Translational Medical Research Commons^™

Ai×Life 2026: Advances In Computational Biology Across Scales For Life & Health Sciences, Suma Mohan S., Devika N. T., Pranavathiyani G.

Conference Proceedings

Book of Abstracts of the International Conference, AIxLife 2026: Advances in Computational Biology Across Scales for Life & Health Sciences, held on 17–18 April 2026, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, INDIA 

About the Conference

Conventional computational biology laid the foundation for biological data analysis through statistical models, algorithms, and curated databases, enabling insights into genes, proteins, and pathways. Today, the integration of artificial intelligence, spanning machine learning, deep learning, and large language models (LLMs) is driving a transformative shift across biological scales, from atomic and molecular interactions to pathways, cellular systems, organisms, and populations.

AI-powered approaches …

Summary Of: Evaluating Community Engagement Efforts In A Clinical And Translational Research Initiative, Kelly Finck Waters, Brenda Joly, Carolyn E. Gray, Jan K. Carney, Kathleen Fairfield

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

Community engagement is a core element of translational science, yet tools to assess its quality and reach remain limited. This study evaluated the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network’s efforts to strengthen community academic partnerships through its Community Engagement and Outreach Core using the PARTNER CPRM platform, which combines network analysis with survey-based trust and value metrics.

Study found @ "Evaluating community engagement efforts in a clinical and translationa" by Kelly Finck Waters, Brenda Joly et al.

Associations Between Health Literacy And Comprehension Of Health Visits In A Community Setting, Amanda Romaya, Adel Andemeskel, Salim Abdul-Razak, Linda Dillon, Victoria Lucia

Posters

Low health literacy is a significant social determinant of health that is associated with poor health outcomes1-3. Bringing attention to health literacy will aid in promoting the health of the population. However little has been done to implement national policies and interventions that address patient health literacy, especially in a community setting4.

We hypothesized that our assessment of the identified patient population’s health literacy will not meet adequate standards and will indeed demonstrate a need for community-focused interventions

Assessing Disparities In Sep-1 Bundle Compliance At Corewell Health, Zachary Awad, Mark Munir, Paul Bozyk, Ramin Homayouni

Posters

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition resulting from a dysregulated immune response to infection, carries significant mortality. To improve sepsis management, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the SEP-1 bundle, outlining critical interventions within specified timelines. This study aimed to investigate disparities in SEP-1 bundle compliance, examining variations among septic patients based on sociodemographic factors like age, race, and area deprivation index (ADI), as well as clinical factors like chronic health conditions.

Allergies Coinciding With Central Sensitization Syndromes (Access), Jacqueline Morey, Alemu Fite, Carl Lauter, Matthew Sims

Posters

Significance of Reported Allergies: Many reported drug allergies are mislabeled side effects or misinterpretations, leading to suboptimal treatment, antibiotic resistance, and worse patient outcomes.¹

Central Sensitization Syndromes (CSS): CSSs are chronic pain conditions linked to altered sensory perception, including pain, fatigue, and neurologic dysfunction.² These patients may be more likely to misattribute medication side effects as allergies.

Previous Findings & Hypothesis: Prior research found high allergy reporting in interstitial cystitis and fibromyalgia—both CSS conditions.⁴ We hypothesized that other CSS diagnoses also correlate with increased allergy reporting, emphasizing the need for better allergy evaluation.

Epic Best Practice Alerts Increases Sep1 Orderset Usage, Mark Munir, Zachary Awad, Paul Bozyk, Ramin Homayouni

Posters

Sepsis is a massive, system-wide inflammatory response to an infection that can lead to multisystem organ failure.1 Sepsis has a very high mortality rate of 20-50% in patients with severe sepsis and is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.2 One of the most significant ways of reducing mortality from sepsis is timely detection and initiation of treatment in septic patients.3

Electronic medical records such as Epic have implemented sepsis warning algorithms and alerts to facilitate quicker detection of sepsis and thus earlier initiation of treatment. The goal of this study is to determine if an Epic …

Implementation Of An Opioid Free Pediatric Hernia Repair Protocol, Corey Shafer, Antonela Muca, Randy Hilleary, Kristin Lemarbe, Diane Studzinsk, Kaveh Aslani, Nathan Novotny, Pavan Brahmamdam, Begum Akay

Posters

Surgery most often provides children with their first exposure to opioids which may lead to misuse and overuse. Protocolizing pain management perioperatively can reduce opioid exposure in children while still providing adequate pain management.

