17-year-old wins $100K for biochemistry research on cancer stem cells
December 9, 2011
(credit: Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology/Siemens Foundation)
Angela Zhang, a senior at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California, won the $100,000 Grand Prize in the Individual category in the 2011 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology for using nanotechnology to eradicate cancer stem cells.
In her project, “Design of Image-guided, Photo-thermal Controlled Drug Releasing Multifunctional Nanosystem for the Treatment of Cancer Stem Cells,” she developed a nanoparticle that can be delivered to the site of a tumor through the drug salinomycin. Once there it kills the cancer stem cells.
However, Zhang went further and included both gold and iron-oxide components, which allow for non-invasive imaging of the site through MRI and photoacoustics.
Ziyuan Liu and Cassee Cain will share a $100,000 college scholarship for their bioengineering project, Using Kinect for Xbox 360 and Computer Vision to Analyze Human Gait, which uses gaming technology to analyze human walking patterns. Their work could ultimately contribute to prosthesis design.
Related:
Siemens Foundation: Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology
Comments (5)
by Bella rossi
That is amazing we have a discussion going on about this read more…
http://www.mforums.org/showthread.php?tid=98
by melajara
@libra9, You got it!
Inasmuch as media are making dumb but pretty and sexy puppets instantly famous when someone making a very valuable contribution for the community and having spent much time on that is ignored, you’ll understand why young people usually are not attracted anymore to science as a career. And if you don’t look pretty, well why bother with science, it’s SO MUCH more rewarding to aim at becoming a professional soccer with a 1$M monthly salary!
Governments and lobbies are responsible here, science is much more respected in so called emerging nations than in our decadent Western world.
by libra9
Strange. I cannot find anything on Ms. Zhang’s great work in the mainstream media… but there is plenty on Linsay Lohan.
by Giulio Prisco
@GamerFromJump – She is American I believe (a senior at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino).
by GamerFromJump
Funny story…When I read the headline, my first thought was, “Huh. Chinese, Korean or Indian, this time?” Ding Ding, got it in one.
Good work, Miss Zhang. Hope you make a bushel more money, and your name gets spoken in tones of thankfulness to a hero.