The High School Health Research Forum Expo
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.
When submitting your work, recognize whether your submission falls under this definition by Harvard Countway Library:
The term "health research" refers to research that is done to learn more about human health. Health research also aims to find better ways to prevent and treat disease. It is an important way to help improve the care and treatment of people worldwide (Research Guides: Participating in Health Research Studies: What Is Health Research?, 2020).
Private Policy Disclaimer
By submitting any work, you agree to allow HSHRF to review and potentially showcase or peer-edit your research. Your personal information and research will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and will not be shared with third parties without your explicit consent. For more details, please refer to our full Privacy Policy.
Explore the Expo
Nutritional Intake & its Impact on Immune Function in the Elderly
By: Ifra Iyoob, Palm Desert High School
In this research article, I observed the effects of nutritional intake on the function of the immune system in elderly. I looked at specific nutrients, including vitamin E, zinc, and n-3 PUFA and how both deficiencies and over-consumption can impact the efficiency of the adaptive immune system in older individuals.
Association Between Physical Activity and Neurodegenerative Diseases in Elderly
By: Ifra Iyoob, Palm Desert High School
In this article, Ifra looked at the benefits of physical activity as a preventative measure for neurodegenerative disease development in the elderly. She completed this as a part of a larger research paper she completed as research director of AllForSmiles, a non-profit focused on senior health.
For most neurodegenerative diseases– including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTD)– age is the primary risk factor. All of the aforementioned diseases are much more common in elderly patients, and the risk increases with age. For instance, incidence of AD nearly doubles every five years after the age of 65. If that was not frightening enough, for those that reach the age of 90, about 1/3rd meets the criteria for dementia.
Nepali chaupadi: A Human Rights Case Study
By: Ifra Iyoob, Palm Desert High School
In this research article, I observed the effects of the ancient practice of Nepali chaupadi on women. These effects included dehumanization, denial of education, and impacts on physical and mental health. I also explored as avenues for change.
The Status of Breast Cancer Incidence in the United States and Asia
By: Mikayla Chan, Polytechnic School
Breast cancer, historically less common among Asian women compared to Western counterparts, is now on the rise in Asian populations. Recent studies show similar age-specific incidence rates of invasive breast cancer between Asian and US white women, suggesting converging trends. This shift is particularly notable among Asian American women, where breast cancer has become the predominant cancer type. From 1990 to 2014, breast cancer rates rose significantly among most Asian American ethnic groups, driven primarily by increases in ER-positive breast cancer. Factors such as acculturation and length of residence in the US are linked to higher breast cancer risks, with foreign-born Asian women showing lower incidence rates than their US-born counterparts. Lifestyle changes associated with Westernization, such as dietary habits and reproductive behaviors, contribute to the rising incidence.