there’s an old Japanese legend about love that says that each of us is born
love that says that each of us is born
love that says that each of us is born possessing a single red thread the
possessing a single red thread the
possessing a single red thread the attaches from our pointer finger and
attaches from our pointer finger and
attaches from our pointer finger and runs to the arteries of our heart then
runs to the arteries of our heart then
runs to the arteries of our heart then as we go about lives and former nameless
as we go about lives and former nameless
as we go about lives and former nameless strangers become friends we form
strangers become friends we form
strangers become friends we form connections and our red strings
connections and our red strings
connections and our red strings intertwine with other people’s until we
intertwine with other people’s until we
intertwine with other people’s until we die a network of intertwined connected
die a network of intertwined connected
die a network of intertwined connected red strings further as research suggests
red strings further as research suggests
red strings further as research suggests we are no more than six degrees
we are no more than six degrees
we are no more than six degrees separated from anyone which likewise
separated from anyone which likewise
separated from anyone which likewise suggests that we are no more than six
suggests that we are no more than six
suggests that we are no more than six red strings separated from anyone else
red strings separated from anyone else
red strings separated from anyone else in this crowd
in this crowd
in this crowd I believe the ideas function largely in
I believe the ideas function largely in
I believe the ideas function largely in the same way as we go about life and we
the same way as we go about life and we
the same way as we go about life and we have different experiences and different
have different experiences and different
have different experiences and different interactions these separate
interactions these separate
interactions these separate opportunities come together to form
opportunities come together to form
opportunities come together to form powerful ideas my own story starts back
powerful ideas my own story starts back
powerful ideas my own story starts back when I was about 12 years old so during
when I was about 12 years old so during
when I was about 12 years old so during this time I was obsessed with the TV
this time I was obsessed with the TV
this time I was obsessed with the TV show called lie to me it was based off
show called lie to me it was based off
show called lie to me it was based off of the work of researcher dr. Paul Ekman
of the work of researcher dr. Paul Ekman
of the work of researcher dr. Paul Ekman and it was this detective who would
and it was this detective who would
and it was this detective who would determine whether or not people are
determine whether or not people are
determine whether or not people are lying by reading their facial
lying by reading their facial
lying by reading their facial expressions I was captivated not only by
expressions I was captivated not only by
expressions I was captivated not only by the storyline and plotline but more so
the storyline and plotline but more so
the storyline and plotline but more so by the science behind what the face
by the science behind what the face
by the science behind what the face could reveal Google became my new best
could reveal Google became my new best
could reveal Google became my new best friend and I spent hours reading and
friend and I spent hours reading and
friend and I spent hours reading and researching about the research of behind
researching about the research of behind
researching about the research of behind this TV show then fast forward to two
this TV show then fast forward to two
this TV show then fast forward to two years ago when I was a sophomore in high
years ago when I was a sophomore in high
years ago when I was a sophomore in high school and I was watching a video by the
school and I was watching a video by the
school and I was watching a video by the Michael J Fox foundation when I noticed
Michael J Fox foundation when I noticed
Michael J Fox foundation when I noticed that whenever Michael J Fox or another
that whenever Michael J Fox or another
that whenever Michael J Fox or another Parkinson’s patient would laugh or smile
Parkinson’s patient would laugh or smile
Parkinson’s patient would laugh or smile with one another it came off as
with one another it came off as
with one another it came off as emotionally distant or unfelt
emotionally distant or unfelt
emotionally distant or unfelt a red string instantly formed in my mind
a red string instantly formed in my mind
a red string instantly formed in my mind and my mind instantly went back to the
and my mind instantly went back to the
and my mind instantly went back to the TV show lie to me I wondered if the
TV show lie to me I wondered if the
TV show lie to me I wondered if the facial action coding system which was
facial action coding system which was
facial action coding system which was the basis of the lie to me TV show could
the basis of the lie to me TV show could
the basis of the lie to me TV show could have healthcare implications further as
have healthcare implications further as
have healthcare implications further as I started talking to local caretakers
I started talking to local caretakers
I started talking to local caretakers and clinicians they reported similar
and clinicians they reported similar
and clinicians they reported similar observations and their loved ones years
observations and their loved ones years
observations and their loved ones years before diagnosis I also found that
before diagnosis I also found that
