BioGENEius 2016 International Winners

Utkarsh Tandon

1st Place Winner, Healthcare Challenge
Local California (Bay Area) BioGENEius Challenge Winner
Cupertino High School
Cupertino, CA

Project Title:
ARIA: Diabetic Retinopathy Prognosis via Hypertensive Modeling; ML-based Morphological Computer Vision for Rapid Ophthalmology

Description:
This interdisciplinary study develops a novel prognostic for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) by modeling hypertensive changes at arterial-venous crossings – therefore ultimately discovering new symptoms (venous compression, deflection, and tortuosity) to diagnose and monitor the condition. Additionally, the research develops a low-cost, portable device for rapid DR stage-classification through Random Forest ensembles and morphological computer-vision algorithms.

Jilly Cronin

1st Place Winner, Environmental Challenge
Local Illinois BioGENEius Challenge Winner
Oak Park and River Forest High School
Oak Park, IL

Project Title:
Effects of Salinity and Temperature on Adsorption of Zinc by E. gracilis

Description:
I tested the ability of Euglena gracilis to adsorb the heavy metal zinc from water when exposed to changing temperature and salinity.

Axel Schlindwein

Sustainability Special Award
BioGENEius Challenge of Germany Germany BioGENEius Challenge Winner

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Project Title:
Are algae the source of raw materials of the future?

Description:
Are algae the source of raw materials of the future? Microalgae may present an environmentally friendly means to produce highly utilized oils, particularly in food processing, that would, if optimized, establish these organisms as a viable source of energy and raw materials.

Iveta (Iva) Demirova

Honorable Mention
Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada
New Westminster Secondary School
New Westminster, BC

Project Title:
Exploring the Development of Antibody-Scaffolded Membrane-Fusion Inhibitors for HIV-1 Therapy

Description:
This project explored the possibility of inserting small, therapeutic peptides into an antibody with the intention of stabilizing them. Specifically tested were reiterations of peptides that inhibit HIV infection by preventing the virus from entering the host cell. Preliminary results predict that two of the antibody-scaffolded drugs will be able to neutralize HIV.

Laura Fleming

Honorable Mention
Colorado BioGENEius Challenge
Fairview High School
Boulder, CO

Project Title:
Valvular Interstitial Cell Activation in Response to Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Treatment

Description:
To determine if calcific aortic heart valve disease is an inflammatory disease, I added pro-inflammatory proteins to a culture of heart valve cells. For two cytokines that I tested, there was an inflammatory response that leads to the progression of this disease, indicating that these cytokines could be a drug target for treating this disease.

Roy Ghosh

Honorable Mention
Pennsylvania BioGENEius Challenge
Parkland High School
Allentown, PA

Project Title:
Innovative and Inexpensive Method of Targeting and Killing Circulating Tumor Cells using TRAIL-presenting Liposomes

Description:
This project aims to destroy circulating tumor cells (which causes cancer to spread) by utilizing lipid-based carriers, adhesive molecules, and a death receptor. Once these carriers adhere to the cancer cells, the death receptor will induce cell death. Using an in vitro device, 77% of cancer cells were killed by the carrier.

Priyanka Jain

Honorable Mention
New Mexico BioGENEius Challenge
La Cueva High School
ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Project Title:
Novel selection of enzymes loaded in mesoporous nanoparticle carrier engineered to selectively target cancer cells using aptamer

Description:
Cancer treatments damage cell DNA which kills both cancer and normal cells resulting in severe side-effects. Our body is capable of safely killing any mutated cell but for cancer cells that pathway is suppressed making cancer cells immortal. I developed a method to reopen this pathway and selectively target only cancer cells to kill them.

Helen Liu

Honorable Mention
Connecticut (At-Large) BioGENEius Challenge
Amity Regional High School
Woodbridge, CT

Project Title:
Developing a Novel Progranulin-Derived Biologic for Gaucher Disease

Description:
Gaucher Disease is an enzyme deficiency that causes anemia, brittle bones and organ enlargement. A protein that binds and delivers the deficient enzyme to treat GD was discovered. I isolated the part of the protein responsible for binding and engineered a molecule from it to create a novel drug therapy, significantly reducing cost of treatment.

