Cheap Method of Diagnosing Cancer Invented by 15 Year Old
Jack is a fifteen year old freshman in high school. He developed a paper sensor that could detect cancer in five minutes for as little as 3 cents. He conducted his research at John Hopkins University.
This research could change the face of cancer and promote early detection. He has been selected as the Intel 2012 ISEF winner and has won awards at multiple national and international math competitions.
His diagnostic test earned him first prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest pre-college science research competition.
It was after a close family friend died of pancreatic cancer that Jack became interested in finding a better early-detection diagnostic test. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is usually detected too late to save the patient.
Jack said the solution came to him during his high school biology class. He was secretly reading an article about nanotubes while the teacher was talking about antibodies. Jack said the two ideas came together in his head, and he thought he could combine what the teacher was saying with what he knew about nanotubes to create an early detection test for Pancreatic cancer.
Jack’s method is 168 times faster, 26000 times cheaper, 400 times more sensitive and has a 90% success rate. He is on the national junior whitewater kayaking team and enjoys playing with his dog and folding origami.