Speakers

Yuri Kim, RN is the lead clinical research nurse for the MAESTRO study, the largest clinical study at MIT. Led by Mikki Tal, PhD (Tal Research Group, Department of Biological Engineering, Center for Gynepathology Research), the study investigates Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses (IACI), with a focus on Long COVID and Lyme disease. Yuri’s research centers on brain fog, one of the most debilitating yet poorly understood symptoms of IACI. She leads efforts to capture both patient-reported experiences and objective measures using FDA-cleared neurocognitive assessments, integrated with advanced biological profiling including genomics, metabolomics, and immune trajectory mapping.

Yuri’s clinical background spans complex interventional and observational studies across academic, hospital, and industry settings. She has contributed to research on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in former NFL players, and rare diseases like amyloidosis. Earlier in her career, she worked as an ER nurse at a level 1 trauma center, shaping her commitment to patient-centered care.

Through her work on the MAESTRO study, she strives to narrow the gap between scientific research and patient experience, ensuring that research is guided by and responsive to patients’ voices and perspectives.