Georgetown Scientific Research Journal (GSR Journal) is Georgetown University's open source scientific journal. GSR Journal aims to publish academic level research within the Georgetown community in order to promote the scientific accomplishments of the student body, foster inclusion within the science community and interest within research-based careers, encourage diversity within the research field, grant more visibility of student authorship, and increase awareness of groundbreaking scientific discoveries within the community. Through an outside of institution peer-review process, our articles are ensured to be original work that adheres to all scientific publication guidelines.
Copyright (c) 2026 Georgetown Scientific Research Journal
“Just Swapping One Drug Out for Another”: Beliefs and Attitudes Influencing Support for Medication-Assisted Treatment in Rural Communities
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a highly effective treatment method for substance use disorder (SUD) that combines regularly ingested medications with tailored behavioral and cognitive assistance to decrease withdrawal symptoms. Public stigma and personal attitudes can impact the proliferation and efficacy of MAT services. Therefore, understanding the content and prevalence of relevant social factors in rural communities is essential for improving the rural treatment landscape. The aims of this study are to (1) qualitatively examine the specific personal beliefs and attitudes (“belief factors”) present among rural residents that contribute to their support of or opposition to both MAT and government funding for MAT and (2) qualitatively examine the factors of rural social life that could influence those beliefs and attitudes. From May to July of 2025, surveys and interviews regarding personal and community perceptions of people with SUD were conducted with 25 residents of communities from 8 rural counties and 1 non-rural county in Vermont, Montana, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kentucky. Surveys and interviews were transcribed and coded to identify the specific personal beliefs and dispositions recurring among the interviewees that influence their personal level of support for MAT. This study identifies eight core factors (generally categorizable as either empathy-related, political, or scientific beliefs) as influential for an individual’s level of support for MAT. Also identified are three core social factors of rural life that could influence an individual’s level of support for MAT. These results contain critical implications for future literature and MAT-related messaging campaigns predicated upon individual belief systems.
Trust, Mistrust, Distrust, Disparities, Health Equity, Pre-Medical Curriculum, Healthcare
Copyright (c) 2025 Georgetown Scientific Research Journal
Medical Education and Training Reimagined: Moving Structural Racism and Trustworthiness from the Margins to the Center
Historically, medical education has not adequately addressed racial and ethnic inequities in healthcare or prepared physicians to earn patient trust, especially among marginalized communities. While some curricula cover health inequities and cultural competency, they focus more on encouraging patient trust than on teaching physicians how to demonstrate trustworthiness. By distinguishing between mistrust, distrust, and trust, we highlight a crucial gap in medical training: current training promotes patient trust without equipping physicians with the skills to earn it. The focus must shift from encouraging patients to trust the healthcare system to directly training providers in behaviors and systemic changes that demonstrate trustworthiness in order to gain trust. We propose a reorientation of medical education: one that emphasizes promoting trustworthiness and directly addresses the systemic and provider-level factors that have contributed to the erosion of patient confidence in medicine and their medical providers.
Copyright (c) 2024 Georgetown Scientific Research Journal
Variation in body size introduces behavioural and adaptive constraints in morphologically similar Felidae species
Species within the mammalian family Felidae present a unique opportunity to study the relationship between interspecies morphological and ecological variation due to their high phenotypic trait conservation. Despite a long list of shared characteristics, felids display tremendous diversity in body size, with an almost 300 kg difference between the largest and smallest species. However, extensive research into potential interactions of body size with other traits across felids as a whole has yet to be completed. In this review and collection of exploratory analyses, we examined whether variation in body size introduces ecological constraints on how felids use their common traits, particularly regarding ambush hunting behavior. We collated and explored metadata about numerous morphological and ecological characteristics (including average weight, prey selection and killing strategy, pelage characteristics, habitat preference, and conservation status) for all 41 currently recognized species. We found that felid body size influences prey selection and primary dispatch strategy, with larger felids employing suffocating throat bites while smaller felids preferred nape bites. We also found that larger body sizes seemed generally associated with lower prey capture rates, although data collection on more felid species is necessary to confirm whether this trend holds across the family. We further documented high variation in pelage characteristics and preferred habitat types, suggesting that the near universal need for camouflage in ambush predators exerts a stronger influence on pelage color and pattern than body size. Finally, we reported a relationship between body size and conservation status, as 100% of large species and 84% of small species are currently experiencing population declines. While midsize species fare slightly better with only 56% of species showing declines, all felids face significant threats from habitat loss and other anthropogenic pressures. By collating metadata and exploring patterns relating felid body size to ecological and behavioral traits alongside population trends and conservation status, we aimed to improve our understanding of these charismatic and ecologically important animals, while inspiring further study into the eco-evolutionary implications of body size.
