Teen Wins Bio-science Prize

I am so delighted that I can offer a postive story for this week's Ham on Wry award.  Marshall Zhang, a 16-year-old Canadian student who won first prize in the Sanofi-Aventis Bio Talent Challenge receives the honor.  No, I have never heard of this challenge before, but I think we'll be hearing about Marshall Zhang for a long time to come.  He discovered a new treatment for cystic fibrosis, a debilitating disease that causes thickened mucus to build up in the lungs and other parts of the body, for which no cure exists.

Marshall, along with his mentor, Dr. Christine Bear, a researcher at the Hospital for Sick Children's Research Institute in Toronto worked together on the project in her lab. Using the Candian SCINET, they tested various compounds' effects on the defective protein that causes cystic fibrosis.  By using simulations on the supercomputer network, Zhang determined that the compounds acted on different parts of the protein, thereby showing promise for use together on the disease.

Dr. Bear has offered  Zhang the use of her lab for additional research on treating cystic fibrosis.  Zhang believes he can build on his original research for further breakthroughs.  Given that he is completing his junior year of secondary school, he has already made great strides toward a career in bioscientific research.

What was I doing at the age of 16?  Certainly nothing as grand as Zhang has accomplished.  All I can say is, "Wow!"  Congratulations to Marshall Zhang and all who assisted in his first place win May 10th.  To read the full story, click on the link:  www.livescience.com/14138-teen-cystic-fibrosis-drug-cocktail-contest.html