Research
Maya and Lara Hammoud are internationally recognized researchers focused on understanding and treating neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Using brain organoids (“brains on a dish”), they discovered a genetic biomarker detectable as early as 13 weeks of pregnancy, offering the potential for earlier diagnosis of NDDs. Building on this work, they developed a novel therapy that has shown 97% efficacy in restoring neurotypical brain development in experimental models.
Their research has been showcased at leading scientific venues, including the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where they won back-to-back Grand Awards — first First Place in Cellular and Molecular Biology, followed by Third Place. They were also named among the Top 5 Projects at Regeneron ISEF by TUBITAK and recognized as Global Leaders in Research by the Qadri Council of Innovation.
Maya and Lara have been inducted into Sigma Xi, the oldest and most prestigious research honor society, and are members of the American Junior Academy of Science and the Michigan Society of Women Engineers. Their work has been presented at the Michigan Community Mental Health Association, the National Association of Academies of Science, and the National Junior Honors Science and Humanities Symposium, demonstrating their far-reaching impact across both fundamental research and applied neurodevelopmental science.