as a young adult I love the notion of a challenge and I’m always eager to
challenge and I’m always eager to
challenge and I’m always eager to explore the unknown fascinated with
explore the unknown fascinated with
explore the unknown fascinated with medicine from a young age I have dreamed
medicine from a young age I have dreamed
medicine from a young age I have dreamed about solving the world’s biggest health
about solving the world’s biggest health
about solving the world’s biggest health problems and being a vanguard for the
problems and being a vanguard for the
problems and being a vanguard for the medicinal field interested in
medicinal field interested in
medicinal field interested in contributing to such a noble discipline
contributing to such a noble discipline
contributing to such a noble discipline I researched the top-ranked deadliest
I researched the top-ranked deadliest
I researched the top-ranked deadliest diseases facing mankind today expecting
diseases facing mankind today expecting
diseases facing mankind today expecting to find cancer at the top of the list
to find cancer at the top of the list
to find cancer at the top of the list what I found
what I found
what I found truly surprised me according to leading
truly surprised me according to leading
truly surprised me according to leading health professionals coronary artery
health professionals coronary artery
health professionals coronary artery disease was listed as the world’s
disease was listed as the world’s
disease was listed as the world’s deadliest disease leading to the
deadliest disease leading to the
deadliest disease leading to the mortality of over 7.4 million people
mortality of over 7.4 million people
mortality of over 7.4 million people worldwide reading about the worldwide
worldwide reading about the worldwide
worldwide reading about the worldwide destruction this disease had caused I
destruction this disease had caused I
destruction this disease had caused I made it my mission to attempt to find a
made it my mission to attempt to find a
made it my mission to attempt to find a possible solution to this detriment all
possible solution to this detriment all
possible solution to this detriment all while only in high school I started by
while only in high school I started by
while only in high school I started by first learning all I could about
first learning all I could about
first learning all I could about coronary artery disease through my
coronary artery disease through my
coronary artery disease through my investigation I found that coronary
investigation I found that coronary
investigation I found that coronary artery disease was characterized as an
artery disease was characterized as an
artery disease was characterized as an aging related disease specifically the
aging related disease specifically the
aging related disease specifically the more you age the more susceptible you
more you age the more susceptible you
more you age the more susceptible you become to developing the illness as the
become to developing the illness as the
become to developing the illness as the figure behind me showcases this it close
figure behind me showcases this it close
figure behind me showcases this it close to home as it made me fear for the
to home as it made me fear for the
to home as it made me fear for the health of millions of individuals
health of millions of individuals
health of millions of individuals worldwide who although are living longer
worldwide who although are living longer
worldwide who although are living longer are experiencing more hoard and painful
are experiencing more hoard and painful
are experiencing more hoard and painful cardiovascular defects as a result in
cardiovascular defects as a result in
cardiovascular defects as a result in addition to coronary artery disease I
addition to coronary artery disease I
addition to coronary artery disease I also found that the adverse effects of
also found that the adverse effects of
also found that the adverse effects of chemotherapy comprise another major
chemotherapy comprise another major
chemotherapy comprise another major medical dilemma this ailment has a
medical dilemma this ailment has a
medical dilemma this ailment has a profound personal connection with me as
profound personal connection with me as
profound personal connection with me as for years I witnessed the strife and
for years I witnessed the strife and
for years I witnessed the strife and struggle my grandmother went through
struggle my grandmother went through
struggle my grandmother went through during her battle with breast cancer I’m
during her battle with breast cancer I’m
during her battle with breast cancer I’m sure we all know of a friend a relative
sure we all know of a friend a relative
sure we all know of a friend a relative or even a companion who has suffered
or even a companion who has suffered
or even a companion who has suffered from this deadly disease although
from this deadly disease although
from this deadly disease although chemotherapeutics can be highly
chemotherapeutics can be highly
chemotherapeutics can be highly efficient at targeting malignancies and
efficient at targeting malignancies and
efficient at targeting malignancies and wiping out cancer the resulting
wiping out cancer the resulting
wiping out cancer the resulting side-effects severely limits their
side-effects severely limits their
side-effects severely limits their effectiveness with the administration of
effectiveness with the administration of
effectiveness with the administration of chemotherapy but there exists the
chemotherapy but there exists the
chemotherapy but there exists the paradox of although it is possible to
paradox of although it is possible to
paradox of although it is possible to remove the malignancy one may perish
remove the malignancy one may perish
remove the malignancy one may perish strictly due to the therapeutic in the
strictly due to the therapeutic in the
strictly due to the therapeutic in the first place
first place
first place sure you may wipe out the cancer but the
sure you may wipe out the cancer but the
sure you may wipe out the cancer but the drug may also kill you in the process by
