BRENHAM HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR TO PRESENT CARDIOLOGY RESEARCH AT 2026 INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR

Josh Blaschke November 14, 2025

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A Brenham High School senior is conducting research that could help make early detection of heart disease more accessible and affordable.

Sadaf Shireen’s project focuses on improving early, non-invasive detection of coronary microvascular disease (CMD) using artificial intelligence and electrocardiogram (ECG) data analysis. Shireen is in the process of publishing her research through the Young Researchers Institute (YRI) and is preparing to present her work at the 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona, the world’s largest pre-college research competition.

CMD is a condition that affects tiny vessels in the heart and hinders proper blood flow to the heart tissue, causing lasting chest pain and increasing the risk of a heart attack.

Shireen’s study seeks to address the lack of publicly-available screening-level datasets by proving that multi-stage ECG analysis, powered by AI and open-source tools, can distinguish CMD from other conditions with similar symptoms. She seeks to discover low-cost, non-invasive solutions for early cardiovascular screening that could be implemented by smaller healthcare systems with limited resources.

Shireen’s work has been driven by her involvement with YRI, a competitive and selective program that trains high school students to conduct independent research fit for publication in science journals. The program pairs students with mentors from esteemed universities like Harvard and Stanford and provides hands-on experience in data analysis and study design.

Shireen says she has learned how to refine her methods, explain complex concepts with clarity, and hold her work to a higher standard. Her participation has also demonstrated that students from smaller towns like Brenham can contribute on the same level as those from major research hubs.

While Shireen is still deciding on where she plans to attend university after graduating from high school, she intends to pursue the pre-medical track at Columbia University.