About

Professor Gunisha Kaur is associated with the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University. The center assists faculty in developing translational research projects by providing support such as proposal preparation assistance, training, technical support, and help in brokering collaborative relationships. The center also offers workshops, an intensive summer institute, and talks on current research to facilitate translational research methods. While specific details about Professor Kaur's individual research focus or background are not provided on the page, her affiliation with the BCTR indicates her involvement in translational research efforts aimed at advancing knowledge and practice through collaborative and innovative approaches.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Computer Science
• Political Science
• Business
• Pathology
• Psychology
• Gynecology
• Biology
• Law
• Internet privacy
• Surgery
• Physical therapy
• Public relations
• Nursing
• Obstetrics
• Internal medicine
• Psychiatry

Selected publications

• An Iot-Based Smart Glove for Real-Time Tremor Detection and Suppression in Parkinson's Patients

  2026-02-04

  article

  Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder and a progressive neurological disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination, thus affecting the patient's ability to perform daily tasks. The current treatment options can be very expensive, invasive, as well inaccessible in a lot of regions. To overcome this issue, our project proposes a cost-effective, non-invasive and wearable anti-tremor glove that detects and suppresses tremors in real time. This glove has an MPU6050 motion sensor to monitor hand movement and uses an Arduino Nano, which helps process the data with the help of a thresholdbased algorithm. It also uses vibration motors on each finger to deliver counter vibrations to help reduce the tremors. Our system uses a Bluetooth module that enables real-time data transmission to a custom-designed mobile application that visualises tremor intensity and gives live charts. The glove's lightweight design, affordability, and comfort make it ideal for everyday use and can be integrated for home-based care. Observations show effective tremor suppression without restricting voluntary motion, highlighting its potential as an accessible, assistive portable device.

  PublisherDOI

• An In-Depth Study of the Impact of Pollinator Gardens on Neurodivergent and Underprivileged Children and Social Inclusion Goals: A Primary Analysis

  International Journal of Humanities and Social Science · 2026-02-12

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Rapid urbanization has led to pollinator decline and unequal access to green spaces, especially by neurodivergent and underprivileged children. This study examines pollinator gardens as a combined nature-based intervention designed to enhance biodiversity while supporting psychosocial development among vulnerable children. The research is conducted across fifteen urban and institutional sites in Ludhiana, India, through the Buzzing Blooms initiative over a period of 24 months. A convergent mixed-methods design has been used, which combines ecological monitoring of pollinator species richness and visitation frequency with structured behavioral assessments and qualitative observations of participating children. Results indicate a 155% increase in pollinator species richness, along with a substantial increase in pollinator activity across the sites. Simultaneously, participating children show measurable improvements in task completion, emotional regulation, sensory engagement, and peer interaction. Qualitative analyses identified remarkable changes in sensory integration, sustained engagement, collaborative activity, and self-efficacy. The results suggest that pollinator gardens can function as an effective dual-impact intervention that supports ecological restoration as well as inclusive psychosocial development of vulnerable children. It also highlights the importance of nature-based interventions within urban sustainability and inclusion frameworks.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Post-migration Social Determinants of Health in Asylum Seekers: A Retrospective Qualitative Study

  Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health · 2025-11-07

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  In the United States (U.S.), the number of asylum seekers has increased sixfold in the past decade. Limited research has explored the impact of social determinants of health on asylum seekers. To document evidence of torture and trauma, clinicians in medical-legal asylum clinics conduct Forensic Medical Evaluations (FMEs) according to the standardized United Nations Istanbul Protocol. These evaluations represent an uncommon encounter with the U.S. health system during the multi-year asylum process, during which applicants may not otherwise engage with health systems. This study aimed to determine post-migration factors that influence risk for negative health outcomes in U.S. asylum applicants and to categorize risk factors within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' social determinants of health framework. We performed a qualitative, retrospective study of a representative, purposive sample of forensic medical evaluations from 2010 to 2020 from the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights' database. We identified major themes pertaining to post-migration risk and protective factors organized across social determinant domains. The 58 FMEs represented 29 asylum seekers in the U.S. The mean age was 30 years. Of the participants, 55% were female and 45% were male. The sample represented a global population, with origins from the Americas (41%), Africa (45%), and Asia (14%). Our analysis additionally identified the prolonged asylum process as a novel, unique structural barrier and identified protective factors, including community support. Given numerous barriers to accessing care experienced during the asylum process, this study identified a unique opportunity to utilize forensic medical evaluations to screen for social determinants of health.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Use of Digital Health Interventions Among Forcibly Displaced People