drug may also kill you in the process by
drug may also kill you in the process by damaging your cardiovascular system as
damaging your cardiovascular system as
damaging your cardiovascular system as it was known that these chemo
it was known that these chemo
it was known that these chemo therapeutic side effects were exactly
therapeutic side effects were exactly
therapeutic side effects were exactly like damage generated during coronary
like damage generated during coronary
like damage generated during coronary artery disease I wondered whether I
artery disease I wondered whether I
artery disease I wondered whether I could create a mechanism to target both
could create a mechanism to target both
could create a mechanism to target both of these problems at the same time I was
of these problems at the same time I was
of these problems at the same time I was researching these two similar conditions
researching these two similar conditions
researching these two similar conditions I was exposed to a unique enzyme called
I was exposed to a unique enzyme called
I was exposed to a unique enzyme called telomerase while in high school biology
telomerase while in high school biology
telomerase while in high school biology telomerase is conventionally regarded as
telomerase is conventionally regarded as
telomerase is conventionally regarded as an anti-aging related protein
an anti-aging related protein
an anti-aging related protein understanding that coronary artery
understanding that coronary artery
understanding that coronary artery disease wasn’t age-related disease and
disease wasn’t age-related disease and
disease wasn’t age-related disease and strongly associated with the negative
strongly associated with the negative
strongly associated with the negative side effects of chemotherapy I wondered
side effects of chemotherapy I wondered
side effects of chemotherapy I wondered whether telomerase an anti-aging related
whether telomerase an anti-aging related
whether telomerase an anti-aging related protein could be used as a therapeutic
protein could be used as a therapeutic
protein could be used as a therapeutic to solve both coronary artery disease
to solve both coronary artery disease
to solve both coronary artery disease and chemotherapeutic induced vascular
and chemotherapeutic induced vascular
and chemotherapeutic induced vascular detriment however before I was able to
detriment however before I was able to
detriment however before I was able to conduct the research I need some lab
conduct the research I need some lab
conduct the research I need some lab space I don’t think my parents would be
space I don’t think my parents would be
space I don’t think my parents would be too happy about me conducting research
too happy about me conducting research
too happy about me conducting research on our kitchen countertop in order for
on our kitchen countertop in order for
on our kitchen countertop in order for me to continue with my high aspirations
me to continue with my high aspirations
me to continue with my high aspirations I reached out to countless professors
I reached out to countless professors
I reached out to countless professors and scientists at local universities and
and scientists at local universities and
and scientists at local universities and research institutions although I
research institutions although I
research institutions although I received numerous rejections one
received numerous rejections one
received numerous rejections one professor decided to take a chance and
professor decided to take a chance and
professor decided to take a chance and mentor me being so young and not having
mentor me being so young and not having
mentor me being so young and not having my driver’s license my mom would draft
my driver’s license my mom would draft
my driver’s license my mom would draft me every day just so I could learn and
me every day just so I could learn and
me every day just so I could learn and conduct experiments oftentimes the
conduct experiments oftentimes the
conduct experiments oftentimes the experiments would run late and she would
experiments would run late and she would
experiments would run late and she would have to wait sometimes countless hours
have to wait sometimes countless hours
have to wait sometimes countless hours but through her sacrifice I was able to
but through her sacrifice I was able to
but through her sacrifice I was able to successfully conduct the research in a
successfully conduct the research in a
successfully conduct the research in a matter of hours blood vessels which have
matter of hours blood vessels which have
matter of hours blood vessels which have had coronary artery disease or a chemo
had coronary artery disease or a chemo
had coronary artery disease or a chemo therapeutic treatment are made to look
therapeutic treatment are made to look
therapeutic treatment are made to look healthy again just by over expression of
healthy again just by over expression of
healthy again just by over expression of this one protein the ability of blood
this one protein the ability of blood
this one protein the ability of blood vessels to expand and constrict is
vessels to expand and constrict is
vessels to expand and constrict is severely limited under disease
severely limited under disease
severely limited under disease conditions as well as plagued with
conditions as well as plagued with
conditions as well as plagued with harmful molecules yet when a telomerase
harmful molecules yet when a telomerase
harmful molecules yet when a telomerase activator is given the vessels mimic
activator is given the vessels mimic
activator is given the vessels mimic healthy non disease vessels in essence
healthy non disease vessels in essence
healthy non disease vessels in essence this data suggests that telomerase may
this data suggests that telomerase may
this data suggests that telomerase may be a revolutionary multi disease
be a revolutionary multi disease
be a revolutionary multi disease therapeutic that has the capability of
therapeutic that has the capability of
therapeutic that has the capability of mitigating the effects of major
mitigating the effects of major
