Shravan Balaji ranks nationally in HOSA conference with STEM study of epilepsy
MADISON – As an eighth-grader at Liberty Middle School, Shravan Balaji earned eighth place internationally at the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn. in June.
Balaji’s presentation was especially impressive as a middle-school student transitioning into high school. He finished his studies at Liberty in May and now is a freshman at James Clemens High School.
This prestigious HOSA event brought together more than 12,900 students from across the United States and international chapters to compete in a wide range of health-related competitive events.
To qualify for the conference, students must place in the top three at their regional-level competition. Balaji earned second place in the region for the event “Foundations of Medical Terminology,” which secured his spot at the international level. At the international conference, Balaji went on to achieve an impressive eighth place internationally in his event.
“Shravan also participated in the North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Feb. 28. His project, titled ‘Modeling Epilepsy Using the Virtual Brain to Optimize Surgical Interventions,’ explored how computational neuroscience can improve outcomes for epilepsy patients,” Balaji Purushothaman, who is Shravan’s father, said.
Balaji’s research included these findings: “Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide, and about one-third of patients don’t respond to medications. Surgical removal of the affected brain regions is a potential cure, but currently the procedure only has a 60-percent chance of success.”
“This project aims to develop a computational model using The Virtual Brain platform to simulate epileptic seizures of the brain and simulate the surgical resection of a specific region of the brain prior to actual interventions,” Balaji said. “This would help surgeons better predict and confirm what areas of the brain need to be resected, potentially making surgeries more successful. The model uses patient data from epilepsy centers in France.”
Balaji’s innovative work resulted in outstanding recognition:
• First place for his category at the North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair. As a result, Balaji advanced to state-level competition.
• Earned the “Excellence in Medical Science Award” at state competition.
• Balaji received the “2025 Lemelson Early Inventor Prize.”
• U.S. Space & Rocket Center recognized Balaji’s work with the “Award of Excellence.”
• Balaji received a nomination to the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, one of the nation’s premier STEM competitions for middle-school students.
Balaji’s passion for science, technology and healthcare continues to grow. His story is a testament to the opportunities available to young minds in Madison and the importance of nurturing STEM education at an early age.
“We are incredibly proud of Shravan’s dedication and hard work,” according to his parents, Balaji Purushothaman and Subashini Gopalakrishnan. “We believe his story could inspire other young students in our community to pursue their interests in health sciences and leadership.”