Coding Gender: Exploring the Presence of Gender Stereotypes within ChatGPT
Recently released in November 2022, OpenAI’s latest tech innovation, Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), has taken the world by storm, using machine learning algorithms to create human-like responses to any given input. With the rapid integration of ChatGPT into numerous social domains and day-to-day tasks, it is imperative to understand this program’s limitations and predispositions. Therefore, this paper examines whether ChatGPT and ChatGPT+ demonstrate a reliance on traditional gender stereotypes in their responses and, if so, how this level of gender bias relates to comparable Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs. This author centers their testing (performed in the Summer of 2023) and conclusions on ChatGPT’s language translation service, asking it to translate gender-ambiguous English sentences into five gendered languages (French, Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, and Arabic). Additionally, this study examines ChatGPT’s ability to answer open-ended questions and tell stories. Findings reveal a notable correlation between traditional gender stereotypes in both ChatGPT’s translations and open-ended responses, as well as identify minimal differences in this level of reliance between ChatGPT and ChatGPT+. Moreover, this research emphasizes the importance of making continual efforts to mitigate biases in the proof of concept and development stage of Language Learning Models.
Assessment of State-level Operational Policies and Programs for Selected Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the United States
Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over one billion people worldwide. Although the prevalence of these diseases are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, they can also affect vulnerable individuals and communities within high-income countries including the United States (US). Past research on NTDs in the US suggests that there is an unmet need for diagnosis and treatment within at-risk populations and limited information on existing operational policies and programs is publicly available. Methodology/Principle Findings: This study aimed to analyze state-level operational policies and programs for five NTDs previously reported in the US and known to have local transmission: Chagas disease, cysticercosis, soil-transmitted ​​helminthiasis, dengue, and rabies. Departments of Health in 34 states considered to be at higher risk of these NTDs were contacted to ascertain willingness to provide information on policies and programs related to surveillance, notification, diagnosis, and treatment of each of these five diseases. Thirteen state departments of health completed a questionnaire. Responses show substantial variations between states. A majority of states reported operational policies in place for dengue and rabies, focused on mandated health provider-to-state reporting as well as guidelines or recommendations on screening, testing, and treatment. State policies and guidelines were less consistently reported for Chagas disease and cysticercosis and only one state reported any surveillance efforts for soil-transmitted helminths. Differences in types of surveillance systems were also found between each disease and each state. Results highlight the fragmentation of the US public health system with respect to NTD management. Conclusion: Variability in state policies and reporting in addition to lack of active surveillance hinders the accurate measurement of NTD prevalence in the US and as a result, limits the equitable and appropriate distribution of resources. The creation of consistent policy guidelines will reduce inconsistencies in reporting and possibly prevent missed cases of NTDs in high-risk US populations. Greater domestic engagement and prioritization in NTD management should not compromise US support for international NTD control efforts, but rather could be leveraged to demonstrate greater US commitment and solidarity with partner countries.
Neglected tropical diseases, United States of America, disease control policy, Chagas disease, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, rabies, dengue, cysticercosis
Association between IL-6 and Caregiving for People Living with Dementia (PLWD) and Potential Interventions
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 55 million people worldwide that are currently diagnosed with dementia.1 Informal caregivers (such as family and friends) of people living with dementia (PLWD) take up more than 50% of the cost for caregiving.1 Apart from the cost, caregivers to PLWD also spend a significant amount of time (4 hours) per day caring for dementia patients.1 This leads to a significant amount of financial, emotional and social stress on a daily basis. This essentially leads to an exaggerated proinflammatory response and increased levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is a tightly regulated cytokine. IL-6 binds to the IL-6 receptor, which starts a signaling cascade and transcription of genes downstream. This paper discusses research studies that explore the association between IL-6 levels and the caregiving status of individuals. One of the studies reviewed was a 6-year longitudinal study that found that the IL-6 levels of caregivers were predicted to rise at a rate approximately 4 times faster than that of noncaregivers. Another study that was reviewed in this paper suggested that the IL-6 levels of former caregivers were not significantly different than that of current caregivers. This may be explained by the idea that the increased stress created a more permanent prolonging and exaggeration of the caregiver’s proinflammatory response system. However, higher IL-6 levels are known to be associated with physiological consequences. Excessive proinflammatory markers, such as IL-6, can affect the profibrinolytic and anticoagulant effects of endothelial cells, and hence, lead to an increased cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCVDs), such as heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke (IS), and atherosclerosis. Therefore, an intervention for caregivers to PLWD is essential to help reduce IL-6 levels. This paper also reviews studies that test interventions to help reduce the IL-6 levels. One of the studies showed that higher levels of coping self-efficacy (CSE) led to a decrease in IL-6 levels during high stress. Another study also suggested that a 6-week Pleasant Events Program (PEP), a behavioral activation program, led to a significant decrease in IL-6 levels from pre- to post-intervention. Looking forward, the paper also discusses some future avenues of research to develop an intervention to reduce IL-6 levels in caregivers to people living with dementia (PLWD).
