HHS Captures Honors in
SBU Protein Challenge
Huntington High School science research club members captured the People's Choice Award in this year's Stony Brook University's Protein Modeling Challenge. Participants were required to build a protein model that illustrated the link between protein structure and function.
Huntington's squad consisted of Andrea Cerini, Victor Tellez, Matthew Angeliadis, Alexandria Mandriota and Bobby Scott. "This was our fifth year competing and the team went in strong," said Lori Kenny, who heads the Huntington research program.
Students participating in the challenge studied a paper related to the competition and then used computer modeling software, internet resources and foam covered wire to construct a model of a protein.
Sponsored by Stony Brook's Center for Science and Mathematics Education, the hands-on contest tested participants' building skill and background scientific knowledge. The teenagers needed to learn biochemistry, biology and physiology to be competitive.
The Challenge focused on Tamoxifen, a drug that is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor in breast tissue. Tamoxifen has proven effective in fighting breast cancer. "The contest required students to study scientific information on the protein as well as information on breast cancer," Mrs. Kenny said. "The team had to do a pre-build of the actual protein, which was pre-judged to determine its accuracy."
On the day of the competition at Stony Brook participants were required to build a portion of the protein model and complete a short exam to demonstrate their mastery of the material. The Protein Challenge was adapted from a program created by the Center for Biomolecular Modeling at The Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Participants in this year's Challenge voted Huntington the People's Choice Award winner in recognition of the team's skill in building a unique display of the protein. "Our team's effort in this year's competition was second to none," said Mrs. Kenny, who works alongside department colleague Dame Forbes in the science research program.