Surgical Site Infection Bundle For Babies: Preliminary Data, Cullen Woodley, John Nida, Alexis Lonjin, Katelyn Ward, Diane Studzinski, Begum Akay

Posters

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are infections that occur in or around the area where a surgery was recently performed. They are estimated to account for 20% of all healthcare associated infection, and lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Perioperative care bundles show promise in reducing SSIs in adults but are not often used in neonatal surgery. Infections in babies after surgery are less common than adults but carry significant morbidity in a fragile patient.

Enhancing Reproductive Anatomy Education: A Comprehensive Approach Integrating Near-Peer And Reciprocal Peer Tutoring, Hope Hefferan, Emelie-Jo Scheffler, Erin Mueller, Varna Taranikanti

Posters

• Near-peer tutoring (NPT): Tutors are more advanced than tutees, typically offering support in understanding complex concepts.1

• Reciprocal peer tutoring (RPT): Students with similar levels of training alternate between tutor and tutee roles, facilitating collaborative learning.1

• Peer tutoring fosters professional development and improves long-term retention of complex medical concepts.3,4,5

• Reproductive anatomy is a challenging area for many medical students; Innovative peer tutoring methods may help improve understanding and retention of anatomical structures.

• We hypothesize that integrating NPT and RPT within the laboratory setting in the reproductive organ system course will enhance student motivation, self-efficacy, and long-term …

Examining Health Disparities: An Observational Study On Peripheral Vascular Access Outcomes Among Hospitalized Patients, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Nicholas Mielke, Yuying Xing, Amit Bahl

Posters

Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) placement is the most common invasive procedure performed in healthcare, with an estimated 90% of hospitalized patients requiring PIVC access during their stay. This equates to around two billion PIVCs used annually.1–3 Studies report 36% to 63% of catheters fail due to a variety of complications, including infiltration, occlusion, phlebitis, dislodgment, and infection. 2–6 These failures not only cause immediate patient discomfort and increased clinical workload but also have wider implications such as prolonged hospital stays and delays in critical treatments.2 The factors contributing to PIVC failure are multifaceted, involving clinical presentation, patient anatomy, provider skill …

Research Annual Report Fy2025, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Research Annual Reports

Annual report of the research at Children's Mercy Kansas City in Kansas City MO, a pediatric medical center.

Summary Of: Ai Diabetic Retinopathy Screening In A Primary Care Setting In Rural Maine, Rachel Heuer Md, Emma Daybranch Mph, Anastasia Tsomides Do, Jessica F. Dibiase Mph, Neil Korsen Md, Brian Nolan Md

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness globally. Early diagnosis and treatment reduce the risk of vision loss by 98%.

Study found @ "AI Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in a Primary Care Setting in Rural M" by Rachel Heuer, Emma DayBranch et al.

Analysis Of Differential Gene Expression In Androgen-Independent Clones Derived From The Mycap Pca Cell Line, Jessie L. Tignor, Melanie Sinanian, Richard Inho Joh, David Gewirtz, Jason Reed

Undergraduate Research Posters

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a primary treatment strategy for prostate cancer (PCa), yet many tumors eventually develop androgen independence, leading to treatment resistance. To investigate the molecular changes underlying this transition, we analyzed differential gene expression in four androgen-independent (AI) clones derived from the Myc-CaP prostate cancer cell line using RNA sequencing. Gene expression profiles were compared to the parental Myc-CaP line, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using DESeq2 and edgeR. The AI clones exhibited significant downregulation of senescence-associated genes, including Ezh2 and lamin B1, suggesting a loss of senescence-related chromatin repression. Additionally, upregulation of Wnt pathway …

Summary Of: Reaching Structurally Vulnerable Populations Using Low-Barrier Covid-19 Testing Clinics Co-Created With Community Based Organizations, David Ngandu, Gloria Sclar, Ambia Ahmed, Sumayo A Awale, Caroline Fernandes, Joshua Goldstein, Hina Hashmi, Shruti Joshi, Et Al.

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected people from structurally vulnerable communities. There was a need to improve COVID-19 testing in these communities to reduce viral spread and connect to treatment.

Study @ "Reaching Structurally Vulnerable Populations Using Low-Barrier COVID-1" by David Ngandu, Gloria D Sclar et al.

