Edmonton teen is a finalist in 2012 Google Science Fair

He may be only 18-years-old, but Danny ?(Yuhao)? Huang may be on his way to finding a cure for prostate cancer.

Huang is a finalist in the 2012 Google Science Fair. His research on prostate cancer, and the cancer-promoting protein involved in this specific type of cancer has earned him a spot in the international competition.

Making the cut came as a bit of a shock for this young Edmontonian. “It was a surprise for me,” admits Huang. “I was so happy because it would give me another chance to share my research with the public.”

Huang was first introduced to the research environment in Grade 11, when he took part in the Heritage Youth Summer researcher program. This experience integrated him into the research taking place at the University of Alberta.

Since then, he’s been studying and researching prostate cancer, and how protein and alterations on that protein affect its properties; “a project I was working on for the past two years,” he says.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common form of cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States (Feldman & Feldman, 2001). Huang’s study investigates the role and the mechanism of a novel post-translational modification, O-GlcNAcylation (O-linked ]]>-N-acetylglucosamine modification), in regulating a potent cancer promoting protein, ]]>-catenin. For more on the science behind Huang’s research, click here.

Huang describes his project as the alteration of a protein through the attachment of sugar to this protein. “With this modification, the protein did alter its function as a cancer-promoting protein,” he explains. “With this modification, it was actually less harmful to the cell,” he says, adding, “there might be a way to suppress prostate cancer.”

This young man wants to stress he couldn’t have accomplished this project alone. “I want to thank my supervisor and mentor at the lab for always providing support and guidance throughout my research experience.”

This study was carried out under the supervision of Dr. Sujata Persad at the University of Alberta in the span of one year and half.

Huang is excited to be part of this science fair because it will give him the opportunity to share his research with others, and “hopefully, inspire others to undertake the experience of doing a science fair.”

The Google Science Fair finalists each win a Chrome book; a Google-brand laptop. The winning researcher will win $50,000. The top 15 finalists will be revealed in June.