Winners receive $100,000, ring Stock Market's closing bell
New York, NY, December 5, 2005-The Translational Genomics Research
Institute (TGen) today announced that two graduates of the
Institute's summer internship program took the top prize at the
nation's premier high school science competition, the Siemens
Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and Technology.
Anne Lee, a senior at Phoenix Country Day School in Paradise
Valley, and Albert Shieh, a junior at Chaparral High School in
Scottsdale, won the $100,000 prize in the team category, which they
will share equally, for developing new software that more
accurately analyzes genetic data. In addition to the prize, the
winners will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange
today.
TGen summer interns Albert Shieh, a junior at Chaparral High School
in Scottsdale, and Anne Lee, a senior at Phoenix Country Day School
in Paradise Valley, took first place in the team category at the
2005-2006 Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and
Technology. The winners were announced this morning at New York
University, host of the Siemens Westinghouse Competition National
Finals.
"We worked really hard all summer on the project," said Shieh. "It
was such an honor that our project was chosen." Lee agrees. "I am
so excited. We couldn't have done this without TGen and our mentors
there," she said.
The Siemens Westinghouse Competition was launched in 1998 to
recognize America's best and brightest students in math, science
and technology. This year, 1,684 students entered the competition,
a 13% increase over the previous year.
"Anne and Albert have received one of the top honors for all
science students," said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, president and scientific
director at TGen. "The fact that these outstanding young scientists
are from Arizona and were mentored here at TGen is something we are
all extremely proud of."
Lee and Shieh received the team prize for developing an improved
software package that analyzes genetic data. The team developed
their project, titled SNiPer: Improved SNP Genotype Calling for
Affymetrix 10K GeneChip Microarray Data, under the mentorship of
TGen's Drs. Dietrich Stephan, David Craig and Matt
Huentelman.
"It is amazing to think of the accomplishments of these two high
school students," said Dr. Craig. "Between the two of them, they
have already published three major scientific articles."
The students' research was published in the October 31, 2005, issue
of the genetics journal, BMC Genomics.
During their summer internship at TGen, the students identified an
opportunity to improve on a commercially developed software package
designed to analyze high volume genetic data. They developed
improved genetic analysis software-which TGen now uses-that enables
more accurate and efficient identification of the genes underlying
inherited disorders in humans. The team then used their software to
pinpoint a mutated gene that causes a childhood degenerative
disorder.
"Anne and Albert's software tools will positively impact
investigators worldwide," said Dr. Huentelman. "We could not be
happier to see these young researchers win this prestigious
competition."
The Siemens Westinghouse Competition finals were judged by a panel
of prominent scientists and mathematicians headed by lead judge Dr.
Constance Atwell, consultant and former Director for Extramural
Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
at The National Institutes of Health. Nineteen students competed in
the National Finals, including six individuals and six teams. The
national finalists previously competed in a series of regional
competitions held at six leading research universities over three
consecutive weekends in November.
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Media Contact:
Amy Erickson-TGen (602) 343-8522
About TGen
The mission of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
is to make and translate genomic discoveries into advances in human
health. Translational genomics research is a relatively new field
employing innovative advances arising from the Human Genome Project
and applying them to the development of diagnostics, prognostics
and therapies for cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes and
other complex diseases. TGen is focused on personalized medicine
and plans to accomplish its goals through robust and
disease-focused research.
About The Siemens Foundation
Established in 1998, the Siemens Foundation provides nearly $2
million in college scholarships and awards each year for talented
high school students in the United States. Based in Iselin, New
Jersey, the Foundation's signature programs -- the Siemens
Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the
Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, and the Siemens Teacher
Scholarships -- recognize exceptional achievement in science, math
and technology. By supporting outstanding students today, and
recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence,
the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow's scientists and engineers.
The Foundation's mission is based on the culture of innovation,
research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens'
U.S. operating companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For
more information, visit http://www.siemens-foundation.org