Two Ossining Students Win Top Awards at Korea Science Fair

Ossining High School seniors Hammad Hassan and Raymond Liu won gold and silver medals, respectively, at the Korea Science & Engineering Fair this week.

Raymond and Hammad were the only two students from the United States participated in the competition, which was held in Daejeon city, South Korea, from last Thursday through today. Other countries represented included Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Nigeria, South Korea, Thailand and Turkey. The Korea Science Service sponsored the event.

“I never imagined that I would one day have students traveling internationally to Korea for a high school science fair, and then they would bring home gold and silver awards,” said Valerie Holmes, who co-teaches OHS’ Science Research Program with Angelo Piccirillo. “I am so proud of them, our school, our nation!”

Both OHS students conducted their research on cancer, which causes an average of 10 million deaths each year.

Hammad’s project is titled “Targeted Inhibition of a Novel Malt1 and Mapk Signaling Network Synergistically Suppresses B Cell Lymphoma Growth.”

Hammad researched B cell cancers, which are extensively driven by the mucosa-associated lymphoid translocation 1 (MALT1) gene. Standard inhibitors of the gene are not effective because B cells develop resistance. However, simultaneously inhibiting the MALT1 gene and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) protein suppresses the development of lymphomas. It also reduces drug-induced side effects. By diagnosing a novel molecular interaction and developing a synergistic therapeutic approach, Hammad’s work provides a rationale for developing combination therapies that could replace toxic chemotherapy agents.

Raymond’s project is titled “Investigating the Nuclear Function of Gene 33: Implication on the Regulation of Genomic Instability.”

In order to expand knowledge of how genetic mutations are regulated in preventing carcinogenesis, Raymond researched Gene 33’s nuclear function in regulating genomic instability. Gene 33 functions as a tumor suppressor that prevents the carcinogen hexavalent chromium (used in textile dyes, wood preservation, anti-corrosion and other products) from damaging DNA and transforming cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that allow this are unclear.

Raymond identified a novel protein-protein interaction between Gene 33 and a catalytic sub-unit of DNA polymerase delta (p125) and its adapter protein (p46). P125 and p46 proteins are directly involved in the DNA damage response through the process of DNA synthesis and repair. Through this novel, alternative signaling cascade, Raymond diagnosed a network that provides a rationale for developing future targeted oncogenic therapies.