Varun Mandi

Honorable Mention
California (SoCal) BioGENEius Challenge
Troy High School
Fullerton, CA

Project Title:
Examining the Coding and Non-Coding Regions of Enhancer Landscapes in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) Stimulated with Angiotensin II

Description:
I found exactly how widespread diseases (hypertension, diabetes) can lead to drastic changes in gene expression. I focused on the hormone Angiotensin II, to pinpoint for the first time which portions of our genome are affected. I discovered and re-evaluated new elements that regulate gene expression and metabolic memory.

Simran Modi

Honorable Mention
Georgia BioGENEius Challenge
The Gwinnett School of Math, Science, and Technology
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA

Project Title:
Novel Machine Learning Algorithms for Early Diagnosis of Melanoma

Description:
This projects aims to create a statistical and numerical method to diagnose skin cancer. The goal is to implement this software in an app and provide it to the public as well as to dermatologists.

Carver Nichols

Honorable Mention
North Carolina BioGENEius Challenge
Brevard High School
Brevard, NC

Project Title:
Predicting Graft Compatibility of Kudzu, Soybeans, and Garden Peas Through Peroxidase Analysis

Description:
I tried to develop a method to predict whether or not Kudzu, Soybeans, and Garden Peas can be grafted together through Oxidation enzyme profile analysis.

Anantha Sriya Reddy

Honorable Mention
Maryland BioGENEius Challenge
Poolesville High School
Poolesville, MD

Project Title:
Application of modular cloning for rapid, site-specific, and stable expression of multi-gene constructs in mammalian cells

Description:
The development of the U2OS cell line was possible by first generating cells that stably express the Cerulean fluorescent protein and an accepter region in the genome. Next, the donor plasmid vector that included a cognate donor region in which researchers can insert their gene of interest was constructed.

Erin Smith

Honorable Mention
Kansas BioGENEius Challenge
Shawnee Mission West High School
Overland Park, KS

Project Title:
The Development of a Low-cost, Remote, and Non-Invasive Early Detection System for Parkinson's Disease Using Differences in Spontaneous Facial Expression

Description:
Lack of Parkinson’s disease (PD) biomarkers and detection methods limits early intervention and treatment options. This project discovered three differences in facial muscle contractions and expressions that may provide a non-invasive, remote PD monitoring and detection system perfect for those in developing countries and the aging population who are especially vulnerable to PD.

Marissa Sumathipala

Honorable Mention
Virginia BioGENEius Challenge
Broad Run High School
Ashburn, VA

Project Title:
FOXO Transcription Factor: A Novel Therapeutic for Cardiometabolic Disease

Description:
This research investigates FOXO transcription factor proteins as a drug target for cardiometabolic disease. Regulating cellular metabolism and essential to longevity, FOXO proteins address the multiple components of cardiometabolic disease by targeting underlying metabolic and cellular pathways. This research found FOXO was a novel, effective drug target for the treatment and prevention of cardiometabolic disease.

Connor Sweeney

Honorable Mention
Delaware BioGENEius Challenge
Charter School of Wilmington
Wilmington, DE

Project Title:
Role of Arabidopsis thaliana Volatile Organic Compounds in Intraspecific Communication

Description:
When wounded to simulate insect herbivory, mustard weed A. thaliana releases chemical signals that other, undamaged A. thaliana plants detect. When these signals are detected, the receiving plants grow larger root systems and change their genetic expressions to adapt to toxic soil. These chemical signals are airborne.

Aaron Wills

Honorable Mention
Iowa BioGENEius Challenge
Aaron Wills
Donnellson, IA

Project Title:
Does Lemna minor have the ability to metabolize and lower the nitrate level in spring water?

Description:
My project is about using a common type of duckweed, Lemna minor, to lower the nitrate levels in pond and other water sources. During this project I found that the duckweed was in fact able to lower those levels, but it lowered the levels in such traumatic rates in just ten days.