Copyright (c) 2023 Georgetown Scientific Research Journal
Our shared understanding of the scientific world advances at a pace determined by its investigators. This pace has perhaps never been quicker and more relentless than it is now, rightfully so. As researchers return to their labs in the midst of the new post-pandemic environment, the global conscience of the pandemic’s impacts is a pressing reminder that the scientific community must come together in the pursuit of learning from the past, optimizing the present, and being more prepared in the future. In publishing Georgetown Scientific Research Journal’s Spring 2023 issue, we could not be more confident that these worldwide motivations to pursue science rigorously and to deeply study our scientific past, present, and future are perfectly reflected in Georgetown’s community of student researchers. Furthermore, this issue allowed us to appreciate that Georgetown’s committed student researchers, with their diverse research interests, are truly aware of the potential that their work has to improve the human condition. As you read the following articles, we hope the commitment of the authors to understanding and alleviating the challenges faced by diverse communities they may not be a part of also resonates with you. In this issue, we are excited to present novel work in fields of research that are both well-established and just budding. The variety of topics represented can prompt readers to reflect on their own research interests and consider how the student research community at Georgetown critically evaluates what science can teach us about the past, present, and future. Included is a study that looks to the past and considers the lasting impacts of virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ social wellbeing, a study that looks to the present and considers how we can better accommodate students with OCD in an academic setting, and two studies that look to the future: one considers a promising genetic target for the therapeutic approach to breast cancer and another evaluates the synaptic activity of hallucinogenic compounds that could be developed for the treatment of depression. We hope that readers are able to recognize the contributions that the authors published in this issue have made to the scientific community. By celebrating the achievements of our peers and drawing inspiration from the far-reaching implications of our work, we can continue to power the hurtling pace of scientific progress that we bear witness to today.
Intradermal Injection of Bleomycin Shows Preliminary Evidence of Dermal Fibrosis in a Mouse Model
Burn wounds can result in the development of hypertrophic scar (HTS). A problematic characteristic of HTS is dyschromia, which is often distressing to patients and has been shown to impact quality of life. There are currently no viable, non-surgical treatment methods for dyschromia, and the mechanisms behind it are not well understood. We aimed to test if the fibrotic microenvironment of the dermis plays a contributing role in the development of epidermal dyschromia. To do this, we focused on reproducing a previously published model of bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis to add to the replicability of previous findings and establish a reliable model to serve as a basis for understanding post-burn dyschromia development. By treating C57BL/6 mice with intradermal injections of three varying doses of bleomycin for two weeks and conducting histological and molecular analyses of collected data, we were able to assess the adequacy of dermal fibrosis development. Collected data showed evidence of hair follicle obliteration, dermal thickening, and other characteristics of fibrotic architecture within all three bleomycin-treated groups, bust mostly profoundly in the high-dose group. However, qRT-PCR data did not reveal any significant trends in differential expression of genes of interest. In future work, additional qRT-PCR analysis, immunofluorescence visualization, and other molecular assays should be conducted to obtain further molecular confirmation of bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis before we can attempt to understand the mechanistic relationship between dermal fibrosis and epidermal dyschromia.
Modes of Democratic Transition, Power Dynamics Between Opposition and Incumbents, and Mass Internet Access: A Literature Review
This literature review explores the evolving landscape of democratic transitions in the 21st century within academia, with a particular focus on the influence of digital technology and access to information. The author examines the role and impact of factors such as primary education, civil liberties, income, and internet access in three types of democratic transition: conversion, collapse, and cooperative. Drawing upon extensive literature, the author scrutinizes the ways in which the aforementioned factors shape the power dynamics between opposition and incumbents, which have a significant impact on democratic transition and maintenance. The author concludes her investigation with an emphasis on the need for systematic analysis of the relationship between digital access, freedom of information, and democratization.
