Last summer, the news went around the world that a teenager from Maryland had developed a revolutionary test for the early detection of pancreatic, lung and ovarian cancer. The columnist of "Forbes" magazine wanted to get to know 15-year-old Dzeko Andraka better.
Journalist John Nosta arranged an interview with Dzeko via Twitter.
"That would be great! I finish school at 14.15:XNUMX pm!" said this high school student.
When did you become intrigued with science and especially when you started studying cancer?
I showed an inclination towards science very early. My parents could rarely answer my questions, but they always helped me find the answers myself. So I was making hypotheses without even knowing I was "doing science"!
I became intrigued by cancer, especially pancreatic cancer, when a close family friend died. I did some research and found that 100 people die every day from pancreatic cancer and that although early detection is key to survival, there is no cheap, fast and accurate enough text. I thought, there has to be a better way.
Do people think your innovation is "less important" because you're so young?
I don't think so - I think anyone can see that it's a great idea. When I go to scientific meetings, there is a subtle "ageism" before I start talking, but when I finish my presentation, everyone takes me seriously.
That's why the internet is important - people can't see your age or race, and there's nothing stopping you from sharing information.
How did you come up with the idea for the test, was it "out of the blue"?
I like to read scientific journals and then lie down or take a walk and let the information sink in... Then, quite suddenly, I get an idea and "connect the dots". Then I go back to reading and fill in the blanks. Because of this discovery, I spent a lot of time learning about nanoparticles while working on previous projects.
I felt that carbon nano-tubes could be "super-heroes" among materials and I wanted to work with them more. Then I heard about antibodies in biology class and suddenly I kind of connected it and wondered what would happen if I exposed the nano-tube to antibodies of a protein exposed to pancreatic cancer cells.
Of course, there was still a lot to do...
I did some research and found that 100 people die every day from pancreatic cancer and that although early detection is key to survival, there is no cheap, fast and accurate enough text
How did the overwhelming rejections you experienced when you wanted to present your work affect you?
I sent emails to a number of professors who live near me and who deal with pancreatic cancer. Week after week I received emails in which they refuse to even listen to me. I began to despair...
Then, after 199 rejections, I got an email from Dr. Maitre at Johns Hopkins Hospital, inviting me to an appointment. Fortunately, I was well prepared and I owe a lot to him and the graduate student, Dr. Chen.
What do you think about science "helping" you to become famous?
I'm still very surprised that people know who I am. My main goal was to make a simple and cheap sensor that will detect pancreatic cancer. I am very happy to be "known" precisely because of the application of science.
What's next?
I'm working on a new project and it's not going easy at the moment. Professors still reject me and do not accept me in their laboratories and say that I do not know enough...
I guess most of them didn't even read my proposal and give up as soon as they see "high school student" on paper. Persistence will pay off in the end, I'm sure.
Bonus video:
