Varuna Jasodanand

PhD Candidate, Behavioral Neuroscience, Boston University

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Kolachalama Lab

BU Computing and Data Sciences, Boston University

Boston, MA 02115

I am a PhD candidate in Behavioral Neuroscience at Boston University, working in the Kolachalama Lab. My research focuses on integrating multimodal data and artificial intelligence for precision diagnostics in Alzheimer’s disease.

I work at the intersection of clinical neuroscience and machine learning, leveraging diverse data modalities including:

  • Clinical data – cognitive assessments, demographics, and longitudinal patient records
  • PET imaging – amyloid and tau positron emission tomography
  • MRI – structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging
  • Fluid biomarkers – cerebrospinal fluid and blood-based biomarkers

My goal is to develop AI-driven frameworks that combine these complementary data sources to improve early detection, differential diagnosis, and prognostication in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Honors and Awards

Clinical & Translation Science Institute Poster Award, First Place, Boston University, 2025

Departmental Honors in Psychology and Philosophy, Bryn Mawr College, 2020

Clinical & Translational Science Award, University of Pennsylvania, 2019

Summer Science Research Fellowship, Bryn Mawr College, 2018

Selected Publications

  1. AI-driven fusion of multimodal data for Alzheimer’s disease biomarker assessment
    Varuna H Jasodanand, Sahana S Kowshik, Shreyas Puducheri, and 4 more authors
    Nature Communications, 2025
  2. An AI-first framework for multimodal data in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
    Varuna H Jasodanand, Matteo Bellitti, and Vijaya B Kolachalama
    Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 2025
  3. AI-based differential diagnosis of dementia etiologies on multimodal data
    Chonghua Xue, Sahana S Kowshik, Diala Lteif, and 8 more authors
    Nature Medicine, 2024