Analysis of the Relationship between PARP1 and BRCA1 Suggests PARP1 Gene Has a Role in Breast Cancer
Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1), one of the genes in the PARP family, is mainly involved in the detection and repair of DNA damage in cells, and its upregulation has been associated with tumorigenesis. PARP1 is essential to all cells in the body as it ensures that DNA is replicated correctly. The PARP1 protein addresses repair of single-stranded breaks (SSBs) in DNA by initially binding near the point of break in the DNA. While it is bound to the region of the SSB, PARP1 transfers ADP ribosyl moiety from NAD+ to acceptor proteins. This leads to the recruitment of DNA repair proteins to the region of DNA breaks. The PARP1 protein also aids the double-stranded break (DSB) repair of DNA by recruiting the homologous recombination (HR) pathway proteins. Due to this role of PARP1 in DNA repair, it has been associated with cancer growth. Using databases, including UniProt, Xena Browser, and CBioPortal, this article explores the relationship between PARP1 mutations and BRCA1-mutated breast cancer. BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor gene, which is involved in DNA repair through the HR pathway. Therefore, in BRCA1-mutated cells, the lack of tumor suppressor factors leads to cancer growth. However, in a cell that has both BRCA1 mutations and PARP1 inhibition, DNA damage cannot be repaired, leading to apoptosis. Hence, PARP1 inhibitors have become essential in BRCA1-mutated breast cancers. There are several PARP1 inhibitors that are currently being used to treat breast cancer, which work using several mechanisms of action, including PARP1 trapping, which prevents the repair, transcription, and replication of DNA. This article also focuses on the clinical trials of three specific drugs, Olaparib, Iniparib, and Veliparib, which are used to treat breast cancer. However, due to the lack of understanding surrounding PARP1 inhibition mechanisms and potential drug combinations, more research needs to be done to understand potential biomarker targets and PARP1 inhibitor resistance.
The Impact of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder on Academic Performance
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts followed by repeated behaviors in response to these thoughts. OCD can be highly influential on all aspects of one’s life, including academic performance. This review highlights the current understanding of specific factors of OCD that impact academic performance. Demographic factors of ethnicity and age should be collected and examined in future research. OCD severity levels and symptom groups should also be analyzed independently. Comorbid disorders with OCD should be considered when developing treatment plans. In addition, changes in OCD symptoms in response to the onset of COVID-19 should be considered. With a better understanding of OCD’s impact on academic performance, treatment plans sensitive to academically influential elements of OCD can be developed to optimally support students.
Loneliness & College Students: A Needs Assessment Regarding Georgetown Student Experiences in a Post-Virtual World
The educational adjustments to the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., distance learning and Zoom) have led to instances of loneliness and isolation among college students, especially at residential campuses such as Georgetown University. Such social disengagement can have a significant impact on a student’s transition to campus and can have a lasting effect on the rest of their college life. This needs assessment (performed in the Spring of 2022) explores the impact of loneliness among students, including themes such as mental health issues, loss of campus engagement, and problems with relationship-building. Pre-pandemic data on the social experiences of high-risk populations on college campuses are included to highlight how the post-virtual environment may have exacerbated varying pre-existing levels of loneliness. This data provides background for the needs assessment of the post-virtual world, as the core focus of this paper is solely post-virtual education/post-pandemic student experiences. We hypothesized that student and faculty interviews conducted at Georgetown University, and scholarly analysis of literature, would indicate the need for improved social support in the college setting. Students reported a lack of connection and increased mental health challenges due to the virtual environment of education during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the research, we determined that an app to address student loneliness (Nod), opportunities to engage with faculty, spaces of well-being on campus, and quality and accessible mental health resources are recommended to combat student loneliness. The negative impacts of the pandemic are still affecting college students today. Thus, it is necessary to identify ways to mitigate increased loneliness and isolation.
Psilocybin, Depression, and Synaptogenesis: Insights into the Field’s Past, Present, and Future
Depression remains one the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration granted psilocybin breakthrough therapy status four years ago as a possible solution to this pervasive disorder. Since then, psilocybin, and hallucinogens in general, have produced promising results as alternatives to classical antidepressants. As more research confirms psilocybin’s potential therapeutic effect, research surrounding the mechanistic action of these 5-HT2A receptor agonists has increased as well. Hallucinogens have different downstream effects compared to non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonists, including the formation of a 5-HT2A receptor and metabotropic glutamate receptor complex. Psilocybin’s unique synaptogenic effect may play a role in its therapeutic effect for major depressive disorder; however, the underlying mechanism by which synaptogenesis is induced upon psilocybin administration has not been explored. Psilocybin’s distinctive upregulation of transcription factors, such as egr-2, c-fos, and brain-derived neurotrophic factors, and its connection with the TrkB signaling pathway, may be the answer to this unexplained mechanism.