before diagnosis I also found that current Parkinson’s disease diagnostic
current Parkinson’s disease diagnostic
current Parkinson’s disease diagnostic methods are severely hindered due to
methods are severely hindered due to
methods are severely hindered due to lack of validated biomarkers or
lack of validated biomarkers or
lack of validated biomarkers or objective in the
objective in the
objective in the of disease onset further as I once again
of disease onset further as I once again
of disease onset further as I once again returned to Google I found as I was
returned to Google I found as I was
returned to Google I found as I was reading through prior research that the
reading through prior research that the
reading through prior research that the same sections of the brain that
same sections of the brain that
same sections of the brain that experienced the earliest changes among
experienced the earliest changes among
experienced the earliest changes among Parkinson’s patients are the same
Parkinson’s patients are the same
Parkinson’s patients are the same sections of the brain responsible for
sections of the brain responsible for
sections of the brain responsible for spontaneous and post facial expression
spontaneous and post facial expression
spontaneous and post facial expression formation meaning if that we could find
formation meaning if that we could find
formation meaning if that we could find a way to discover and digitize these
a way to discover and digitize these
a way to discover and digitize these differences they could provide early
differences they could provide early
differences they could provide early external manifestations of early
external manifestations of early
external manifestations of early internal neurological pathology among
internal neurological pathology among
internal neurological pathology among parkinson’s patients as i was reading
parkinson’s patients as i was reading
parkinson’s patients as i was reading through past research i was also
through past research i was also
through past research i was also surprised to find that the number of
surprised to find that the number of
surprised to find that the number of parkinson’s cases is experiencing
parkinson’s cases is experiencing
parkinson’s cases is experiencing rampant growth globally by the year 2030
rampant growth globally by the year 2030
rampant growth globally by the year 2030 the number of parkinson’s cases is
the number of parkinson’s cases is
the number of parkinson’s cases is expected to more than double and
expected to more than double and
expected to more than double and especially vulnerable are those in
especially vulnerable are those in
especially vulnerable are those in developing and remote areas across a
developing and remote areas across a
developing and remote areas across a world where lack of early and accurate
world where lack of early and accurate
world where lack of early and accurate diagnostic methods will further
diagnostic methods will further
diagnostic methods will further complicate the disease prevent treatment
complicate the disease prevent treatment
complicate the disease prevent treatment options and pose an increasing societal
options and pose an increasing societal
options and pose an increasing societal economic and infrastructural threat on
economic and infrastructural threat on
economic and infrastructural threat on current healthcare sectors I knew that I
current healthcare sectors I knew that I
current healthcare sectors I knew that I had to change these statistics and
had to change these statistics and
had to change these statistics and challenge the way that Parkinson’s
challenge the way that Parkinson’s
challenge the way that Parkinson’s disease diagnosis was currently being
disease diagnosis was currently being
disease diagnosis was currently being approached so I designed a way to elicit
approached so I designed a way to elicit
approached so I designed a way to elicit and collect spontaneous and post facial
and collect spontaneous and post facial
and collect spontaneous and post facial expressions I sent an email to the
expressions I sent an email to the
expressions I sent an email to the Michael J Fox foundation and luckily
Michael J Fox foundation and luckily
Michael J Fox foundation and luckily they responded and I was able to launch
they responded and I was able to launch
they responded and I was able to launch an online study with that I would have
an online study with that I would have
an online study with that I would have Parkinson’s and non Parkinson’s patients
Parkinson’s and non Parkinson’s patients
Parkinson’s and non Parkinson’s patients watch a series of Super Bowl commercials
watch a series of Super Bowl commercials
watch a series of Super Bowl commercials or replicate a series of emojis while
or replicate a series of emojis while
or replicate a series of emojis while their faces were recorded by their
their faces were recorded by their
their faces were recorded by their computer webcam I then broke down the
computer webcam I then broke down the
computer webcam I then broke down the footage I collected using facial
footage I collected using facial
footage I collected using facial recognition software for frame by frame
recognition software for frame by frame
recognition software for frame by frame calculations for distinct facial muscle
calculations for distinct facial muscle
calculations for distinct facial muscle movements I then took the data and was
movements I then took the data and was
movements I then took the data and was able to mine through the data to
able to mine through the data to
able to mine through the data to discover and validate previously unknown
discover and validate previously unknown
discover and validate previously unknown early indicators of Parkinson’s disease
early indicators of Parkinson’s disease
