Nikita Goyal is a rising senior at the Peddie School and aims to contribute to the STEM field in her future. She is especially passionate about advocacy and loves to learn!
Founder-United for Cognitive Health (UCH):
Launched one of Delhi’s first large‑scale, Hindi‑adapted dementia screenings; trained clinicians, screened 3,100+, and connected 300 for neurological follow‑up. United for Cognitive Health (UCH) is a grassroots initiative founded by Nikita after witnessing her grandmother’s delayed Alzheimer’s diagnosis and recognizing how limited awareness and early screening options are in Delhi. Partnering with St. John Ambulance International Association and Sheows Care Centre, UCH integrated a Hindi‑translated Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) examination into routine medical camps—bringing standardized cognitive screening to community, low‑cost settings where older adults already receive annual care. To ensure fidelity, Nikita coordinated access to the official SLUMS training video and onboarded 30+ medical professionals and caregivers in test administration and referral pathways. Since launch, 3,100+ adults have been screened; ~300 were flagged and connected to neurologists for follow‑up care. To expand community understanding, Nikita organized an Alzheimer’s education workshop for 200+ medical volunteers, nurses, and caregivers across the Delhi region. UCH is now analyzing the dataset with Dr. Hiren Dandia (Vanderbilt University) to explore cultural/educational factors that may shape performance on cognition screens in India and inform more equitable detection and care.
Collaborators: St. John Ambulance International Association; Sheows Care Centre; Dr. Hiren Dandia (Vanderbilt University).
What’s next: Publish analysis of the first large, Hindi‑adapted SLUMS dataset
Website Link (all media available here): https://nikitagoyal2026.wixstudio.com/unitedforch
2 partner organizations onboarded
30+ clinicians/caregivers trained in SLUMS administration
3,100+
adults screened to date
300
flagged and connected to neurologists
200+
attendees at Alzheimer’s awareness workshop
Ongoing dataset analysis with Vanderbilt collaborator
Alzheimer’s Research Intern-Tanzi Lab, Mass General Hospital & Harvard Medical School:
Contributed to 50+ neuroimmunology protocols; led an independent BV2 microglia study showing Compound 48/80 modulates TNF‑α alongside cell viability; presented to Dr. Rudolph Tanzi.
Nikita’s work in the Tanzi Lab (Mass General Hospital/Harvard Medical School) focused on the immune system’s role in Alzheimer’s progression. Under Dr. Chih‑Chung Jerry Lin and research technician Julia Klein, she supported 50+ bench protocols spanning brain harvests following perfusion, Western blotting, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and BCA protein quantification on tissue from wild‑type and 5xFAD mouse models. This training culminated in an independent study: probing how Compound 48/80—classically used as a mast‑cell degranulator—affects inflammatory signaling in BV2 microglia. Across three trials, Nikita observed that C48/80 measurably modulates TNF‑α release in tandem with cell viability, suggesting activity beyond mast cells and raising questions about its specificity as a “selective” mast‑cell activator. These are novel results. She compiled the workflow and data into a lab protocol she authored, shared preliminary results in‑lab, and presented directly to Dr. Rudolph Tanzi. Next, she will present a poster at Peddie School’s EXP Research Night (October; 300+ attendees), translating bench research into clear, visual science communication.
Congressional Team Advocate-Alzheimer’s Association (NJ Public Policy & Advocacy)
Advocacy representing 7,600+ patients/caregivers; educated 100+ on early detection; 4 town halls; 7 lawmaker meetings; secured a co‑sponsorship for the Credit for Caring Act.
Nikita’s policy work centers on making Alzheimer’s care more affordable and accessible for families. Through the Alzheimer’s Association’s Public Policy & Advocacy arm in New Jersey, she serves as a Congressional Team Advocate representing 7,600+ patients and caregivers. On the ground, she staffed the Montgomery Health Fair, where she briefed 100+ community members on early warning signs and why early detection matters. She’s spoken at four congressional town halls—including events hosted by Andy Kim and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman—to highlight caregiver burden and the need for practical support.
