The tumor microenvironment (TME)—the ecosystem surrounding a tumor—is an important factor that influences the growth of a tumor. Specifically, features of TME may be associated with patients’ survival time, which suggests that further study of TME structures is warranted. This study used the existing METABRIC breast cancer dataset which contains spatial data of cells from tissue samples. Using cox regression, a statistical method, we aimed to analyze general patterns in TME structures to model the relationship between TME and patient survival time. Log cell type proportion and Ripley’s K function, which quantifies cell clustering, were compared in cox regression. We found that log immune cell proportion was associated with decreased patient survival time. These findings suggest that further research to determine the exact relationship between TME structures in breast cancer and patient survival outcomes is important.

Diabetes mellitus is a rapidly growing metabolic disease, marked by abnormal functioning and inability to adequately regulate insulin production, which is responsible for the conversion of glucose into energy. The pathology of diabetes has been extensively investigated in the biomedical literature, but biosocial factors have yet to be explored with equal significance. A small body of emerging genetic and biosocial studies of South Asians with diabetes suggests that specific biomarkers, shaped by negative environmental influences, may heighten risk factors and lead to a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in South Asians. South Asians, in particular, exhibit profound susceptibility to developing diabetes relative to other ethnic groups. This remains a small body of literature, signifying a need for more culturally competent research and raising awareness of the topic itself. The first half of the oral presentation will briefly highlight the main themes and findings of current biosocial literature regarding South Asians with diabetes, exploring possible factors, including genetic and environmental influences through South Asian history (e.g., famine, malnutrition, and chronic stress). The second half of the presentation will reference the literature, highlighting statements from South Asians with diabetes on their lived experiences navigating healthcare spaces. Following this, an open dialogue will generate ideas on how to implement initiatives that could lead to better outcomes, such as improved South Asian patient satisfaction. This research presentation aims to launch a necessary dialogue on diabetes within South Asians, while establishing a critical overview of the existing data and current cultural perceptions. Keywords: diabetes, epigenetics, genetic expressions, cultural perceptions, famine, environmental stressors, South Asians, Indian Asians. 

Photovoice is an innovative, visual research method that aims to capture more nuanced aspects of caregiving and family relations through photographs and storytelling. This study seeks to better understand the cultural, emotional, and practical aspects of caregiving in families affected by HIV. The project involves six semi-structured focus group discussions – three with mothers and three with fathers. Participants are trained in ethical photography and asked to take photos inspired by specific caregiving questions such as “What does being a parent mean to you?” The images captured serve as discussion prompts during group discussions, helping illuminate family structures, caregiving roles, and the challenges faced in raising HIV-exposed but uninfected children. Discussions are transcribed, and the qualitative data are analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to explore common caregiving patterns and the impact of parental HIV on caregiving dynamics. Preliminary findings are expected to highlight the critical roles of fathers in caregiving and identify strategies to better support families in nurturing child development. These findings inform future interventions and policies designed to support HIV-exposed children and their caregivers, with a focus on the unique caregiving challenges in high-HIV-prevalence contexts. As a research team member, I contribute by developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for study methodologies, managing qualitative data, coordinating team communication, and assisting with data analysis and dissemination.

Discharge planning is an important component of safe and efficient hospital care. We are interested in how patients who live in a baseline unsafe situation conceptualize a “safe” discharge plan. Thus, our study aimed to understand the needs, perspectives, and priorities of patients experiencing homelessness as they prepare to leave the hospital. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews in 2023-2024 at a large urban, public, safety-net hospital in the Pacific Northwest. Any adult patient admitted to an acute care general medicine service who was living homeless was eligible. Patients with severe cognitive or mental health disorders that precluded consent process were excluded. This study was approved by our institutional IRB. Patients experiencing homelessness shared their perspectives on discharge planning in three major themes: 1) basic needs, 2) barriers to stability, and 3) role of healthcare systems. Within the theme of basic needs, respondents identified the importance of physical survival: shelter/warmth, protection from violence, and treatment for major injuries or illness. They identified key barriers to stability: loss of property, legal concerns, and financial challenges. While many respondents were hopeful that the role of the healthcare system might be to assist in these issues, they also acknowledged the existence of significant resource constraints. Many reflected on the way that U.S. society views poverty and the impact of policy and funding to what is feasible by healthcare providers. Several participants were aware of interventions that the healthcare system puts into place to achieve better outcomes but noted these may still be out of reach when basic needs are not met. We found that patients experiencing homelessness were overwhelmingly focused on achieving their basic needs, including physical survival and environmental stability. Current discharge processes should be tailored to individual lived experiences, especially with regards to housing status.

The fitness industry actively influences how people define health, shaping their actions and self-image. My qualitative research examines how University of Washington students navigate fitness messaging in gym culture, social media, and advertising, analyzing its effects on self-perception, mental health, and behaviors. Since Winter 2024, I have used ethnographic methods, including semi-structured interviews with 30 consenting individuals and participant observations at the IMA gym, with IRB certification for ethical compliance, to identify key trends. This research focuses on four objectives: analyzing fitness industry messages around body image, exercise, and diet; investigating how these messages shape student perceptions and behaviors; examining intersections with public health, media studies, and psychology; and evaluating the ethical implications of these narratives. Preliminary findings reveal that while fitness and nutrition can improve health, commercialized messaging often leads to the opposite. Without evidence-based guidance, individuals accept and internalize health narratives that may not align with their needs, which can be detrimental. My research has revealed fitness culture reinforcing societal pressures, creating confusion about health, and leaving young adults vulnerable to misinformation, with some experiencing serious health consequences from extreme regimens promoted online. The emphasis on aesthetics often overshadows long-term well-being, contributing to over-exercise, disordered eating, and supplement misuse. This presentation will initiate critical dialogue on how fitness industry messaging impacts health behaviors and inform strategies for public health, policy, and education to address these issues. It will also raise awareness of the urgent need to evaluate health messages critically, empowering individuals to make informed decisions. I want to ensure that fitness is used as a tool for sustainable health rather than a driver of harmful standards. As I prepare for graduate studies in medical anthropology and global health this work is a critical step in my commitment to addressing health disparities.

LGBTQ+ populations face increased vulnerability to natural disasters due to factors including exclusion from aid structures, loss of healthcare, outing and harassment in shelters, and pre-existing poverty and stigma (Dominey-Howes et al, 2013; Yamashita et al, 2017). However, there is limited information specifically concentrating on transgender people's access to resources, experience with aid, or unique needs. This literature review aims to assess the current available information on transgender people's experiences of natural disasters and where there is still room for further inquiry. What does available research currently say about how transgender people perceive, prepare for, and live through natural disasters? This review will be conducted by searching through research databases and grey literature for studies on natural disasters that explicitly mention transgender people. The literature will be characterized and relevant findings, recommendations, and gaps will be summarized. We anticipate finding the amount and types of literature published, as well as information on the resources transgender people access, effectiveness of existing disaster interventions, factors affecting preparedness, and potential areas for further research. Understanding the current state of information on transgender people's experience prior to, during, and after natural disasters can inform more inclusive research and disaster planning.