early indicators of Parkinson’s disease these included specific facial muscle
these included specific facial muscle
these included specific facial muscle movements experience differences in
movements experience differences in
movements experience differences in responses among parkinson’s patients
responses among parkinson’s patients
responses among parkinson’s patients such as that involved for the upper
such as that involved for the upper
such as that involved for the upper eyebrow contraction and then also
eyebrow contraction and then also
eyebrow contraction and then also interactions between facial muscle
interactions between facial muscle
interactions between facial muscle movements such as those involved for the
movements such as those involved for the
movements such as those involved for the formation of a smile and these are
formation of a smile and these are
formation of a smile and these are actually only a few of the larger subset
actually only a few of the larger subset
actually only a few of the larger subset of biomarkers that I was able
of biomarkers that I was able
of biomarkers that I was able determine then using these biomarkers I
determine then using these biomarkers I
determine then using these biomarkers I then want to build a series of
then want to build a series of
then want to build a series of diagnostic algorithms that could
diagnostic algorithms that could
diagnostic algorithms that could accurately determine whether or not a
accurately determine whether or not a
accurately determine whether or not a patient had Parkinson’s disease so I
patient had Parkinson’s disease so I
patient had Parkinson’s disease so I taught myself how to code and after
taught myself how to code and after
taught myself how to code and after several long nights and failed attempts
several long nights and failed attempts
several long nights and failed attempts it finally worked and this was such an
it finally worked and this was such an
it finally worked and this was such an exciting moment my research as it
exciting moment my research as it
exciting moment my research as it demonstrated that I had not only been
demonstrated that I had not only been
demonstrated that I had not only been able to discover and digitize previously
able to discover and digitize previously
able to discover and digitize previously unknown early indicators of Parkinson’s
unknown early indicators of Parkinson’s
unknown early indicators of Parkinson’s disease but I was also able to use these
disease but I was also able to use these
disease but I was also able to use these differences to determine whether or not
differences to determine whether or not
differences to determine whether or not somebody had Parkinson’s based solely on
somebody had Parkinson’s based solely on
somebody had Parkinson’s based solely on the responses to Super Bowl commercials
the responses to Super Bowl commercials
the responses to Super Bowl commercials and replication of emojis I have been
and replication of emojis I have been
and replication of emojis I have been able to create a robust means of
able to create a robust means of
able to create a robust means of diagnosis for Parkinson’s disease and as
diagnosis for Parkinson’s disease and as
diagnosis for Parkinson’s disease and as this process is data-driven I will be
this process is data-driven I will be
this process is data-driven I will be able to continue to refine the
able to continue to refine the
able to continue to refine the algorithms and improve an accuracy as I
algorithms and improve an accuracy as I
algorithms and improve an accuracy as I continue to collect responses one of the
continue to collect responses one of the
continue to collect responses one of the most fascinating elements of this
most fascinating elements of this
most fascinating elements of this diagnostic tool and that is that it
diagnostic tool and that is that it
diagnostic tool and that is that it utilizes biomarkers that may occur up to
utilizes biomarkers that may occur up to
utilizes biomarkers that may occur up to ten years before the onset of
ten years before the onset of
ten years before the onset of traditional motor symptoms and
traditional motor symptoms and
traditional motor symptoms and subsequent diagnosis this is especially
subsequent diagnosis this is especially
subsequent diagnosis this is especially critical because it opens up an exciting
critical because it opens up an exciting
critical because it opens up an exciting opportunity to start developing and
opportunity to start developing and
opportunity to start developing and testing novel therapeutics which will
testing novel therapeutics which will
testing novel therapeutics which will ultimately change the way that
ultimately change the way that
ultimately change the way that Parkinson’s disease is treated the
Parkinson’s disease is treated the
Parkinson’s disease is treated the technology I use is also specifically
technology I use is also specifically
technology I use is also specifically designed to be non-invasive and remote
designed to be non-invasive and remote
designed to be non-invasive and remote making it perfect for the developing and
making it perfect for the developing and
making it perfect for the developing and remote areas across the world most at
remote areas across the world most at
remote areas across the world most at risk to the rampant growth in the number
risk to the rampant growth in the number
risk to the rampant growth in the number of Parkinson’s cases I so I just started
of Parkinson’s cases I so I just started
of Parkinson’s cases I so I just started my senior year of high school and I’m
my senior year of high school and I’m
my senior year of high school and I’m currently continuing this research so
currently continuing this research so
