Browse real student projects, abstracts, and awards.
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Fourth Award
The pandemic-induced decline in colonoscopies and the continuing rise of colorectal cancer (CRC) rates in younger populations makes the need for early CRC indicators higher than ever. The ro…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
The current paradigm in genetics states that mutation is random. However, recent studies with Arabidopsis thaliana have shown that the mutation rate and rate of expression of a gene are nega…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Second Award
Over $10.8 billion is spent each year in various oncology clinical trials. However, only 3.4% of those trials succeed. This is because of the lack of precision in the selection of targets to…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
The proper formation of a zygote requires extensive epigenetic reprogramming to enable appropriate inheritance of histone methylation. In C. elegans, this reprogramming is mediated by the H3…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Although UC-MSCs are preferred for clinical administration, they are retrieved in minute amounts. The scale-up requirement for human consumption is 1 million cells/kg of body weight. This de…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Third Award
It has become increasingly apparent that a person’s environment has the potential to alter gene expression via the transgenerational inheritance of non-DNA factors. These factors likely accu…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are all classified as neurodegenerative disorders. In many neurodegenerative diseases, TDP-43…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Cellular mechanosensation is an important biological function that enables cells to sense the mechanical cues of its extracellular environment and to change phenotypes and cell lineage accor…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Paxillin is a known regulator of focal adhesions and actin cytoskeleton dynamics, crucial for cell migration. However, our study discovered a novel function of paxillin in neurons. We found…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Purpose: Though the behavioral effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are well-documented, a gap exists in current literature on its effects on glymphatic system dynamics…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
This study aimed to determine if Drosophila melanogaster PFK (DmPFK) forms filaments, and if so, under what conditions. Enzyme filamentation, or the reversible formation of oligomers, has be…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Acod1 is a gene that codes for immune response gene 1 (IRG1), an enzyme that converts TCA cycle intermediate cis-aconitate into itaconate. Itaconate exerts multiple biological effects, from…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Second Award
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) affects millions worldwide but has an exceptionally high prevalence in Hawaii, with a rate of 9% for all residents aged 18 or older. Of that 9%, 13.1% are Native Hawaii…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Proper cellular morphology and plasma membrane structure during interphase are integral for proper mitosis and homeostasis. Tumor suppressor PTEN (Phosphatase and TENsin homologue deleted on…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Third Award
Current research is focused on identifying drugs that can mitigate chemotherapy-induced injury to normal tissues, while being cytotoxic to cancer cells. This study was designed to evaluate t…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
A class of type II diabetes medication interacts with a nuclear receptor known as PPAR?. While these drugs are effective at managing type II diabetes, however, they have dangerous side effec…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Second Award
As mRNA-based therapeutics like COVID-19 vaccines rapidly evolve, degradation remains a key limiter of efficacy and distribution. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) possess a closed-loop structure, co…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Fourth Award
Pancreatic cancer is among the world's deadliest cancers with a 5-year survival rate below 9%. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) encompasses >90% of all pancreatic cancers, and >95% ar…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Third Award
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are two types of hematologic malignancies with especially poor prognoses and limited therapeutic options. Notably, mutations i…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Third Award
Recent changes in climate, increased energy production, overpopulation, and inadequate water use and infrastructure led to freshwater shortage globally. There is an urgent need to develop ne…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Third Award
The NMDA receptor (NMDAR) plays an integral role in neuronal communication and neurodevelopment, and its malfunction has been linked to multiple neurodevelopmental diseases (NDDs) including…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
The signaling between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the brain is incredibly important, as it manages multiple processes, including hunger rates. This signaling impacts eating patterns…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy is one of the most common muscular dystrophies within the United States. However, very little research has been conducted in comparison to other dystro…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Fourth Award
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive form of breast cancer with a lack of effective treatment options and high rates of metastasis. Angiogenesis, the formation of new…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology Fourth Award
The COVID-19 pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus threatens global public health. The immune response in patients plays a significant role in resisting COVID-19 infection, one part of which…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Natural Killer (NK) cells -both circulating (cNK) and liver resident (lr-NK) - are a major component of innate host defense against Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NK cell dysfunction is ass…
ISEF · 2023
Cellular and Molecular Biology
FBW7 is a substrate recognition component and a tumor suppressor in the E3 ligase complex. It plays a major role in combating oncoproteins and regulating different types of cancers, most not…