Team Objectives: Our lab focuses on research areas in hepatology including epidemiology, clinical outcomes, translational studies, and therapeutic clinical trials for chronic hepatitis B/C, fatty liver, and liver cancer. We also examine socioeconomic disparities in healthcare by probing data on risk factors, quality outcomes, and ethnicity-related issues on care delivery for such liver diseases.

My Role: I conduct data selection, cleaning, analysis, and interpretation by tailoring models to each study protocol. One of my most frequent involvements have been meta-analysis projects, ranging from global survival rate analysis following curative surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma to treatment rates of direct-acting antivirals for chronic hepatitis C by continent. Most recently, I published a paper of my own investigating socioeconomic disparities reflected by chronic liver disease trends, using national data from NHANES including income-to-poverty ratio and other social determinants. I’m particularly passionate about addressing healthcare equity through data-based research. I also love to connect with my colleague interns by discussing project directions and mentoring them on data modeling using R/STATA analysis software.

Team Objectives: We are a joint team between Duke University Medical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center. Our research is founded on the understanding that noninvasive brain stimulation, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), can safely modulate cortical and subcortical functioning. By targeting neurocircuitry implicated in substance use disorders, rTMS has the potential to induce long-term behavioral changes.

To evaluate the feasibility of a multimodal rTMS smoking cessation treatment for veterans with PTSD, we are conducting a longitudinal intervention study with participants recruited from the Durham VA. In this two-arm parallel design study, participants undergo a baseline MRI scan, receive 5 days of twice-daily active or sham rTMS the week before their quit date, and have a post-treatment MRI scan, concurrently undergoing conventional cognitive behavioral therapy and nicotine replacement therapy. We hope to build a foundation for future development of treatments for substance use disorders through the integration of noninvasive neuromodulation, neuroimaging, and evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.

My Role: On the front-end, I administer the rTMS and MRI sessions interacting with study participants and record live data, ensuring the compliance of research protocol and participant safety at each step. On the back-end, I help with MRI-to-TMS image rendering utilizing brain image modeling and subject randomization softwares such as Brainsight and Pavlovia. I also develop Redcap questionnaires including MRI safety screening forms, register and consent participants via OnCore, and ensure proper and confidential management of personal health information data. It is always a delight to connect with participants throughout week-long trials, hearing their life stories and supporting their journey to quit smoking.