As researchers around the world characterize the COVID-19 pandemic that persists today, student researchers at Georgetown continue to follow their research interests with equal conviction and passion. Their leadership and initiative to share their work serve as an inspiration for us to always reach higher and a reminder of the importance of participating in the scientific community. Georgetown’s vibrant community of student researchers continues to grow as our campus finds its new normal. In publishing GSR Journal’s Fall 2022 Issue, we take pause to reflect on the research community that we have been able to connect with and amplify. We are honored to share the work of such talented students that contribute new findings to the body of scientific knowledge. GSR Journal is approaching its three-year anniversary, and we are astounded by the laudable research that Georgetown’s students conduct. In this issue, we present novel research on topics of long-standing importance. We hope this issue prompts you to reflect on the topics presented, as well as to consider topics that you are most interested in further studying. Included are studies on the dynamic social response to mass shooting events, factors that influence vaccination choices, and new approaches to improving health literacy among medically-underserved populations. We hope this issue provokes new ideas and inspires researchers to build off of the presented findings. At its core, research is a community effort. It is the culmination of many ideas, concepts, and backgrounds that drives scientific progress. Please join us in congratulating the students who committed themselves to their research amidst ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic and worked with gumption to publish their rigorous work in GSR Journal’s Fall 2022 Issue. The research community at Georgetown would not be the same without its driven students that remind us of the value in relentlessly pursuing our ideas.
Trends in Pro-Gun Control Tweets Surrounding a Mass Shooting Event Suggest Time-Dependent Changes in Public Response
Over the period from May 25, 2015 to May 25, 2018, there were 1,296 mass shootings recorded around the United States. This article evaluates overall public support for gun regulation before and after a major mass shooting. Big data that accounted for outliers and other potential skewing points were included from Twitter. 250 Tweets that occurred immediately before, immediately after, or two weeks after a major mass shooting were analyzed. The Tweets were restricted to include at least one of the following hashtags (#): secondamendment, neveragain, shooting, NRA, guncontrol, gunviolence, and 2A. The Tweets were categorized as pro-gun control, anti-gun control, or neutral, defined by operational definitions. It was hypothesized that there would be more Tweets that opposed gun control 1-7 days before each mass shooting but fewer Tweets that opposed gun control 72 hours after each mass shooting. Three days (72 hours) after a major mass shooting, there was a significant decrease in the number of anti-gun control Tweets posted compared to 1-7 days prior to the shooting. There was also a significant increase in the number of anti-gun control Tweets 14-21 days after the mass shooting compared to 72 hours after the shooting, implying that the content of Tweets after two weeks was similar to the content before the shooting occurred.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Low-Income, Underserved Children in the Greater DC and Hackensack, NJ Metropolitan Areas
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. In 2018, 43 million cases of HPV were recorded in the United States, mostly afflicting young adults in their late teens and early twenties. Gardasil-9, the HPV vaccine currently distributed in the U.S., protects against nine HPV types that cause genital warts and cancers, such as cervical, penile, and oropharyngeal cancer. There is an urgent need for widespread pre-exposure vaccination against HPV among adolescents to prevent the spread of the disease and the future development of associated cancers. This study aims to identify barriers- including lack of knowledge or access, relationship with a provider, and sociocultural factors- to HPV vaccination, to understand the complex motivations behind HPV vaccination and hesitancy to improve vaccine uptake and the health of the community. By identifying these interpersonal and systemic barriers, we can begin to understand what contributes to the lower vaccination rates in low-income, medically underserved communities and what is needed to address them. Data for this analysis was drawn from a quantitative survey and qualitative narratives compiled from key informant interviews (KIIs). Data suggested that receipt of a provider recommendation is associated with vaccine uptake, and greater knowledge of HPV is significantly associated with vaccination. The KIIs revealed that COVID-19 strengthened existing beliefs about vaccination generally, indicating that individuals prone to vaccine hesitancy grew more hesitant while proponents of vaccination pre-pandemic became more supportive after COVID-19. In conclusion, data suggested that increasing the frequency of provider recommendations for HPV vaccination and awareness of HPV would positively impact uptake and result in higher vaccination rates nationwide. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of additional factors, such as medical mistrust, vaccine hesitancy, and stress stemming from COVID-19 on HPV vaccination.