BRENDAN HO

University of Cincinnati

University of Pennsylvania 

MD

Brendan grew up in Cincinnati OH and attended the University of Cincinnati, where he developed an interest in medicine and research. As a child life volunteer at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center(CCHMC) and a gymnastics coach, he found a passion for working with children. At CCHMC, he conducted basic science research on the role of intracellular signaling pathways in neonatal brachial plexus injuries. While volunteering in clinics and as a crisis counselor, he found himself gravitating towards treating mental health conditions. Brendan applied to medical school and is currently in his fourth year at the University of Pennsylvania. During medical school, he confirmed his interest in psychiatry, especially in regard to how mental health conditions arise from and interact with childhood experiences, culture, and genetics. He is heavily involved in the Philadelphia Human Rights Clinic, which provides free mental health evaluations for survivors of persecution and trauma seeking an affidavit supporting asylum in the US. He explored an interest in the genetic underpinnings of mental health conditions through two research projects exploring the utility of polygenic risk scores in predicting the development and progression of substance use disorders, as well as in predicting response to the antiepileptic medication topiramate using a machine learning model. This year, Brendan is excited to be applying to psychiatry residency programs to begin a career as a psychiatrist.

Brandon joined the BarziLab in June of 2023 to develop a new project examining genetic and environmental interactions in the development of pediatric suicidal behavior, building on previous research creating a general adversity factor exposome score and measures of genetic risk.  Outside of medicine, Brendan enjoys being active through weightlifting, running, bouldering, and relaxes by making new recipes, having tea with friends, and creative writing.