Winning papers announced for 2025 Population Health Library Research Awards

Sofia Sumon (Psychology & Microbiology), "Inducing a Valsalva-like Response as a Neuroprotective Strategy in Traumatic Brain Injury"

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasing, creating a greater burden of short-term and long-term neurological deficits, disability, and death. This condition is specifically prevalent among US service members, with more than 450,000 individuals having experienced TBI from 2000-2021. Veterans with TBI reintegrate into civilian life, where they may experience long-term sequalae including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and seizures. Despite this prevalence of TBI, preventative options remain limited.

Increasing intercranial pressure (ICP) at the moment of impact may decrease shearing forces in the brain, potentially protecting against TBI. Recognizing the need to understand TBI mechanisms and develop neuroprotective strategies, the Department of Defense is funding our study exploring the effect of a Valsalva-like response (VLR) prior to impact in a closed-head impact TBI model. This novel intervention that increases ICP immediately prior to impact may be neuroprotective and thus preserve cognitive and motor functions in TBI-affected individuals.

The long-term goal of our study is to provide evidence that supports the development of a wearable human device that activates a VLR prior to impact for high-risk individuals such as military personnel. Our research aligns with current public health initiatives, which aim to strengthen surveillance and rehabilitation frameworks to mitigate the public health burden of TBI on general populations while also offering clinical toolkits and mobile applications. Successful completion of the long-term goals of this project could ensure that soldiers and other individuals in high-risk professions receive neuroprotection against the life-long consequences of TBI.

Ran Zhao (Biochemistry), "How ingestion of histamine and pyrilamine, affects the neurochemical composition of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes"

My project investigates how small molecules like histamine and pyrilamine affect the neurochemistry of the Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, a major malaria vector. During severe malaria infections, histamine levels in the human host’s blood rise and mosquitoes ingest this histamine during blood feeding. I use LC-MS to quantify how this impacts mosquito neurotransmitter levels and whether pyrilamine, an antihistamine, can modulate these effects.

This work aligns directly with the goals of the Population Health Initiative by addressing vector borne disease at the molecular level. Malaria continues to threaten the health and development of vulnerable populations, particularly in regions with limited healthcare access. Our findings suggest that subtle chemical interventions, such as sugar bait stations containing pyrilamine, may offer a low-cost, sustainable approach to reducing mosquito biting behavior, parasite development or lifespan.

Rather than relying solely on insecticides or vaccines, we propose an innovative direction rooted in mosquito neurobiology. By disrupting transmission pathways through chemical cues, this research has the potential to contribute to broader strategies in disease prevention, environmental sustainability, and global health equity.

Population health is not only about treating disease — it’s about preventing it in ways that are community-informed, biologically grounded, and adaptable to different ecological settings. My work contributes to that vision by translating basic science into practical, scalable public health tools that protect human health and reduce the burden of malaria in the world’s most affected regions.

Zanqi Liang (Computer Science), "Toward Performant and Robust Autonomous Race Car Navigation"

While at first glance an autonomous racecar navigating academic hallways may seem disconnected from population health, this project contributes foundational work to a rapidly growing field with profound societal impact: scalable, autonomous robotic systems. The technologies underlying our MuSHR racecar—such as real-time localization, motion planning, and adaptive control in dynamic environments—form the core of future solutions in healthcare delivery, disaster response, and accessible infrastructure.

In rural or underserved urban areas, mobile robots could assist with last-mile delivery of medicine, sanitation supplies, or even food, especially in emergency situations where traditional infrastructure fails. Our project tested these foundational capabilities in real-world settings, navigating through cluttered, unpredictable hallways using robust, low-cost hardware. These environments are proxies for hospitals, clinics, or shelters, where safe autonomous navigation can aid caregivers or reduce the burden on overtaxed staff.

Our reliance on the UW Libraries’ research resources also reflects another key population health tenet: knowledge accessibility. The open-access robotics literature and planning/control algorithm research we used enabled us to build a system that could one day be replicated by low resource communities or organizations. Moreover, the skills developed through this project—systems thinking, modular design, and data-driven optimization—are directly transferable to population health research. Whether designing autonomous cleaning robots for infection control or delivery systems for remote health services, this work demonstrates how applied engineering research can intersect with and amplify population-level health outcomes.

This project isn’t just about a racecar—it’s about building technologies that serve people.

Hanquan (John) Wang (Mechanical Engineering), "NASA Cryogenic Vortex Transport"

My research on NASA’s cryogenic vortex generator aligns closely with the theme of population health, specifically in its impact on human health and environmental resilience. Cryogenic systems, particularly in the storage and transportation of vaccines and biologics, play a critical role in ensuring that life-saving medical products remain viable in regions where access to consistent refrigeration is limited. These systems rely on efficient heat transfer to prevent temperature fluctuations that could compromise the integrity of these products. However, the Leidenfrost vapor barrier in traditional cryogenic systems reduces the efficiency of this process by insulating the liquid cryogen from the pipe walls.

My work focuses on optimizing vortex generators to disrupt this vapor barrier, improving heat transfer and reducing cryogen boil-off. By creating a more efficient cooling process, my research directly impacts the reliability of cryogenic systems in space application and could go beyond the use in medical applications, ensuring vaccines and other critical biologics remain stable and accessible in underserved communities. The improvements made in this research also contribute to environmental resilience by reducing energy consumption and waste associated with cryogenic storage.

This work ties into the University of Washington’s Population Health Initiative by addressing the intersection of human health, environmental resilience and social equity. By enhancing cryogenic technology, we improve access to essential medical supplies while minimizing environmental impact, aligning with the broader goal of improving health outcomes across populations. The optimization of cryogenic systems is thus a vital piece in building healthier communities and advancing equitable healthcare globally.