Exploring Illness Beyond Disease: Development Of A Sense Of Identity In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ibd), Nicholas Totah, Jason Adam Wasserman

Posters

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses significant challenges to an individual’s physical and emotional well-being, often reshaping their sense of self and life trajectories.
• Patient narrative can illuminate the illness experience in ways that are often unaddressed in the literature.

Summary Of: Feasibility Of Continuous Home Monitoring Of Particulate Matter And Lung Function In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Who Are Exposed To Wood Smoke, S Wayne, K Cowan, L.M. Paulin, J Emery, D.A. Kaminsky

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

Particulate matter (PM) contains microscopic solids or liquids that are so small they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Examples include smoke, dust, soot, and fumes.

There is increasing evidence that small particles have harmful effects on people’s breathing. Wood stoves are a source of indoor PM.

Smoking And Covid-19: An Analysis Of Demographics, Risk Factors, And Outcomes, Andrew Vrtar, Luca Cucullo, Richard H. Kennedy

Posters

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a respiratory pathogen that first emerged in late 20191 and was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020.
• Cigarette use is a significant public health concern throughout the world. Despite reductions in prevalence in recent years, tobacco smoking remains one of the main preventable causes of ill-health and premature death.
• Both tobacco smoking and vaping are phenomena that may increase the vulnerability of these individuals to COVID19 infection.4 Therefore, it is crucial to explore the medical consequences of and …

Analysis Of Ed Visitors For Dermatological Disorders Prior To And During The Covid Pandemic, Faris Alkhouri, Jacob Keeley, Ramin Homayouni

Posters

Dermatology-related Emergency Department (ED) visits make up more than 3% of total ED visits1; however, only around 2% of these visits can be considered true emergencies.2 To our knowledge, there are no studies that examined demographic influences on ED visits in regards to skin disorders in the adult population.

The sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic had significant effects on healthcare systems and policies, which resulted in a nationwide decline of 20-43% in ED visits.3 However, no studies have examined the impact of the pandemic on the presentation of skin disorders in the ED.

Use Of Early Enteral Nutrition In Mechanically Ventilated Covid-19 Patients, Vivian Chang, Ramin Homayouni, Virginia Uhley

Posters

Malnutrition in critically ill patients has been associated with a greater length of hospital stay, incidence of complications, and risk of death. Up to 37% of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are either moderately or severely malnourished1. Optimizing enteral nutrition delivery is key to maximizing the benefits of nutrition support for critically ill patients. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the role of nutrition support for COVID-19 patients was poorly understood. In May 2020, the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) approved nutrition guidelines for COVID-19 patients that state that …

Association Between Primary Care And Emergency Department Utilization, Donna Kayal, Jacob Keeley, Ramin Homayouni

Posters

Emergency departments have been designed to provide rapid and accessible care for emergent and acute needs for a broad scope of illnesses and injuries.1-2 However, the emergency department (ED) has been facing an overwhelming increase in demand, leading to an increase in wait time and significant overcrowding, which decreases the effectiveness of the ED.1-4 A common explanation that has been noted over the years is utilization of ED services for non-emergent care, which professionals have often labeled as “inappropriate use.”2,5 Such encounters take away time from ED physicians and health care workers, compromising the care for true emergencies and leading …

Efficacy Of An Integrated Computer Assisted Learning (Cal) Module In Student Understanding Of Cardiovascular Embryology, Nicolaas Schimmel, Forrest Bohler, Varna Taranikanti

Posters

• Embryology is one of the most difficult topics for students to master1

Students’ perceptions of embryology are generally more negative:

• Not clinically important1

• More negative attitude than towards gross anatomy1

• Unhappy with current teaching methods and not confident learning it2

An integrated CAL module will allow a more linear model for learning congenital heart diseases, which may help improve students’ understanding of cardiovascular embryology.

• Compared to traditional, more segmental model where students learn embryology separately from clinical presentation, ECG interpretation, etc.
• CAL modules have proven effective for other organ systems3.

• We hypothesized that students would demonstrate …

Perioperative Antibiotic Use In Neonatal General Surgery: A Survey Of Apsa Membership, Samuel K. Osei, Ashley Williams, Diane Studzinski, Patrick Karabon, Begum Akay, Pavan Brahmamdam

Posters

• Guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical site infection (SSI) are widely used for adult patients.
• There is limited data on prophylaxis in pediatrics, and there are no standardized guidelines for neonates.
• Perioperative antibiotic use in neonates based on the surgeon’s preference.

