Case Summary:     

Through a petition prepared by North America Immigration Law Group (NAILG), a biostatistics expert has obtained approval for her I-140 under the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) category without a Request for Evidence (RFE). Her research integrates advanced statistical modeling and machine learning to uncover genetic, environmental, and epigenetic risk factors associated with suicide. By improving early detection and prevention strategies, her work contributes directly to reducing suicide rates and strengthening public health systems across the United States.

Advancing Mental Health Through Data Science

As a biostatistician, the client’s research focuses on identifying biological and behavioral risk factors that contribute to suicidal ideation and mental health disorders. Her work combines computational modeling and large-scale clinical datasets to develop predictive models capable of identifying high-risk populations and informing targeted interventions. By bridging biostatistics, genetics, and psychiatry, her findings support the development of data-driven policies and prevention programs—particularly benefiting veterans and other vulnerable groups.

Scientific Impact and Recognition

The client’s impactful research has produced seven peer-reviewed journal articles (four of them first- or co-first-authored) and twelve scientific abstracts (four first-authored), demonstrating both consistency and leadership in her field. Her published work has been cited more than 50 times by peers worldwide, with several articles ranking among the most cited papers in psychiatry and psychology for their publication years. This citation record underscores her influence in shaping ongoing studies on suicide prevention, mental health interventions, and biomarker discovery.

Her expertise and credibility are further reflected in her role as a biostatistician at a leading U.S. medical research institution, where she continues to conduct studies integrating genetics, environmental data, and computational models to predict and mitigate suicide risk. Her work has received attention for its role in developing complementary and integrative mental health programs that have shown measurable reductions in depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal thoughts among at-risk populations.

National Importance and Approval

NAILG demonstrated that her expertise in biostatistical modeling and her pioneering research in integrating biological and environmental data make her uniquely positioned to advance this critical field.

Her I-140 NIW petition was approved, recognizing her as an essential contributor to the advancement of mental health and suicide prevention research in the U.S. With this approval, she is now better positioned to continue her work developing innovative, data-driven solutions that improve mental health outcomes and save lives.