Stanford-Bound Student Receives Cash Prize for Creating Mathematical Model to Predict Growth of Cancer
For Immediate Release:
April 4, 2012
Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382
Los Angeles -- At the 62nd Annual Los Angeles County Science Fair, which was held from March 29 to 31 at the Pasadena Convention Center, PETA presented its Special Award for Humane Science, along with a cash prize, to Palos Verdes Peninsula High School senior Shu Hee (Sophie) Kim for her mathematical model that accurately predicts the growth of breast cancer cells in patients after they receive radiotherapy treatments. When compared with results from in vitro tests using human tissue, Kim's model accurately predicted the outcomes. Her model may help doctors better anticipate the effectiveness of treatments for breast and other forms of cancer.
Kim worked with a mathematics professor at the University of California–Irvine on this project. This fall, she will begin her first year at Stanford University. She has received $500 and a certificate from PETA. Shu Hee's project has also been selected to advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) next month.
"PETA is recognizing Sophie Kim for exemplifying everything that's right about modern science: using creativity as well as compassion to find ways to help humans without harming animals," says PETA Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "Animals in laboratories need this new generation of scientists to take research out of the Dark Ages, and Sophie Kim is poised to be among those leading the way."
Animal-based breast cancer research typically involves injecting animals with chemicals or cancer cells and forcing them to endure the growth of painful tumors until they die or are killed. These cruel studies have still not identified a cure for the disease, in part because, as National Breast Cancer Coalition founder Fran Visco has stated, "Animals don't reflect the reality of cancer in humans."
This is the first year that PETA has presented this award at the Los Angeles County Science Fair. This award is part of PETA's larger effort to promote humane, progressive, non-animal research in science fairs. In 2010, after discussions with PETA, the Intel ISEF—of which the Los Angeles fair is a satellite event—adopted a policy that "strongly endorses the use of non-animal research methods and encourages students to use alternatives to animal research."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.