mitigating the effects of major cardiovascular detriments and chemo
cardiovascular detriments and chemo
cardiovascular detriments and chemo therapeutic side effects problems which
therapeutic side effects problems which
therapeutic side effects problems which millions of people face worldwide
millions of people face worldwide
millions of people face worldwide conventionally Kalama race is known to
conventionally Kalama race is known to
conventionally Kalama race is known to extend the lengths of telomeres the ends
extend the lengths of telomeres the ends
extend the lengths of telomeres the ends of chromosomes which contributes to its
of chromosomes which contributes to its
of chromosomes which contributes to its anti-aging related role however when the
anti-aging related role however when the
anti-aging related role however when the telomeres from diseased and healthy
telomeres from diseased and healthy
telomeres from diseased and healthy samples were compared there was no
samples were compared there was no
samples were compared there was no significant difference the activity of
significant difference the activity of
significant difference the activity of the to amorous protein on the other hand
the to amorous protein on the other hand
the to amorous protein on the other hand was radically reduced in a disease
was radically reduced in a disease
was radically reduced in a disease setting this led me to I pathi size that
setting this led me to I pathi size that
setting this led me to I pathi size that telomerase must be doing something
telomerase must be doing something
telomerase must be doing something different which the research community
different which the research community
different which the research community has not characterized yet which is
has not characterized yet which is
has not characterized yet which is contributing to a therapeutic
contributing to a therapeutic
contributing to a therapeutic capabilities the next step of this
capabilities the next step of this
capabilities the next step of this research investigated this in more
research investigated this in more
research investigated this in more detail separate from its conventional
detail separate from its conventional
detail separate from its conventional role within the nucleus the study showed
role within the nucleus the study showed
role within the nucleus the study showed that telomerase shuttles directly to the
that telomerase shuttles directly to the
that telomerase shuttles directly to the mitochondria under a diseased state and
mitochondria under a diseased state and
mitochondria under a diseased state and interacts with the host of other
interacts with the host of other
interacts with the host of other cellular and biological elements in turn
cellular and biological elements in turn
cellular and biological elements in turn providing the research community with a
providing the research community with a
providing the research community with a new insight and perspective on this one
new insight and perspective on this one
new insight and perspective on this one protein however this experimentation
protein however this experimentation
protein however this experimentation only scratched the surface of what
only scratched the surface of what
only scratched the surface of what telomeres could be doing in the
telomeres could be doing in the
telomeres could be doing in the mitochondria as the mitochondria is a
mitochondria as the mitochondria is a
mitochondria as the mitochondria is a complicated organelle with thousands of
complicated organelle with thousands of
complicated organelle with thousands of individual components all working in
individual components all working in
individual components all working in harmony I wondered if there could be a
harmony I wondered if there could be a
harmony I wondered if there could be a way to simulate the mitochondrial
way to simulate the mitochondrial
way to simulate the mitochondrial telomerase interactions without testing
telomerase interactions without testing
telomerase interactions without testing them all by hand in order to accomplish
them all by hand in order to accomplish
them all by hand in order to accomplish this I turn to the power of computers
this I turn to the power of computers
this I turn to the power of computers using computational power I set out to
using computational power I set out to
using computational power I set out to code a computer simulation of the
code a computer simulation of the
code a computer simulation of the mitochondria so that one can predict
mitochondria so that one can predict
mitochondria so that one can predict various cellular outcomes without having
various cellular outcomes without having
various cellular outcomes without having to conduct wet lab experimentation
to conduct wet lab experimentation
to conduct wet lab experimentation however not having had extensive
however not having had extensive
however not having had extensive experience in coding before I had to
experience in coding before I had to
experience in coding before I had to teach myself the nature of biology
teach myself the nature of biology
teach myself the nature of biology related to computer science before I
related to computer science before I
related to computer science before I even started to build the expensive
even started to build the expensive
even started to build the expensive model the model is able to utilize and
model the model is able to utilize and
model the model is able to utilize and predict changes to the concentrations of
predict changes to the concentrations of
predict changes to the concentrations of various enzymes sub enzymatic states pH
various enzymes sub enzymatic states pH
various enzymes sub enzymatic states pH various thermodynamic properties as well
various thermodynamic properties as well
various thermodynamic properties as well as a host of other variables in addition
as a host of other variables in addition
as a host of other variables in addition to giving myself the opportunity to
to giving myself the opportunity to
to giving myself the opportunity to understand the mitochondria localization
understand the mitochondria localization