currently continuing this research so this fall I will be launching a series
this fall I will be launching a series
this fall I will be launching a series of longitudinal studies which will
of longitudinal studies which will
of longitudinal studies which will enable us to really pinpoint out what
enable us to really pinpoint out what
enable us to really pinpoint out what specific point before current diagnosis
specific point before current diagnosis
specific point before current diagnosis are we able to capture these responses
are we able to capture these responses
are we able to capture these responses and this process can easily be
and this process can easily be
and this process can easily be replicated for other neurological or
replicated for other neurological or
replicated for other neurological or other developmental diseases such as
other developmental diseases such as
other developmental diseases such as PTSD or postnatal depression on which I
PTSD or postnatal depression on which I
PTSD or postnatal depression on which I will also be working on this school year
will also be working on this school year
will also be working on this school year and I think that the applications of
and I think that the applications of
and I think that the applications of this technology are what most excite me
this technology are what most excite me
this technology are what most excite me so first and foremost this provides a
so first and foremost this provides a
so first and foremost this provides a robust means of diagnosis for clinicians
robust means of diagnosis for clinicians
robust means of diagnosis for clinicians around the world and pharmaceutical
around the world and pharmaceutical
around the world and pharmaceutical companies have also expressed and
companies have also expressed and
companies have also expressed and using this technology as a means to
using this technology as a means to
using this technology as a means to progressively monitor Parkinson’s
progressively monitor Parkinson’s
progressively monitor Parkinson’s disease and again test and develop novel
disease and again test and develop novel
disease and again test and develop novel therapeutics but from a personal
therapeutics but from a personal
therapeutics but from a personal standpoint one of the things I’m most
standpoint one of the things I’m most
standpoint one of the things I’m most excited about is that the facial
excited about is that the facial
excited about is that the facial recognition software I used is
recognition software I used is
recognition software I used is compatible with that used by companies
compatible with that used by companies
compatible with that used by companies such as snapchat and Facebook meaning
such as snapchat and Facebook meaning
such as snapchat and Facebook meaning these social media platforms could one
these social media platforms could one
these social media platforms could one day provide powerful health care tools
day provide powerful health care tools
day provide powerful health care tools creating a selfie that could save your
creating a selfie that could save your
creating a selfie that could save your life so I’d like to end by just taking a
life so I’d like to end by just taking a
life so I’d like to end by just taking a step back for a moment I think one of
step back for a moment I think one of
step back for a moment I think one of the most amazing aspects about the way
the most amazing aspects about the way
the most amazing aspects about the way and the process that ideas are formed is
and the process that ideas are formed is
and the process that ideas are formed is that after you start developing your
that after you start developing your
that after you start developing your idea into a tangible technology you can
idea into a tangible technology you can
idea into a tangible technology you can kind of take a step back and look at how
kind of take a step back and look at how
kind of take a step back and look at how all these separate red strings of
all these separate red strings of
all these separate red strings of inspiration came together to form
inspiration came together to form
inspiration came together to form powerful revolutionary ideas my mind
powerful revolutionary ideas my mind
powerful revolutionary ideas my mind goes back to our solar system so through
goes back to our solar system so through
goes back to our solar system so through the development of objective tools and
the development of objective tools and
the development of objective tools and technologies such as the telescope we
technologies such as the telescope we
technologies such as the telescope we have been able to better understand the
have been able to better understand the
have been able to better understand the vast complexities of outer space
vast complexities of outer space
vast complexities of outer space similarly I believe that through the
similarly I believe that through the
similarly I believe that through the development of better more accessible
development of better more accessible
development of better more accessible and objective tools and technologies
and objective tools and technologies
and objective tools and technologies such as those I’m working to develop
such as those I’m working to develop
such as those I’m working to develop within the sphere of Parkinson’s disease
within the sphere of Parkinson’s disease
within the sphere of Parkinson’s disease diagnosis we will likewise be able to
diagnosis we will likewise be able to
diagnosis we will likewise be able to come to better understand our own inner
come to better understand our own inner
come to better understand our own inner space and that is an adventure of a
space and that is an adventure of a
space and that is an adventure of a lifetime
lifetime
lifetime thank you
”
Be First to Comment