A big portion of the forum’s value of connection comes from written health research. The HSHRF Expo displays high school student research dedicated to health, which is an opportunity for peers to learn and connect through words, on a wide scale. The HSHRF encourages students to submit their health research in almost all mediums, such as proposals, literature review posters, abstracts, methodologies, reports, brief manuscripts, original articles, and more.
The HSHRF Expo
Explore the Expo
Wired for the Screen: How Early Digital Engagement Impacts Neural Development and Social Reciprocity in Children with Autism.
By: Nathaniel Priyakumar, Oxford Academy
This work did a bibliometric analysis to understand the connection between early digital engagement, emotional regulation, and neurodevelopment in young children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It involved a review of the 100 most-cited peer-reviewed papers from 434 research articles included in the Web of Science. Studies have uniformly reported that increased screen exposure at an early age has been linked to changes in neural development such as decrease in white matter integrity, changes in connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, greater likelihood of delay in communication skills, and emotional dysregulation. Really, digital media can be a valuable learning, communication, and therapeutic resource if it is used in a proper way. Though, excessive or unguided use of digital devices can cause dependency on the digital world that is predictable at the cost of real-life social interactions. A great deal of research work seems to have been carried out on these highly referenced papers. Overall, the results encourage the use of technology in a balanced, stage-appropriate way while stressing the necessity of ongoing exploration of how digital stimulation affects brain development and the development of social-emotional skills of children with ASD.
Assessing Biosensor Effectiveness for Early Cancer Detection Within Underrepresented Communities
By: Salamat Ibrahim, Capital Preparatory Bronx Charter School
Healthcare disparities continue to negatively impact underrepresented and low socioeconomic communities, particularly in access to early cancer detection. Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the United States, and delayed diagnosis often results in poorer outcomes due to limited access to affordable and timely screening methods. Biosensors have emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges by enabling early detection of cancer biomarkers through cost-effective, portable, and rapid diagnostic tools. These devices function by converting biological reactions into measurable signals, allowing for the identification of biomarkers such as tumor proteins, nucleic acids, and extracellular vesicles. Recent advancements in biosensor technology, including electrochemical biosensors, biochips, and nanotechnology, have improved sensitivity and accuracy in detecting cancer at earlier stages. While biosensors offer significant advantages, such as affordability and fast response times, challenges remain due to tumor heterogeneity, which can lead to diagnostic inconsistencies, including false positives or negatives. Despite these limitations, continued research and the integration of nanomaterials show strong potential to enhance biomarker analysis and reliability. Biosensors represent an innovative approach to reducing health disparities by increasing access to early cancer detection. Their development may help bridge gaps in cancer diagnosis for underserved populations and improve long-term healthcare outcomes through equitable, accessible diagnostic solutions.
Early Trauma, Exaggerated Neuroinflammation, and Women’s Neurodegenerative Risk
By: Afsa Tassnim, GEMS Our Own English High School, Sharjah
Early life trauma leaves a biological “memory” in the brain and immune system that persists across the lifespan. By priming microglia, disrupting HPA axis regulation, and reprogramming stress-immune pathways, trauma establishes a heightened inflammatory baseline that increases vulnerability to later insults. In women, these effects are amplified bysex-specific neuroimmune differences and the loss of estrogen’s protective role during menopause or surgical interventions. Together, these processes accelerate neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegenerative cascades, helping to explain why women disproportionately suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other inflammation-driven disorders. The evidence reviewed here highlights neuroinflammation as the final common pathway where biology (microglial priming, hormonal changes) and lived experience (early adversity) converge. Importantly, it underscores the need for sex-aware neuroscience and medicinefrom basic research that incorporates female models, to clinical strategies that account for women’s trauma histories and hormonal transitions.