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During her summer research internship at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Izi B explored potential relationships between delay discounting, food demand, and type 2 diabetes. Delay discounting is a behavioral economic concept that involves the tendency to devalue rewards and gratifications as they are delayed in time, and prior research has indicated its association with obesity. Given this background, Izi hypothesized that there might be a similar relationship between delay discounting and type 2 diabetes.

To test her hypothesis, Izi utilized data from a clinical trial involving 120 participants who had poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. These participants were characterized by having an HbA1c level of 7.7% or higher and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. Contrary to her initial hypothesis, Izi’s findings revealed no significant correlation between the variables she tested. This suggests within her sample that delay discounting and food demand do not appear to be related to type 2 diabetes. These results provide valuable insights and indicate the complexity of factors contributing to type 2 diabetes, beyond delay discounting and food demand alone.

Izi’s research culminated in a poster presentation at the research symposium, where she shared her findings with fellow researchers and attendees. Her work not only contributes to the broader understanding of type 2 diabetes but also highlights the importance of testing and questioning established hypotheses within the scientific community.

Izi shared this personal reflection on her summer experience:

“My summer program was a great experience for me to learn and grow while learning science. I had daily to weekly seminars that included learning about neuroscience, cancer, and decision making. I also enjoyed the opportunity to work one-on-one with my PI. Additionally, I was able to speak with the associate dean of the Virginia Tech School of Medicine about medical school admissions.”