Jack Andraka | CDI 2013.

LaCiudaddelasIdeas
3 Jan 201419:54

Summary

TLDRThe speaker shares a personal journey inspired by the death of a family friend from pancreatic cancer, driving them to innovate cancer diagnostics. They highlight the inadequacies of current detection methods and their quest to develop a low-cost, highly sensitive paper sensor capable of identifying pancreatic cancer at its earliest stages. Despite facing numerous challenges, including rejections from professors and scientific paywalls, they succeeded in creating a groundbreaking tool that could significantly improve survival rates. The speaker advocates for democratizing access to scientific knowledge, emphasizing the need for equal opportunities in research and innovation for all.

Takeaways

  • 😀 The speaker's journey began at 13 after a family friend's death from pancreatic cancer, prompting a desire to learn more about the disease.
  • 😀 Over 85% of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed late, resulting in less than a 2% survival rate.
  • 😀 Current diagnostic methods for pancreatic cancer are outdated, costly ($800 per test), and miss 30% of cases.
  • 😀 The speaker, driven by teenage optimism, researched pancreatic cancer detection and aimed to create an inexpensive and effective sensor.
  • 😀 A protein called Meson was identified as a potential biomarker for early detection of pancreatic cancer, showing high levels in affected individuals.
  • 😀 The speaker combined carbon nanotubes with antibodies to create a paper sensor that detects cancer, drastically reducing costs and improving accuracy.
  • 😀 The sensor developed is 168 times faster, 26,000 times less expensive, and over 400 times more sensitive than current methods.
  • 😀 The project faced significant obstacles, including 199 rejections from professors and the challenge of accessing scientific research due to paywalls.
  • 😀 The speaker highlights the inequity in access to scientific knowledge, stressing the need for a 'knowledge democracy' where everyone can access research.
  • 😀 The future of scientific research should focus on empowering young innovators and democratizing access to knowledge to drive advancements.

Q & A

  • What motivated the speaker to start researching pancreatic cancer?

    -The speaker was motivated to research pancreatic cancer after the death of a close family friend from the disease, which prompted them to seek answers and improve detection methods.

  • What is the main issue with current pancreatic cancer detection methods?

    -Current methods are outdated, expensive (costing $800 per test), and often miss about 30% of pancreatic cancer cases, leading to late diagnoses when survival chances are extremely low.

  • What was the speaker's initial approach to developing a new diagnostic method?

    -The speaker set out to design a sensor that is inexpensive, rapid, simple, sensitive, selective, and minimally invasive, aiming to detect pancreatic cancer at its earliest stages.

  • What protein did the speaker identify as a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer?

    -The speaker identified a protein called Meson, which is found at elevated levels in the bloodstream of individuals with pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancer, especially in early stages.

  • How did the speaker’s high school biology class contribute to their project?

    -During biology class, the speaker had an epiphany about combining antibodies with carbon nanotubes to create a network that could detect specific cancer biomarkers, facilitating the development of their sensor.

  • What challenges did the speaker face in obtaining lab resources?

    -The speaker initially struggled to secure a lab to conduct their research, receiving 199 rejections from professors before finally gaining acceptance into a lab at Johns Hopkins University.

  • What was the outcome of the speaker’s research after seven months in the lab?

    -After seven months, the speaker successfully created a paper sensor that costs only three cents, operates 168 times faster, is over 26,000 times less expensive, and is over 400 times more sensitive than current methods of detection.

  • What systemic issue does the speaker highlight regarding access to scientific research?

    -The speaker points out that 90% of scientific articles are locked behind paywalls, making it difficult for researchers, especially those without funding, to access necessary information, creating inequities in scientific knowledge.

  • How does the speaker envision a more equitable access to scientific knowledge?

    -The speaker advocates for a 'knowledge democracy' where everyone, regardless of financial status or location, has equal access to scientific literature, arguing that knowledge should be a basic human right.

  • What does the speaker believe about the role of young innovators in science?

    -The speaker believes that the creativity and potential of young innovators can drive a scientific revolution, emphasizing the importance of including younger generations in research and innovation.

Outlines

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