{"676015":{"#nid":"676015","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Undergraduate Anu Iyer Leads Parkinson\u2019s Research Study","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnu Iyer\u003C\/strong\u003E, a Georgia Tech Dean\u2019s Scholar, published her first research article as a first-year\u0026nbsp;student \u2014 based on research conducted while she was in high school. She is the lead co-author of the paper published in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-023-47568-w\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScientific Reports\u003C\/a\u003E, a\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENature Portfolio\u003C\/em\u003E journal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIyer, now a second-year undergraduate majoring in biology with a pre-med focus, worked with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to develop a novel voice-based diagnostic tool for Parkinson\u2019s disease (PD).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cEssentially, we proved the feasibility of a telemedicine approach towards detecting PD,\u201d says Iyer. \u201cThrough a three-second phone call, our machine-learning model recognizes patterns in data to detect Parkinson\u2019s with a 97 percent accuracy rate.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIyer states that additional strengths of the project include the potential for\u0026nbsp;detecting PD at an early stage, leading to improved treatment outcomes, and the practical benefits of a virtual diagnostic tool.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cParkinson\u2019s disease is a nervous system disorder that primarily affects the elderly population, and one of the many issues with detection is that symptoms must be analyzed in person,\u201d explains Iyer. \u201cIn Arkansas, 75 percent of our population resides in medically underserved areas\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;it can be hard for them to access health facilities. Our research addresses the need for convenient detection via telemedicine.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom science fairs to academic researcher\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIyer\u2019s teachers at her STEM middle school encouraged her passion for science and discovery. A science fair enthusiast, Iyer led a sixth-grade team to win the state title for the\u0026nbsp;Verizon Innovative Learning app, creating a smartphone app that turns off text notifications when a car reaches more than five miles per hour.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIyer credits her middle school teachers for inspiring her to seek answers beyond what she found in her textbooks.\u0026nbsp;During the summer between eighth and ninth grade, Iyer watched YouTube videos to teach herself machine learning, appreciating the opportunity to use artificial intelligence to analyze data and make predictions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMachine learning fascinates me because it holds so much potential,\u201d says Iyer. \u201cI\u0027ve always been interested in computer science, but machine learning opened my eyes to new possibilities and taught me that I can pay it forward through applied bioinformatics.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn ninth grade, she emailed UAMS professors with a research idea incorporating medicine and computer science. Her outreach led to a post as an undergraduate researcher, helping create a computer algorithm to detect eye disease. While working on a diagnostic AI model for malignancy, she began collaborating with\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EFred Prior\u003C\/strong\u003E, the chair of Bioinformatics at UAMS, who became a valued mentor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cDr. Prior introduced me to the joys of research and how small changes can make a big difference in our world,\u201d says Iyer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EPrior assigned her to the team focusing on Parkinson\u2019s in her 11th grade year\u0026nbsp;\u2014 and she soon began taking on more of an active leadership role in the research. She spent the rest of high school juggling coursework with constructing code and drafting proposals to create the computer algorithm capable of detecting PD.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProgress and service\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIyer\u2019s desire to improve the world through research led her to Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOne thing that spoke to me is the Progress and Service motto,\u201d says Iyer. \u201cMy career goals include becoming an empathetic researcher focused on reducing healthcare disparities. Specifically, I hope to specialize in developing diagnostic tools that are affordable and available for underserved areas.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs lead co-author of the PD research study, Iyer spent much of her first year working with Prior and UAMS,\u0026nbsp;participating in Zoom calls every Saturday.\u0026nbsp;As a second-year,\u0026nbsp;Iyer intends to continue working with UAMS on PD and machine-learning research. She has also taken on a new role as multiple principal investigator for a study related to chronic back pain management.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELainie Pomerleau,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ewho taught Iyer\u2019s first-year English course, and is now an assistant professor of English at the College of Coastal Georgia, helped Iyer prepare the PD paper for publication. \u201cAnu embodies Georgia Tech\u0027s mission to develop leaders who advance technology to improve the human condition,\u201d says Pomerleau.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDespite her busy schedule, Iyer has immersed herself in the Georgia Tech community. She loves the climbing wall at the Campus Recreation Center and points to Cognitive Psychology as her favorite class. Iyer\u0026nbsp;considers\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/explorellc.cos.gatech.edu\/home\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EExplore\u003C\/a\u003E, the science-centered living and learning community, to be one of the highlights of her first year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI really enjoyed being a part of Explore, living with other students who prioritize science,\u201d says Iyer. \u201cIt was easy to make friends because we all had similar classes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn the spring of her first year, she was selected as a College of Sciences Ambassador, accompanying prospective students and their parents to science-related courses and answering their questions about\u0026nbsp;campus life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe plans to get more involved with researchers at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI am a biology major, but one amazing thing about Georgia Tech is that there is a lot of encouragement to join labs outside of your major and pursue your interests,\u201d says Iyer. \u201cI\u2019d like to work in a Georgia Tech lab, particularly in neurology.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELooking forward to her next few years at the Institute, she\u2019s excited about the possibilities ahead:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech is well known for groundbreaking research,\u201d she says. \u201cI want to take advantage of Tech\u2019s many opportunities\u0026nbsp;\u2014 and fulfill my ultimate goal of making a positive impact in the world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESecond-year biology student Anu Iyer\u2019s groundbreaking research is revolutionizing Parkinson\u2019s disease detection.\u0026nbsp;Through a three-second phone call, her team\u2019s machine-learning model can detect Parkinson\u2019s with 97 percent accuracy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Biology major Anu Iyer wants to make a positive difference in the world; her groundbreaking research detecting Parkinson\u2019s disease demonstrates she\u2019s already well on her way."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2024-08-15 12:25:48","changed_gmt":"2024-08-28 15:38:30","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-08-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-08-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674588":{"id":"674588","type":"image","title":"Iyer completed much of her research while in high school and submitted the paper for publication as a Georgia Tech first-year.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIyer completed much of her research while in high school and submitted the paper for publication as a Georgia Tech first-year.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1723725121","gmt_created":"2024-08-15 12:32:01","changed":"1723823011","gmt_changed":"2024-08-16 15:43:31","alt":"Young woman standing in front of a poster describing her Parkinson\u0027s Disease research","file":{"fid":"258135","name":"Anu.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/15\/Anu.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/15\/Anu.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":86911,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/15\/Anu.jpg?itok=JLHlMjep"}},"674597":{"id":"674597","type":"image","title":"As a first-year, Iyer enjoyed diving into Tech\u0027s many events and activities, such as Georgia Tech Night at the Aquarium.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAs a first-year, Iyer enjoyed diving into Tech\u0027s many events and activities, such as Georgia Tech Night at the Aquarium.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1723729875","gmt_created":"2024-08-15 13:51:15","changed":"1724082962","gmt_changed":"2024-08-19 15:56:02","alt":"Four students pose with Georgia Tech mascot Buzz at the Georgia Aquarium.","file":{"fid":"258144","name":"AquariumBuzz.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/15\/AquariumBuzz.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/15\/AquariumBuzz.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":81209,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/15\/AquariumBuzz.jpg?itok=fuf9fNtq"}}},"media_ids":["674588","674597"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/research-opportunities","title":"Undergraduate Research Opportunities"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/celebrating-decade-explore-llc","title":"Celebrating a Decade of Explore LLC"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"77121","name":"parkinson\u0027s disease"},{"id":"48951","name":"featured student research"},{"id":"98111","name":"telemedicine"},{"id":"189331","name":"diagnostic testing"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"192259","name":"cos-students"},{"id":"166882","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Laura S. Smith\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer II\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Elaura.smith@cos.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}