A 17-year-old high school student from Edmonton recently achieved remarkable success at an international science competition. Elizabeth Chen, a Grade 12 student at Old Scona Academic School, won first prize at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Brussels from September 12th to 17th. This achievement came after Chen emerged victorious at regional and national levels, securing her spot in the prestigious contest held in Belgium. Her project focused on CAR T-cell therapy, an alternative treatment for cancer. Chen expressed her gratitude for the life-changing experience and highlighted the opportunity to meet and connect with people from different countries who are involved in youth science. She was particularly fascinated by the diverse range of ideas presented by her peers, including projects involving spiderwebs and rocket parts. Chen’s motivation for her project stemmed from her participation in the annual Terry Fox Run and her quest to understand why there is still no cure for cancer despite extensive fundraising efforts. She discovered that personalized treatments are becoming increasingly vital because every patient’s cancer is unique and requires tailored solutions. Chen focused specifically on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of cancer in children. She aimed to predict patient responses to CAR T-cell therapy and identify the most effective treatments based on genetic markers. Chen’s research was computational and utilized data from a clinical trial. She expressed her pride in representing Canada at an international level and highlighted the opportunity to learn about different cultures and perspectives. Chen’s future plans involve continuing her work in CAR T-cell therapy, hopefully with a mentor at the University of Alberta, while pursuing a university education. She aspires to conduct cancer research and make a difference in the lives of patients and their families. Chen acknowledged the support she had received throughout her two-year project, expressing gratitude to her friends, family, school, school district, Youth Can Innovate, Youth Science Canada, and The Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation for sponsoring her trip to the EUCYS. She praised the excellence of youth science in Canada and acknowledged the remarkable projects showcased at the national fair. Representing Canada was a profound honor for Chen, and she is grateful for the opportunity to share her work on the global stage.
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