Browse real student projects, abstracts, and awards.
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…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology Fourth Award
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a type of malignant brain tumor and it is the most lethal with a median survival of only 21 months. It is characterized by an extremely strong recurrence rat…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is the world’s leading cause of bone implant infection causing osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis accounts for half of all chronic diseases in people over 50 and thi…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology Third Award
Autophagy is a “self-eating” cellular pathway. It is a core molecular mechanism for cellular and organismal homeostasis and is also a pro-longevity mechanism. Autophagy dysfunction links the…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are prevalent in society, EphA4 is a gene that inhibits axon regeneration following development and is known to decrease neural plasticity during rehabilitation. R…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
As the prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases continue to increase, so do the cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the development of new treatments, HCC remains diffic…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
The APOE3 allele, the most common APOE variant, is believed to influence Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) progression. It has been proposed that the TOMM40 gene – which neighbors APOE3 -- might serv…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology First Award
Obesity is the enlargement of adipose tissue caused by consuming more calories than used by the body. Excessive fat accumulation in the adipose tissue forms adipocyte hypertrophy, which prom…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Cancer immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T therapies are becoming a therapeutic option for cancer patients with advanced and metastatic disease. However, clinical success…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. Thrombosis is the most common underlying pathology of CVD. Thrombin, an enzyme responsible for converting fibrinogen to f…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) are lymphocytes capable of recognizing and attacking cancer cells. During continuous attacks, CTLs undergo an exhaustion process, gradually losing their abilities un…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
This study is a proof-of-concept to validate if CRISPR a/i (activation/interference) system can modulate LMNA gene expression in lung cancer cells. To establish the CRISPRa/i system, I used…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Actin-based molecular motor myosin Va (myoVa) is a biological machine involved in intracellular cargo transport, which is essential for normal cellular function. Although a single myoVa is s…
ISEF · 2022
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Ovarian Cancer is the deadliest cancer among all of the gynecological malignancies, largely due to chemoresistance. Carboplatin is a widely accepted Platinum-based chemotherapy agent used fo…