understand the mitochondria localization of telomerase in more detail the model
of telomerase in more detail the model
of telomerase in more detail the model opens the door for work with thousands
opens the door for work with thousands
opens the door for work with thousands of other enzymes and other biological
of other enzymes and other biological
of other enzymes and other biological components it allows researchers across
components it allows researchers across
components it allows researchers across the biomedical field to understand the
the biomedical field to understand the
the biomedical field to understand the complicated network of the mitochondria
complicated network of the mitochondria
complicated network of the mitochondria with more precision it truly is a
with more precision it truly is a
with more precision it truly is a platform technology however the most
platform technology however the most
platform technology however the most inspiring part of my research journey
inspiring part of my research journey
inspiring part of my research journey was that I was able to become a living
was that I was able to become a living
was that I was able to become a living of the saying that age is just a number
of the saying that age is just a number
of the saying that age is just a number and serve as a source of inspiration for
and serve as a source of inspiration for
and serve as a source of inspiration for the next generation of doctors engineers
the next generation of doctors engineers
the next generation of doctors engineers and scientists in an age and era where
and scientists in an age and era where
and scientists in an age and era where we face numerous amounts of problems on
we face numerous amounts of problems on
we face numerous amounts of problems on the scientific social and political
the scientific social and political
the scientific social and political level we need the help and novel
level we need the help and novel
level we need the help and novel solutions of young and creative
solutions of young and creative
solutions of young and creative individuals unfortunately for as long as
individuals unfortunately for as long as
individuals unfortunately for as long as the nature of scientific inquiry has
the nature of scientific inquiry has
the nature of scientific inquiry has existed for the world of science has
existed for the world of science has
existed for the world of science has always been dominated by adults although
always been dominated by adults although
always been dominated by adults although accessibility to conventional scientific
accessibility to conventional scientific
accessibility to conventional scientific education has made tremendous strides in
education has made tremendous strides in
education has made tremendous strides in encouraging and including our youth work
encouraging and including our youth work
encouraging and including our youth work has yet to be done to urge the next
has yet to be done to urge the next
has yet to be done to urge the next generation to involve themselves with
generation to involve themselves with
generation to involve themselves with real and professional science science is
real and professional science science is
real and professional science science is not just made for the classroom it is a
not just made for the classroom it is a
not just made for the classroom it is a profession that knows no boundaries and
profession that knows no boundaries and
profession that knows no boundaries and has no age restriction who says young
has no age restriction who says young
has no age restriction who says young aspiring individuals cannot impact
aspiring individuals cannot impact
aspiring individuals cannot impact scientific fields discover revolutionary
scientific fields discover revolutionary
scientific fields discover revolutionary medicinal treatments to cure our many
medicinal treatments to cure our many
medicinal treatments to cure our many diseases or even take us to other
diseases or even take us to other
diseases or even take us to other celestial bodies
celestial bodies
celestial bodies therefore we must stop legislation which
therefore we must stop legislation which
therefore we must stop legislation which negatively tampers with STEM education
negatively tampers with STEM education
negatively tampers with STEM education and instead should keep encouraging our
and instead should keep encouraging our
and instead should keep encouraging our youth to be curious and allow them to
youth to be curious and allow them to
youth to be curious and allow them to see the world as their one giant
see the world as their one giant
see the world as their one giant laboratory it is up to us as citizens
laboratory it is up to us as citizens
laboratory it is up to us as citizens charged with the power of democracy and
charged with the power of democracy and
charged with the power of democracy and unification to enact change that allows
unification to enact change that allows
unification to enact change that allows our next generation to explore their
our next generation to explore their
our next generation to explore their creativity two things are true regarding
creativity two things are true regarding
creativity two things are true regarding stem 1 there are tremendous amounts of
stem 1 there are tremendous amounts of
stem 1 there are tremendous amounts of job openings and two there are not
job openings and two there are not
job openings and two there are not enough qualified people to fill these
enough qualified people to fill these
enough qualified people to fill these jobs the technology sector alone employs
jobs the technology sector alone employs
jobs the technology sector alone employs six million people however it is
six million people however it is
six million people however it is predicted that the United States will
predicted that the United States will
predicted that the United States will suffer a shortage of 230,000 advanced
suffer a shortage of 230,000 advanced
suffer a shortage of 230,000 advanced degree stem occupations the flow of
degree stem occupations the flow of
degree stem occupations the flow of talent and enthusiastic individuals into