In Trenton, Nikita met with seven state legislators during State Advocacy Day, building bipartisan relationships. Most notably, her direct engagement with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman contributed to the Congresswoman’s co‑sponsorship of the Credit for Caring Act, aimed at supporting the nation’s 48 million unpaid caregivers. By bridging community education and legislative advocacy, Nikita works to convert awareness into durable, systemic relief.
Representing 7,600+ patients/caregivers (NJ)
100+ residents educated on early detection (Montgomery Health Fair)
4 congressional town halls addressed
7 NJ lawmakers met at State Advocacy Day
Helped secure a federal bill co‑sponsorship (Credit for Caring Act)
Patient Support & Care Volunteer-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1,000+ patients and visitors supported across ED, ICU, and Lakefront Tower; 220+ rooms restocked, 60 rooms sanitized, 20 IVs/blood draws assisted, daily patient engagement.
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Sole Intern-Better Health 65+ Program, Robert Wood Johnson Fitness & Wellness Center
Created quarterly geriatric health newsletter (3,000+ members), represented program at 20K+ fair, planned member events, doubled engagement.
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3,000+ members reached through quarterly newsletters
400+ community members engaged at Hamilton Fair
Membership engagement increased by 100%
Annual survey distributed to 3,000+ members
200+ attended annual holiday party with medical talks
Co-Leader-Medicine Club, The Peddie School
(100 members)
Stage Manager & Crew Member – Peddie Theatre Productions
Managed props, rehearsals, and wings for casts of 30–80; ran dressing rooms; performed musically in 3 productions.
Across five productions, Nikita served as Assistant Stage Manager for Clue (2024), Damn Yankees (2025), and Our Town (2025). She organized rehearsals, managed props and costumes, coordinated dressing rooms, handled hair/makeup, and ran set transitions from the wings. She led 30–80 cast members per show, serving as liaison between cast and director, and developed leadership under pressure, adaptability, and time management. She also supported The Prom (2024) on set crew, performed piano for Legally Blonde (2023) and Our Town (2025), and sang in multiple musicals, including a solo in the Freshman Musical (Disney Princess Medley and Skid Row).
Ambassador & Board Representative – Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ
1 of 4 youth board members; led social media sales push raising $2K+; featured on ABC interview reaching 3M homes.
Selected as 1 of only 4 student representatives on the Board of Directors, Nikita advised on state-wide outreach, budget, and membership growth for Girl Scouts of Central and Southern NJ. She worked with nonprofit leaders and the CEO to design sales and membership strategies, launching social media campaigns that helped raise over $2,000 in cookie sales. In 2024, she was interviewed by Nydia Han on ABC Channel 6, discussing Girl Scouts’ impact on teen girls’ mental health-a segment broadcast to 3M+ households across Philadelphia. Beyond governance, she is completing her Gold Award project by translating critical health documents into multiple languages for local families.
Student Researcher-Prostate Cancer Lab, Case Western Reserve University (Dr. Gupta)
Conducted polyphenol study, presented at fairs, won 3rd place + 2 special awards, co-authoring EZH2 review (Cancers Journal).
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Independent study on polyphenols & prostate cancer progression
150+ audience at Princeton MBOP Fair presentatioN
3rd place in Mercer Science Fair
2 special awards: Society for In Vitro Biology, U.S. Air Force STEM Regional Award
Co-author on EZH2 manuscript, accepted in Cancers Journal
Founder & Co-Leader-Women of Color Affinity Group (30+ members), Peddie School
Led 3 DEI workshops (60–80+ each), organized cultural food event (80+), advised school on equity.
30+ members engaged in affinity group
3 DEI workshops led, 60–80+ participants each
80+ students served at cultural cuisine workshop
1 SCHOOL WIDE PRESENTATION DELIVERED
Ongoing monthly advising role with DEI department
Dance Teacher & Performer (Bharatanatyam), Shishya School of Performing Arts
Medical Intern & Clinical Assistant – RWJ Barnabas; Plainsboro-Princeton Medical: Nephrology & Hypertension Assoc.; Global Neuroscience Institute
200+ patient visits observed across 4 clinics
30 Alzheimer’s MMSE screenings administered
160+ vitals and 20 ECGs conducted
30+ primary care visits documented
50+ nephrology visits observed