SMITHTOWN, NY - Smithtown High School West senior James Rogers has been recognized as a Rising Scientist by the Child Mind Institute. He was also awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
The award recognizes his research in the fields of neuroscience and adolescent and child mental health. This recognition was based on Rogers’ work during the past three years in science research at Smithtown High School West.
His studies focus on understanding the role of the neurotransmitter, glutamate, in excitotoxicity. Excitotoxicity is believed to be involved in the pathologies of a number of neurodegenerative diseases including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Rogers is using biochemical, behavioral and genomic methods to uncover the role that glutamate plays in both normal and abnormal neuronal functioning and learning how the glutamatergic neurotransmitter system evolved.
Photo caption: From left: Smithtown High School West Principal John Coady, James Rogers, winner of the Rising Scientist award by the Child Mind Institute, Smithtown High School West science research coordinator Dr. Joanne Figueiredo and Smithtown Central School District Director of Science Laura Snell.
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Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
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