Guo, Hollis Tam, Kacie Sumikawa, Mia Viola
BRAIN Interns: Dariann Ohai, Aleka Palacat
Characterizing Major Depressive Disorder in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment via Biomarker-Based Electrophysiology for Advanced Monitoring (BEAM)
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by an abnormal decline in cognition beyond what is expected with normal aging, while activities of daily living remain preserved, and is widely considered a prodromal stage of dementia. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric diagnosis defined by persistent low mood, anhedonia, and associated disturbances in cognition and thought processes. These two conditions frequently coexist and are closely linked, with comorbidity associated with worse prognostic outcomes, an increased risk of progression from MCI to dementia, and significant negative impacts on quality of life. Both MCI and MDD present diagnostic challenges due to their multifactorial etiologies, primarily clinical diagnostic frameworks, heterogeneous symptom presentations, and frequent diagnostic ambiguity. Despite these challenges, both are highly prevalent: MDD is the third leading cause of global disease burden, while MCI affects approximately 7% of adults aged 60–64 and nearly one in four adults aged 80–84. Biomarker-based Electrophysiology for Advanced Monitoring (BEAM) integrates biological and clinical assessment through combined electroencephalography and neurocognitive testing to provide quantitative biomarkers of neurocognitive dysfunction. Although previously applied primarily in Alzheimer’s disease research, BEAM offers a promising approach for objectively characterizing and monitoring neurocognitive conditions such as MCI and MDD. Recent Publications
BRAIN Research Faculty Supervisor: Janette Abramowitz, MD, Qi, Zhi, DNP, MPH
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Yash Vyas (lead), Anjeleigh Dela Cruz, Chris Aguirre
Assessing the Diagnostic Utility of BEAM EEG Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Dementias and Psychiatric Disorders
This project involves data collection from Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience patients who have undergone BEAM testing, with a focus on identifying clinical diagnoses that can be distinguished using BEAM-derived metrics. While the existing database primarily includes patients with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment, the goal is to expand its utility by developing a predictive model that assigns diagnoses to individual patients based on BEAM data. Model inputs will include BEAM electrophysiologic measures, demographic variables, and relevant comorbidities, with outputs consisting of predicted clinical diagnoses. Analytic approaches will include multi-label classifier chains and multi-label random forest models, and performance will be assessed by comparing model-predicted diagnoses with patients’ established clinical diagnoses. Recent Publications
BRAIN Research Faculty Supervisor: Darren Dugas, MD
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Kristal Xie (lead), Lindsay Oshiro, Emi Luo
BRAIN Interns: Kammiee-Marie Ardo, Carson Konop, Caroline Ulep
Real-World Dosing Patterns of Anti-Seizure Medications in Adult Epilepsy
This study aims to compare real-world maintenance dosing of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) with FDA-labeled dose ranges and to evaluate how key patient- and treatment-related variables influence prescribed doses. Variables of interest include ethnicity, demographic factors, seizure control, socioeconomic status, and line of therapy. Data will be collected from adult patients (≥18 years) with epilepsy, identified by ICD-10 codes G40.009, G40.019, G40.101, G40.109, G40.111, G40.119, G40.201, G40.209, G40.211, and G40.219, who were seen between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2024. Eligible patients must have an active ASM prescription for at least six months and a minimum of two clinical encounters within a 12-month period. Recent Publications
BRAIN Faculty Supervisor: Darren Dugas, MD
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Cameron Nishida (lead), Jenna Tsuzaki (lead), Jackson Underhill, Miranda Eddins
BRAIN Intern: Maya Kimura
Exercise Equipment Related Injuries Among Older Adults 2001-2023 NEISS Analysis
This retrospective cross-sectional study uses data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2001 to 2023, which provides national estimates of equipment-related injuries through a stratified probability sample of approximately 100 U.S. emergency departments. While regular exercise is essential for maintaining physical and neurological health in older adults, the use of exercise equipment carries an inherent risk of falls and injury. Falls in this population are associated with reduced mobility, loss of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, increased risk of nursing home admission, and represent both the leading cause of injury-related death and the most common mechanism of traumatic brain injury among older adults. Although prior literature has described exercise equipment–related injuries in the general and pediatric populations, there is limited research examining injury mechanisms and neurological consequences in older adults. The objective of this study is to characterize national patterns, mechanisms, and outcomes of exercise equipment–related injuries among older adults in the United States, with particular attention to injury types and anatomical regions, including neurologically relevant injuries such as head and neck trauma, concussion, and traumatic brain injury. Additionally, the study will examine demographic and equipment-related factors associated with hospital admission, with the goal of informing rehabilitation strategies, prevention guidelines, and safer exercise practices for the growing older adult population. Recent Publications
BRAIN Faculty Supervisor: Natalia Gonzalez, MD
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Titan Alexio (lead), Anna Peters
BRAIN Intern: Nya-Lynn Santos, Nanea Carnuth
