Cellular and Molecular Biology
A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is misfolded tau proteins, driven by hyperphosphorylation. This study investigates the structural stability of tau protein domains—N-terminal, proline-rich…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gingiva, induced by accumulation of bacterial plaque leading to the destruction of alveolar bone and tooth loss. Clearance of b…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Junior Division)
Second Award
This experiment tested yeast fermentation efficiency across four types of sugar: granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, and honey. To conduct the test, 10g of each sugar was dissolved in…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Senior Division)
Protein glycosylation is a highly diverse and complex post-translational modification that is critical to many biological processes, such as intercellular communication and protein folding.…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive and rapidly progressing brain tumors. Due to its molecular heterogeneity, it exhibits strong resistance to therapy. Recent studies…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of matter in the brain driven by amyloid-ß (Aß) aggregation. In scientific literature, the role of inhibitory neurot…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Junior Division)
Honorable_mention Award
Gelatin forms a strong three dimensional network during gelation, where protein chains trap water within a branching framework. This project investigates the biochemical effects of citric ac…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in the liver and can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carci…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Besides the familiar double helix, DNA can form alternative structures such as G-quadruplexes (G4), guanine-rich four-stranded structures that arise during replication and repair. G4s are co…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Senior Division)
Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, is driven in ~30% of cases by aberrant Hedgehog signaling through GLI transcription factors. FDA-approved upstream inhibitor…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Second Award
Cancer and autoimmune diseases present an immunological paradox: T cells adopt opposing functional states. In cancer, T cells become dysfunctional and lose effector function, failing to elim…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
How do cells decide which lipid droplets to eliminate? Cells store excess lipids in lipid droplets (LDs) to maintain energy balance and protect themselves from lipotoxicity. However, when li…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
RET (Rearranged During Transfection) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that is frequently altered across multiple cancer types. One such alteration is KIF5B-RET, a fusion oncogene that dri…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Fourth Award
Parkinson's disease progression is worsened by chronic neuroinflammation and excessive microglial activation, making inflammatory pathways promising therapeutic targets. Among these strategi…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) regulates cell motility and is commonly assessed by AKT phosphorylation at S473. It remains unclear whether distinct chemoattractants p…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Senior Division)
This study examines the effect of Beta Vulgaris, or beetroot, a plant rich in antioxidants, on the stress resistance in mutations in the FOXO3 gene pathway. Using the model organism C. elega…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Cancer genomic alterations often create unique vulnerabilities that can be exploited for precise treatment. Inhibitors exploiting synthetic lethal relationships have recently shown clinical…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Americans use an average of 1.6 straws per day, PFAS, are present in both plastic and paper straws, contributing to the increased health issues related to microplastics and PFAS. Several stu…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Junior Division)
Honorable_mention Award
Yogurt is made using a process called milk fermentation. During fermentation, bacteria break down lactose and turn it into lactic acid. This buildup of acid lowers the pH which results in th…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Junior Division)
Fourth Award
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tn5tmgzB23CuLVm_JdctPO9ImQ3IXkAhN6UfprGVsMQ/edit?usp=drivesdk
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Senior Division)
Hormone-driven cancers, such as prostate cancer, rely on hormone receptor signaling for growth and survival. While hormone deprivation therapies are initially effective, prolonged treatment…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
This project aims to link the cellular heat stress response of Montipora capitata to its biological immortality. The amortality of this species is attributed to alternative methods of telome…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Fourth Award
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for over 90% of oral cancers, with 5-year survival rates below 60% due to late-stage diagnosis. Current diagnostic approaches rely on invasive su…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Background Hair loss resulting from follicular miniaturization and stem-cell exhaustion lacks effective biological reversal strategies. Traditional hair restoration relies on follicular tran…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Third Award
KARS1 encodes bifunctional cytoplasmic and mitochondrial lysyl-tRNA synthetases, and biallelic loss-of-function variants cause infantile-onset progressive leukoencephalopathy (LEPID) and rel…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Senior Division)
Methylmercury, a bioaccumulative toxin linked to neurological damage, enters cells by mimicking essential nutrients. Its L-cysteine conjugate structurally resembles L-methionine, hijacking l…
Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology (Senior Division)
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a selective physiological barrier that regulates the movement of molecules between the bloodstream and the central nervous system. In neuroinflammatory condi…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects 55 million people worldwide, leading to progressive cognitive decline, brain cell death, and brain shrinkage. Current treatments offer only limited relief, u…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Third Award
Ischemic injury causes neuronal loss and neurological deficits, challenging stroke recovery. After injury, a glial scar forms, but its regulation of neural stem cell (NSC) fate remains uncle…
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the United States. It is frequently asymptomatic, yet can result in severe reproductive complications. Wh…