Identical twins Avani and Bhoomika Kaur have spent the last four years turning curiosity into published research, national recognition, and a global nonprofit, all before graduation.
The sisters’ journey began with childhood experiments in the kitchen, explaining, “Our parents encouraged that curiosity with elephant toothpaste and baking soda volcanoes.” “Those messy projects made science feel real and exciting, not just something from a textbook.” Then, family health challenges, such as Alzheimer’s, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer, gave their questions urgency. “Growing up surrounded by illness gave us a reason to look deeper,” they explain, “and a shared desire to help solve the problems that have touched our family and millions of others.”
Entering the Center for Medical Sciences as freshmen gave them their first feel for real lab work. “Before joining the Center, I had never conducted research,” Avani recalls. “But the program truly served as a launching pad.” Mrs. Ostrom, the center’s director, spotted the spark almost immediately. Even as freshmen, they demonstrated curiosity, maturity, and a genuine desire to learn,” she says. “We met regularly to review their plans. Over the years, this developed into strong leadership and a deep sense of responsibility toward others.”
In these past four years, the Kaur twins have made impressive contributions to society through their extensive research on treatments for various diseases. Bhoomika stated, “My biggest accomplishment has been getting published in Molecules, an international peer-reviewed journal.” She was recognized for highlighting how components of nature can play a role in preventing chronic disease.
Additionally, in her review paper, she explored isothiocyanates, which are plant-based compounds in cruciferous vegetables, and their power to disrupt the harmful cycle of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), oxidative stress, and inflammation. “It was incredibly rewarding to see my work contribute to the broader scientific conversation,” she added. Her current lab work at Godwin targets the AGE-RAGE pathway in prostate cancer, using gene knockdown to slow tumor migration and proliferation. This technique results in genes being “knocked down” or removed from a sequence to reduce genetic diseases and mutations.
Similarly, Avani Kaur has been featured by the Business Wire and the National Science Teaching Association. While representing Godwin, she competed at JSHS (Junior Science and Humanities Symposium), along with others from CMS, and won first place for best project in the whole symposium at the state level. Her sister, Bhoomika, placed second overall. Avani explained, “My project focused on designing a novel therapeutic drug targeting neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, aiming to slow or prevent the progression of cognitive decline.” She proceeded to Nationals and placed third in Chemistry against competitors from across the nation.
This year, as an intern at VCU Massey Cancer Center’s Community High School Engagement 7 Learning, Avani extracts mammary glands and uterine tissue from transgenic mice, studies ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions, and investigates how dietary molecules drive breast cancer progression. “The hands-on lab work helped me see how classroom concepts connect to real-world applications,” she described.
The sisters also co-founded an organization named Osmosis STEM. Through this non-profit, they provide research advice to incoming freshmen, raise and distribute toiletries to the community, and educate younger generations about science through thoroughly planned projects. Additionally, they have branches worldwide, allowing them to educate people in poorer living conditions. Through these branches, they provide health education resources about diseases and emphasize the importance of regular check-ups with doctors.
The name captures their mission perfectly: “Just as osmosis spreads molecules evenly, we aim to spread access to science to every student, regardless of background,” Bhoomika explained. Today, Osmosis STEM boasts 12 chapters across five U.S. states and seven countries, including Ghana, India, Kenya, Oman, and the UAE. Their Project EmpowerMed has delivered HIV/AIDS, postpartum mental health, nutrition, and anemia-screening resources to 1,650 individuals in Kenyan communities. At Godwin, the twins mentor freshmen through peer reviews, science fair workshops, and a student-published journal. “Seeing a kid pull visible DNA from a strawberry and watching their eyes light up never gets old,” Avani said.
Mrs. Cope, their lab mentor, praises their rigor: “They have the patience to find the answer. They don’t expect Google’s first page—they’re meticulous, self-sufficient go-getters.” She notes their evolution from advanced freshman experiments to guiding younger students through research papers. “They’ve stayed consistent and gone beyond their initial interest.”
Looking ahead, the twins plan to study medical research in college. “Ultimately, our dream is to become twin doctors and operate a clinic together—one that integrates research, patient care, and community outreach,” they explained. Mrs. Ostrom envisions them as “future innovators of healthcare,” while Mrs. Cope bluntly described, “They’ll accomplish whatever goal they set. They have the intelligence and motivation to be doctors.”
However, for now, Avani and Bhoomika remain in Godwin labs and classrooms, proving that science isn’t just learned, but lived, shared, and passed forward.