Characterizing Diagnostic and Surgical Treatment Delay for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Hawaiʻi: Patient Impact with an Ethnicity-Stratified Analysis
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) often progresses for months to years before diagnosis and definitive surgical treatment, and prior studies have shown that delays are frequently driven by financial and insurance barriers, limited access to care, misdiagnosis, and prolonged trials of conservative management. These delays have been associated with worse outcomes, including diminished functional recovery following carpal tunnel release (CTR). Despite Hawaiʻi’s uniquely diverse population, few studies have examined how reasons for delay vary by ethnicity. This retrospective longitudinal cohort study will quantify time intervals from symptom onset to initial primary care evaluation, formal diagnosis, and surgical intervention among adults aged 18 years and older with clinically diagnosed CTS seen within the Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience between 2015 and 2024. Using electronic medical record review supplemented by patient-reported data when necessary, the study will identify both patient-level and system-level contributors to delay and stratify findings by ethnicity and insurance status. Analyses will further evaluate the relationship between delays and disease severity, functional outcomes, and complications, including electromyography and nerve conduction study severity and objective motor deficits, using descriptive and time-to-event methods to better inform equitable and timely care delivery. Recent Publications
BRAIN Faculty Supervisor: Natalia Gonzalez, MD
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Cameron Nishida (lead), Bryce Hong (lead), Emily Kang, Jake Wakahiro, Haley Yamamoto
Assessing Reliability and Quality of YouTube-based online videos on Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy can have substantial impacts on motor development, functional ability, and quality of life for affected infants and their families, and many caregivers increasingly turn to the internet and social media for health-related information. Despite this trend, the reliability and accuracy of freely available online content on Erb’s palsy remain poorly characterized. This study aims to assess the quality, validity, and reliability of YouTube videos related to Erb’s palsy, with the broader goal of informing clinicians about the information patients may encounter and encouraging the creation of more accurate, accessible educational resources. Video content will be evaluated using the JAMA Benchmark Criteria, including assessments of authorship, attribution, disclosure, and currency, as well as clarity of medical jargon. In addition, an Erb’s palsy–specific scoring system will assess coverage of etiology and pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic considerations, and treatment options, including conservative, pharmacologic, and surgical management. Overall medical quality and reliability will also be assessed using the validated 15-item Medical Quality Video Evaluation Tool (MQ-VET). Recent Publications
BRAIN Research Faculty Supervisor: Eonjung Angeline Kim, MD
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Albert Jiang (lead), Thayne Tsuneoka, Lauren Seu
Bridging Clinic and OR: Patterns and Outcomes of Neurosurgical Referrals in an Outpatient Neurology Population in Hawaiʻi
This study focuses on understanding the neurosurgical referral pipeline, a critical juncture in patient care where decisions to refer — and patients’ choices to pursue surgery — directly impact the timeliness and effectiveness of treatment. Tracking outcomes and post-referral follow-up can help close the communication loop between neurologists and surgeons, improving care coordination and reducing loss to follow-up. In Hawaiʻi, geographic isolation and limited access to specialty care contribute to delays and fragmented neurosurgical management, as many patients must navigate inter-island travel, referral bottlenecks, and workforce shortages. Outpatient neurology visits often serve as the primary or only long-term follow-up for neurosurgical patients, providing a vital opportunity for outcome tracking and data collection that can inform resource allocation. The study also aims to identify which neurological conditions — such as spine disorders, tumors, hydrocephalus, and epilepsy — most commonly prompt neurosurgical referral, guiding clinic planning, patient education, and multidisciplinary coordination. Additionally, it will examine barriers that prevent referred patients from proceeding with surgery, including insurance limitations, cultural beliefs, fear, and travel distance, to better understand factors contributing to delayed or incomplete care. Recent Publications
BRAIN Faculty Supervisor: Eonjung Angeline Kim, MD
BRAIN Scholar, Medical students: Matthew Kao (lead), Ryan Nishi (lead)
BRAIN Interns: Tyson Wu, Carson Konop
Exploring the Reliability of YouTube Videos on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Social media platforms, particularly YouTube, have an increasingly influential role in the dissemination of medical information, offering both opportunities for patient education and risks related to misinformation and inaccuracy. Understanding the quality and nature of publicly available content allows medical professionals to better appreciate what patients may believe about their conditions, including both accurate and misleading information. This study focuses on characterizing online medical information related to a generally rare diagnosis, with the objective of informing providers about the content, quality, and reliability of resources accessible to the general public. Video content will be systematically evaluated using multiple established and condition-specific grading frameworks, including the Video Power Index, the JAMA Benchmark Criteria for reliability and transparency, a four-point Likert scale assessing the use and appropriateness of medical jargon, and a thoracic outlet syndrome–specific evaluation scale. Recent Publications
