Congratulations to Sunand Kannappan and to all CYSF participants

I visited the Calgary Youth Science Fair (CYSF) this weekend to tour the exhibits and chat with the student participants. This is the fifth year that the University of Calgary has hosted the Fair at the Olympic Oval – a great partnership and a perfect setting.

At this afternoon’s Awards Ceremony, I presented the CYSF Best Overall Project award to Sunand Kannappan of Sir Winston Churchill High School. The award is sponsored by the University of Calgary. The title of Sunand’s project is ‘CDK5RAP2: Novel Target for NSCLC Diagnosis and Therapeutics’. I can’t explain the details of Sunand’s research to you. However, I did learn that it is related to the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Presenting the Chancellor’s Club Bursary and CYSF Best Overall Project trophy to Sunand Kannappan of Sir Winston Churchill High School

Presenting the Chancellor’s Club Bursary and CYSF Best Overall Project trophy to Sunand Kannappan of Sir Winston Churchill High School

 

CDK5RAP2 is a protein that is known to play a role in cell cycle regulation and spindle formation. Sunand discovered that this protein also contributes to the progression of NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer). Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is the most common type of lung cancer and has a notoriously poor prognosis. 85% of patients are diagnosed after symptoms develop. Its late diagnosis leads to late treatment which results in low survival rates. This discouraging outcome has impacted me personally. Although both my mother and father were non-smokers, ironically both were stricken with NSCLC. My mother survived. My father did not.

Reflecting now on his research findings, Sunand wonders whether the CDK5RAP2 protein could eventually be developed into a biomarker (i.e. an indicator that could aid in the earlier detection of lung cancer). Or perhaps a future scientist could develop a means to inhibit CDK5RAP2. If we could do that, then NSCLC cell proliferation might be reduced – a potential treatment for lung cancer.

When I was Sunand’s age, I had hoped that cancer would be conquered within my lifetime. I’m no longer so confident. The ongoing battle is daunting. Let’s hope that young bright minds like Sunand’s will play a major role in bringing cancer to its knees later this century.

Coordinating the Calgary Youth Science Fair, the largest science fair in Canada, is a substantial undertaking. This minor miracle is performed each year by Vanessa Davidson, Chuck Buckley and the other 40 volunteer board members of the CYSF Society. The mission of the Society is “to promote an appreciation for scientific principles and method in the youth of Calgary by means of an annual science competition”. What a noble initiative! I am also grateful to the 500 community members, graduate students and alumni who judged the work of the Fair’s 1,000 students.

Congratulations to Sunand Kannappan and to all the participants in the Calgary Youth Science Fair. You make me proud. I don’t know who Sunand’s science teachers are at Churchill High and I’ve never met his parents, but I would sure like to meet them. They must be incredibly inspiring people and wonderful role models.

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