KU Medical Center hosts annual Brain Bee competition to engage high school students with brain health research

The University of Kansas Medical Center served as the host of the 2025 Kansas City Regional Brain Bee, a local contest for high school students sponsored by the Kansas City chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, to generate interest and enthusiasm in brain science. There were 16 participants from 12 high schools represented.

The Brain Bee’s goal is to inspire students to study and pursue careers in neuroscience-related areas. Whether students have an interest in general medical fields, scientific research or something completely unrelated to neuroscience, the Brain Bee competition promotes student engagement with neuroscience.

First place and a $300 prize went to Tarun Venkatesh, a sophomore at Park Hill South High School. "Brain Bee was an incredible experience that deepened my fascination with the human brain,” he said. “Learning about different aspects of neurology while preparing for the competition was very rewarding and allowed me to explore a variety of topics from psychology to neuroanatomy. I am very grateful to everyone who was a part of the competition and everyone who helped put it together.”

The finalists (pictured left to right) — Sanjana Akkulugari, a junior at the Barstow School; Abhinav Kambhampati, a junior at Blue Valley North High School; and Tarun Venkatesh, a sophomore at Park Hill South High School — all plan to pursue careers in a medical field.

There were nine rounds of questions followed by a final round. Questions got progressively more difficult, and the top three participants faced off to determine the winner. A question from round one included, “What is the resting membrane potential of a neuron?” (-70 millivolts) Later round questions included, “What are the cells responsible for converting pressure waves of fluid in the ear into electrical signals?” (hair cells)

Second place and $100 went to Abhinav Kambhampati, a junior at Blue Valley North High School.  Sanjana Akkulugari, a junior at the Barstow School, won third place and $50.

First-place winners from local Brain Bees in 118 chapters across the country progress to the national competition, the USA Brain Bee Championship, held in May at Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. The winner there will receive a $1,500 prize and move on to the international competition in November.

“In a time when science advocacy is more important than ever, this is one of the many events in the greater Kansas City area that allows the next generation of promising individuals to get involved with the world of science and expand their networks and interests,” said Will Hauser, graduate research assistant in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine at KU Medical Center. Co-president and faculty advisor for the Brain Bee competition is Olivia J. Veatch, Ph.D., assistant professor in the departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Cell Biology and Physiology.

"Events like the Brain Bee not only showcase some of Kansas' brightest high school students on a national stage, but also inspire the next generation of neuroscientists." said Veatch. "Initiatives like this fuel scientific discovery by empowering young, aspiring scientists with a better understanding of the brain and nervous system, and how this knowledge can uncover the biology underlying mental health conditions and neurological disorders that affect millions worldwide."

After the competition, participants toured laboratories at KU Medical Center and engaged in discussions with current neuroscience faculty and graduate students. “The chance for high schoolers to see cutting-edge technology and talk with established and talented researchers is nothing less than a fantastic opportunity,” Hauser said. “We make sure to let the participants know any other ways to get involved with not only KU Medical Center but the science community in general.”