Holly Berns, MS, is a bioengineering PhD student at Northern Arizona University, specializing in the neurovascular field. Originating from Tempe, Arizona, she attended Mercer University, where she founded the Mercer University Division 1 Women’s Lacrosse Team and completed her BSE in Mechanical Engineering in 2017. Following her tenure in the medical device industry, she embarked on her doctoral journey at Northern Arizona University in 2020, under the mentorship of Dr. Timothy Becker. Holly’s research is driven by a deep-seated passion and commitment to enhance patient and familial welfare through the advancement of treatments for ischemic strokes and cerebral aneurysms.

Please tell us your background, where you are from, schooling, etc.

I am from Tempe, Arizona. I attended Mercer University where I inaugurated the Mercer University Division 1 Women’s Lacrosse Team and graduated with my BSE in Mechanical Engineering in 2017. I worked in the medical device industry before joining the Bioengineering PhD program at Northern Arizona University in 2020 under the tutelage of Dr. Timothy Becker. 

What led you to become involved with brain aneurysm research?

I became involved with brain aneurysm research after joining the Bioengineering Devices Lab at Northern Arizona University. My interest in aneurysm research was initially sparked by the impact that brain aneurysms have had on my family (great grandmother) and friends (close family-friend/neighbor).

In the simplest terms, what is the purpose of your project?

The purpose of my project is to determine if the position of the arteries in the brain can help predict risk of aneurysm formation.

In the simplest terms, what do you hope will change through your research findings?

Through my research findings, I hope to have improved cerebral aneurysm screening, early detection, and associated risk factors.

Why is the funding you are receiving through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation so important?

The funding that I am receiving through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation is important because it will afford the resources required to 1) explore another risk factor for aneurysm formation and 2) pave the way for a future artificial intelligence model to be used for cerebral aneurysm screening, early detection, and treatment.