Embedded Files
Hello, my name is Izabella Blanco.
I am a senior, in my third year in the College Science Research program. I enjoy science as a factor in medicine and taking care of the human body.
Throughout my sophomore year of high school, my first year in the Science Research program, I researched cystic fibrosis. Specifically, gene therapy as a cure for cystic fibrosis. At first, I was interested in learning about cystic fibrosis itself, but then my topic slowly altered itself to the Trikafta drug as a cure for cystic fibrosis. My interest in that topic, though, slowly adjusted itself to gene therapy, specifically using CRISPR in order to edit the DNA that codes for cystic fibrosis.
My junior year, I was researching nanoparticle drug delivery as a method for killing cancerous cells, so I did my mid-year presentation on multifunctional nanoparticles as therapeutic agents for breast cancer.
The image to the right is the structure of a nanoparticle, specifically a gold nanoparticle, like used in the journal that I presented my mid-year presentation on.
Last year, as a junior, I decided to change my topic and started researching breast cancer. Originally, I was researching the effects of hormones on the growth of breast cancer cells, specifically estrogen. My interests then moved to the idea of gene targeting for the HER2 breast cancer gene. I was studying nanoparticle drug delivery as a method for killing cancerous cells. I was interested in how nanoparticles would transport the cancer-killing agents to the breasts, therefore killing the cancer.
Towards the end of my junior year, I finally decided on my research: the effects of nitrates, phosphates, and pH in a freshwater lake. I began my testing at Congers Lake in Congers, New York, the first week of May of 2023. I test every other week until October, in order to get a 6-month sample period from 3 different seasons of the year, and so that my data is collected by the Regeneron Science Talent Search deadline. Each time I go to the lake, I measure the amount of phosphates, nitrates, and pH levels, at 6 different locations. I use colorimeter comparisons to determine the measurements for each sample. Unfortunately, due to the rain this summer, my results are not as predicted, but instead diluted. In my Regeneron paper, I am analyzing the data and seeing the relationships between the different substances, the locations, and the weather.
I am currently a senior at Clarkstown North. This fall, I submitted my final paper to Regeneron Science Talent Search on An Analysis of Nitrates, Phosphates, and pH in a Freshwater Lake. On November 28, my high school hosted a Science Research Showcase in which I presented my project to a wide audience.
final science research presentation - Google Slides.webmLinked above is my mid-year presentation, which is on my final project. This project has been presented a few times now, but I made a few adjustments to my presentation. At the Symposium at the end of the year, I will be presenting this project to a small audience.
Page updated
Report abuse