Characterizing The Effectiveness Of Prehospital Pediatric Pain Management In Children With Long Bone Fractures, Revelle Gappy, Ashima Goyal, John Frawley, Sariely Sandoval, Nai-Wei Chen, Remle Crowe, Robert Swor

Posters

Prehospital pediatric pain management has been poorly understood and sub-optimally treated.1-3 Pain scales for children differ from adult pain scales and it is unclear if pain assessments are well documented, particularly in infants and toddlers.4-6 Surveys of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel identify barriers to pain management including discomfort with emergency care of injured children, concern for allergic reactions, additional pain from intravenous catheter insertion, parental influence, as well as lack of knowledge and experience secondary to the relatively infrequent treatment of acutely injured children.7-9

The effectiveness of prehospital pain medication administration for children is unknown, as is the efficacy …

Research Annual Report Fy2024, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Research Annual Reports

Annual report of the research at Children's Mercy Kansas City in Kansas City MO, a pediatric medical center.

Summary Of: Why Did Some Rural Mainers Accept Novel Covid-19 Vaccines When Rolled Out In 2021, While Others Did Not?, Michael Kohut Phd, Liz Scharnetzki, Joseph Pajka, Elizabeth Jacobs, Kathleen Fairfield

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

Many people, especially in rural areas of the United States, choose not to receive novel COVID-19 vaccinations despite public health recommendations.

Understanding how people describe decisions to get vaccinated or not may help to address hesitancy.

Study @ "Decisions about adopting novel COVID-19 vaccines among White adults in" by Michael Kohut PhD, Liz Scharnetzki et al.

Iatrogenic Nerve Injuries During Surgeries Of The Neck: A Systematic Review, Tajuldeen Al-Hasani, Jickssa Gemechu, Varna Taranikanti

Posters

Iatrogenic nerve injuries in the neck can present with a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild pain, numbness, or weakness, to devastating consequences for patients such as permanent irreversible damage, disability, or even death. Surgical interventions in the neck region, especially those requiring radical dissections in the neck carry a significant risk of iatrogenic injury to several vital nerves passing through the neck such as vagus, phrenic, brachial plexus, cervical plexus, and ansa cervicalis.

Chief Complaint And Geriatric Depression: Assessing Risk For 30- And 90-Day Readmission, Eric James, Michelle Moccia, Victoria Lucia

Posters

Readmission to the hospital has significant monetary costs and represents a care gap for older adults. This investigation examines how a positive geriatric depression screen and chief complaint contribute to 30- and 90-day readmission risk. Depression recognition with follow-up care is a critical first step to prevent adverse outcomes such as readmission.

Beyond Covid-19: The Impact Of Recent Pandemics On Medical Students And Their Education: A Scoping Review, Moneb Bughrara, Stephanie Swanberg, Victoria Lucia, Keaton Schmitz, Dawn Jung, Tracy Wunderlich-Barillas

Posters

Over the past two years, COVID-19 has greatly altered undergraduate medical education (UME) as well as daily life. Medical schools across the world were disrupted and had to immediately adapt the educational experience to the online environment in order to continue the delivery of quality UME. However, COVID-19 was not the only recent pandemic. This posed the question, were similar disruptions and adaptations also seen in recent past pandemics such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) that could have prepared UME for COVID-19? This scoping review investigated the educational and personal impact of recent …

A Retrospective Study On The Incidence Of Ckd Diagnosis Post Covid-19 Infection With Variations In Glycemic Control, Eduardo Leon, Jithin John, Nick Ludka, Ramin Homayouni

Posters

The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized that the virus can cause multi-organ complications, especially in patients with pre-existing conditions such as type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who are at higher risk for poor outcomes. Some patients may also develop T2DM post-infection due to the virus's effects on insulin secretion and blood glucose regulation. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a useful tool for assessing blood glucose levels over time, diagnosing diabetes and monitoring disease management. Elevated levels of HbA1c have been linked to diabetic nephropathy (DN) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), both of which are potential complications of COVID-19 infection. This study aims to …

Incidence Of Myopathy In Post Covid-19 Patients Undergoing Statin Therapy, Jithin John, Eduardo Leon, Ramin Homayouni

Posters

Statin-associated myositis has been documented since its first use, causing an increase in Creatinine Kinase levels. While some suggest avoiding statins in individuals with COVID-19, recent literature suggests that statin use is protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The role of statin therapy in COVID-19 cases, especially regarding myopathy, remains scarce. We hypothesize that different statin therapies prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection are associated with an increased risk of myopathy and an increase in blood CK levels.