  JAMA Network Open · 2025-11-12 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Importance: Forcibly displaced people face significant biopsychosocial barriers to accessing health care. Digital health interventions have emerged as tools to bridge care gaps and have been successfully implemented in other disadvantaged populations to improve health care access and outcomes. However, the feasibility and practicality of digital health interventions among forcibly displaced individuals cannot be fully evaluated without characterizing recruitment and retention rates for these interventions in this unique population. Objective: To evaluate the recruitment rate and retention rate for digital health interventions in forcibly displaced people. Data Sources: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and SocINDEX in January 2023, with an updated search in February 2024. The search strategy followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Study Selection: Only randomized clinical trials evaluating digital health interventions in forcibly displaced populations were included. Non-peer reviewed studies, reviews, and studies lacking recruitment or retention data were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened and selected studies, and conflicts were resolved by a third reviewer. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data were extracted independently by 2 reviewers using Covidence, and a third reviewer resolved discrepancies. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to estimate the pooled recruitment rate and retention rate. Study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black Checklist. Main Outcomes and Measures: Recruitment rate (percentage of prospective participants who were successfully randomized) and retention rate (percentage of randomized participants who completed the intervention). Results: A total of 9 randomized clinical trials with 2858 participants were analyzed. The most frequently investigated technology was mobile applications (4 trials), followed by mobile phones (3 trials), with 1 study utilizing tablets and another using wearables. Recruitment rates varied widely across studies (16% to 100%), as did retention rates (28% to 91%). The pooled recruitment rate was 91% (95% CI, 57%-99%; I2 = 99%), and the pooled retention rate was 68% (95% CI, 48%-84%; I2 = 98%). Conclusions and Relevance: In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 randomized clinical trials, forcibly displaced populations exhibited variable recruitment and retention rates, although pooled estimates were high. These findings suggest that digital technologies provide a unique opportunity for scalable health interventions in this population, which may mitigate the negative health consequences arising from the many biopsychosocial barriers to in-person care.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Vaccination in Forcibly Displaced, Pediatric Populations

  JAMA Network Open · 2025-06-16 · 2 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Importance: Accessing forcibly displaced, pediatric populations for vaccination is challenging, and precise vaccination rates remain largely unknown. Objective: To estimate vaccination coverage and identify factors associated with vaccination in forcibly displaced, pediatric populations. Data Sources: Six databases were searched in November 2023-Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane-with no restrictions on language or publication dates. The search strategy included all appropriate controlled vocabulary and keywords for vaccination, pediatrics, and displaced populations. Study Selection: Included studies were original research articles investigating vaccination in pediatric populations (<19 years) that were forcibly displaced as defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Reviews, nonresearch articles, and qualitative studies were excluded. Screening was conducted by 2 independent reviewers with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Of 1731 studies identified, 294 underwent full-text review. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data abstraction and quality assessment followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. A random-effects model was used to pool data. Data quality was assessed using the Downs and Black Checklist. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was pooled vaccination coverage, defined as the proportion vaccinated. Additionally, the factors associated with vaccination were pooled from reported unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) or adjusted ORs (aORs). Results: Of the 1731 studies identified, 39 studies from 24 countries were included. Based on 11 studies, the full vaccination coverage was 21% (95% CI, 11%-36%; I2 = 98.90%). Factors associated with greater odds of vaccination included having 2 or more children in the family (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.43-2.02; I2 = 0.00%; aOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.28-2.57; I2 = 0.00%), higher levels of guardian education (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.06-2.43; I2 = 71.60%), father's employment (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.67-4.53; I2 = 0.00%), higher household income (OR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.29-1.37; I2 = 0.00%), housing stability (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 2.10-3.73; I2 = 0.00%; aOR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.55-4.40; I2 = 0.00%), and residing in an area with more access to health care services (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.44-3.09; I2 = 0.00%), while being forcibly displaced was associated with lower odds of vaccination (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.55-0.89; I2 = 69.41%; aOR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.63-0.86; I2 = 13.64%). Conclusion and Relevance: In this systematic review and meta-analysis of vaccination coverage among forcibly displaced, pediatric populations, vaccination coverage remained low. These findings highlight the urgent need for development of healthcare strategies and policies to close the immunization gap in this vulnerable population.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Acceptability and Barriers to Chronic Pain Treatment in Refugee Torture Survivors