talent and enthusiastic individuals into
talent and enthusiastic individuals into the stem pipeline is rather diminishing
the stem pipeline is rather diminishing
the stem pipeline is rather diminishing dramatic change is needed if we are to
dramatic change is needed if we are to
dramatic change is needed if we are to prevent a weakening of our science
prevent a weakening of our science
prevent a weakening of our science sector the blame truth is that we have
sector the blame truth is that we have
sector the blame truth is that we have an ever-growing gap within the stem job
an ever-growing gap within the stem job
an ever-growing gap within the stem job sector and are in a dire need of a
sector and are in a dire need of a
sector and are in a dire need of a nationwide commitment to adjust the
nationwide commitment to adjust the
nationwide commitment to adjust the challenge the obvious solution is to
challenge the obvious solution is to
challenge the obvious solution is to involve and prepare our next generation
involve and prepare our next generation
involve and prepare our next generation but we must do this in the right way we
but we must do this in the right way we
but we must do this in the right way we don’t want a young generation being
don’t want a young generation being
don’t want a young generation being involved with science by only reading
involved with science by only reading
involved with science by only reading textbooks and sitting in class in order
textbooks and sitting in class in order
textbooks and sitting in class in order to prepare for a test covering material
to prepare for a test covering material
to prepare for a test covering material they will not likely recall in the
they will not likely recall in the
they will not likely recall in the future
future
future instead education in addition to
instead education in addition to
instead education in addition to providing the necessary academic skills
providing the necessary academic skills
providing the necessary academic skills should serve as a source of inspiration
should serve as a source of inspiration
should serve as a source of inspiration in a platform for students to seek nor
in a platform for students to seek nor
in a platform for students to seek nor rigorous and professional opportunities
rigorous and professional opportunities
rigorous and professional opportunities outside of the classroom as we all know
outside of the classroom as we all know
outside of the classroom as we all know it is quite difficult to dream about
it is quite difficult to dream about
it is quite difficult to dream about something if we have never seen how can
something if we have never seen how can
something if we have never seen how can one see themselves as a real
one see themselves as a real
one see themselves as a real professional scientist working in a
professional scientist working in a
professional scientist working in a laboratory if they have never even set
laboratory if they have never even set
laboratory if they have never even set foot in a lab before or met a
foot in a lab before or met a
foot in a lab before or met a professional scientist a majority of
professional scientist a majority of
professional scientist a majority of teenagers nationwide have already voiced
teenagers nationwide have already voiced
teenagers nationwide have already voiced that they may be discouraged from
that they may be discouraged from
that they may be discouraged from pursuing STEM careers simply because
pursuing STEM careers simply because
pursuing STEM careers simply because they either do not know anyone who works
they either do not know anyone who works
they either do not know anyone who works in these fields or they do not
in these fields or they do not
in these fields or they do not understand what people in these fields
understand what people in these fields
understand what people in these fields to do in order to counter this we need
to do in order to counter this we need
to do in order to counter this we need doctors engineers and scientists to
doctors engineers and scientists to
doctors engineers and scientists to leave their conventional cubicles
leave their conventional cubicles
leave their conventional cubicles offices and workspaces which they
offices and workspaces which they
offices and workspaces which they normally reside in to mentor and teach
normally reside in to mentor and teach
normally reside in to mentor and teach young creative individuals and cruelly
young creative individuals and cruelly
young creative individuals and cruelly death in my hands on look at what stem
death in my hands on look at what stem
death in my hands on look at what stem is all about having been given the
is all about having been given the
is all about having been given the opportunity to give up some of my own
opportunity to give up some of my own
opportunity to give up some of my own research and contribute to a field of
research and contribute to a field of
research and contribute to a field of science all while only in high school I
science all while only in high school I
science all while only in high school I am humbled and grateful of the power a
am humbled and grateful of the power a
am humbled and grateful of the power a mentor to student relationship has
mentor to student relationship has
mentor to student relationship has therefore I urge you all stem
therefore I urge you all stem
therefore I urge you all stem professional or not to contribute to
professional or not to contribute to
professional or not to contribute to this necessary cause the time to act is
this necessary cause the time to act is
this necessary cause the time to act is now it is crucial for us to give our
now it is crucial for us to give our
now it is crucial for us to give our support for this initiative and
support for this initiative and
support for this initiative and recognize the importance of youth and
recognize the importance of youth and
recognize the importance of youth and professional stand related activities
professional stand related activities
professional stand related activities thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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