  JAMA Network Open · 2025-08-28

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Importance: Chronic somatic pain is prevalent in refugee torture survivors, yet it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Understanding the acceptability of and barriers to treatment is essential for facilitating access and improving care in this population. Objective: To assess the acceptability of treatment for chronic somatic pain and to identify factors influencing treatment access among refugee torture survivors. Design, Setting, and Participants: This qualitative study was conducted between September 20, 2021, and December 20, 2023. Interviews were thematically analyzed using a framework guided by the Gelberg-Andersen Behavioral Model of Healthcare Utilization for Vulnerable Populations. This study was conducted through the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights (WCCHR), a large academic, medical-legal human rights center in the US serving a globally representative population of refugees. Adult refugee torture survivors aged 18 years or older with chronic pain as diagnosed by a specialist pain physician were included. Data were examined from December 2023 to October 2024. Exposures: Participants were asked about their attitudes toward 3 standard treatment modalities for chronic somatic pain, including nonopioid analgesics, trigger-point injections, and physical therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Pain treatment acceptability and perceived barriers to treatment were categorized using the Andersen Model. Results: The 25 participants had a mean (SD) age of 37 (9.3) years, 18 (72%) were male, and 25 (100%) were asylum seekers representing 5 low-income United Nations regions. All participants were receptive to at least 1 of the proposed treatment modalities. Acceptability was primarily influenced by predisposing and need factors, including trust in the health care systems and a strong motivation to alleviate pain. However, multiple barriers impeded treatment uptake. These barriers were categorized as predisposing factors (eg, language barriers, cultural differences, and immigration status), enabling factors (eg, perceived inadequacies in insurance coverage, financial and work-related constraints, and logistical challenges), and need factors (eg, pain severity and the compounded stress of legal status). Conclusions and Relevance: Although refugee torture survivors are open to chronic pain treatment, this qualitative study suggests that systemic barriers hinder use. Addressing these barriers is essential for improving health care access in this vulnerable population.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The psychological impact of displacement and female genital mutilation/cutting

  Journal of Global Health · 2025-03-21 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Although 230 million people worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), its psychological consequences remain understudied. Asylum-seekers may face unique biopsychosocial burdens when migrating to countries where FGM/C is not a cultural norm. We conducted a retrospective observational study of 50 asylum seekers evaluated at the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights between 2010 and 2020 to characterize the psychological sequelae of FGM/C. Psychological symptoms were reported in 86% of cases, with anxiety, depressed/sad mood, aversion to sexual activity and nightmare being the most common. Formal psychological diagnoses were made for 32% of cases with 30% diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, 20% with major depressive disorder, and 6% with generalised anxiety disorder. Additionally, 74% of cases had experienced other forms of trauma(s), including domestic violence, sexual violence, and kidnapping signaling that violence experienced in this population is complex. Psychological disorders were diagnosed in 93% of individuals who underwent a psychological evaluation, versus 9% of those who did not, despite similar trauma history. There is a role for psychological evaluation and symptom screening for asylum-seekers who have undergone FGM/C.

  PublisherDOI

• Psychological stress, cardiovascular disease and somatic pain in asylum seekers: a retrospective cross-sectional study

  Nature Mental Health · 2024-12-05 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A biopsychosocial approach to global health contributes to the practice of socially accountable medicine at home

  British Journal of Anaesthesia · 2024-07-22

  letterOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Vaccination in Forcibly Displaced, Pediatric Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  reviewOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Chronic Pain Diagnosis and Treatment in Torture Survivors

  NIH · $975k · 2020–2026

Frequent coauthors

• Faten Taki

  New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

  53 shared

• Andrew Milewski

  Cornell University

  38 shared

• Jacob Lurie

  Cornell University

  35 shared

• Tara C. Pilato

  Temple University Hospital

  27 shared

• Eliana R. Weinstein

  25 shared

• Annabel Lee

  Cornell University

  14 shared

• Samantha Huynh

  Hôpital Paris Saint-Joseph

  12 shared

• Caroline Jedlicka

  Kingsborough Community College

  10 shared