Anirban maitra at johns hopkins school of medicine gave him the lab space to bring his detection test to life. The high schooler spends his free time in the science lab concocting better, cheaper ways to spot disease. A paper on carbon nanotubes, a biology lecture on antibodies and a flash of insight led 15yearold jack andraka to design a cheaper, more sensitive cancer detector. After learning about ai, she got a coding book and learned how to code. The pancreatic cancer test was entered in by the 15yearold to the intel international science and engineering fair. Jack, 15, won top science award for his test for detecting pancreatic cancer. Anne frank wrote the diary of a young girl, one of the worlds most widely known books. Samples need to be sent to a lab, which takes time. Jack andraka s parents on raising a science whiz kid. Meet jack andraka, who was 14 years old hes all of 15 now when he began looking for a simple way to detect early pancreatic cancer, his interest sparked by a relatives death from the disease. Only after 199 rejections he a positive reply from anirban maitra. Mentors viewan honour to have him in my labjack andrakas mentor, professor anirban maitra, said. Jack andraka born in 1997 is an inventor, scientist and cancer researcher.
Jack andraka is the recipient of the smithsonian american ingenuity award, was awarded first place in the siemens we can change the world challenge, and has received a national geographic explorer grant, the intel gordon moore award, and the stockholm water prize. The first early test for pancreatic cancer devised by 15yearold. Crownsville teen jack andraka talks about his new book breakthrough. Hell be sitting with michelle obama tonight at the state of the union. As adults, we think weve gained the power to make a difference, and we start to look down on those wideeyed kids with big dreams.
Jack andrakas test is 28 times faster, 26,000 times less expensive and over. After andraka s proposal to build and test his idea for a pancreatic cancer detector was rejected from 199 labs, the. Since mid2012 there has been a lot of publicity surrounding an american schoolboy, jack andraka, who won a major prize at intels international science and engineering fair for inventing a new diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer. The truth about jack andraka by imreallynotokay on deviantart. Crownsville teen jack andraka talks about his new book.
With memoir, teen writes new chapter of an already storied life. A pancreatic cancer test by 15yearold student jack andraka is taking the science world by storm. In america we enjoy hearing that everyone can do whatever they put their mind to and focus their heart on. Andraka s work went on to win the intel international science and engineering fair, and. In 2012, 15 year old jack andraka from maryland became instant news by winning first place at the intel national science fair.
Jack andraka is a maryland high school sophomore who at age 15 invented an inexpensive and sensitive dipsticklike sensor for the rapid and early detection of pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancers. Whatever your age and interests, his book will motivate you to pursue your own dreams in the face of resistance, and to never stop learning. Big ambition for nanotechnology nano futures the guardian. Called the edison of our times, jack andraka first received recognition when he invented an inexpensive and fast method to detect pancreatic cancer in its early stages. According to his facebook page, hes a fan of beavis and butthead, family guy and the simpsons. In 20, he was michelle obamas personal guest at the state of the union address. Maitra a patient and wonderful man who has a soft spot for kids and giving them a chance. Apr, 2015 what do you think of jack being called the edison of our times by his mentor, johns hopkins pathologist and pancreatic cancer researcher anirban maitra.
How to raise a gifted child in a normal home cbs news. Johns hopkins pathologist and pancreatic cancer researcher anirban maitra. Her family went into hiding for 2 years when the persecution of. Breakthrough was a really quick read, i read it on a 2. Speaker jack andrakas accomplishments include jack andraka is a national geographic emerging explorer who speaks to audiences of youths and adults all across the globe about his personal story, research, and his ideas for stem education reform and fostering innovation and creativity. Dec 02, 20 jack andraka stands up after being acknowledged by president obama at the white house science fair in april. The first early test for pancreatic cancer devised by 15. Apr 29, 2014 i first learned of jack andraka from the above photo posted on my facebook page. Jack andraka, the teen prodigy of pancreatic cancer science. He was recently faculty at futuremed and was the youngest speaker at the royal society of medicine medical innovations summit. Breakthrough by jack andraka, 9781922247926, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Andrakas work went on to win the intel international science and engineering fair, and. Anirban maitra, a professor in the johns hopkins universitys department of pathology who gave jack use of his lab to craft his invention, a cheap and effective dipstick.
North county student wins intel science fairs top prize. May 08, 20 jack andraka mailed his experimental protocol to 200 researchers, from which only one researcher called dr. We publish books that matter narrative and literary nonfiction on important topics. Moore award for his work in developing a new method to detect pancreatic cancer. The writing is to the point, yet funny when it needs to be and focuses readers on what matters the most, jack andraka and his story. Teenage cancer innovator jack andraka stands proudly with his mom, jane andraka. He says his curiosity was piqued by jack s proposal. As the old story goes, he was rejected by almost 200 labs until he was finally endorsed by dr. Jack has invented an inexpensive way for early detection of pancreatic cancer. Jack thomas andraka born january 8, 1997 is an american university student, inventor, and. This is jack andraka, he is 15 years olda and openly gay. After receiving many rejections andraka was invited to work with anirban maitra at johns hopkins university.
Contact bigspeak speakers bureau for the best keynote speakers and business speakers, including jack andraka and celebrity speakers. When asked to be interviewed about his sexual orientation, andraka responded, that sounds awesome. Jack is a maryland high school student whose research was conducted at the lab of dr anirban maitra at johns hopkins university school of medicine department of pathology in the sol goldman research institute. The man who said yes was anirban maitra, a professor of pathology and. He developed a paper sensor that could detect pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancer in five minutes for as little as 3 cents. Jack andraka s story is not just one of inspiring teenage success. By the time you bring this to a physician, its too late, says anirban maitra, a johns hopkins pathologist and pancreatic cancer researcher who is andrakas. Jack andrakas story is not just one of inspiring teenage success. The one rule in jack andrakas laboratorydont burn the. While still pursuing his scientific dreams, jack also struggled with homophobic bullying and intense depression. Jack discusses a new paradigm of health, one where patients and healthcare providers collaborate to create a health experience tailored to the patients needs. Apr 09, 2015 geeky teen emerges from the lab a superstar.
He conducted his work under the supervision of anirban maitra, professor of pathology. Jack andraka mailed his experimental protocol to 200 researchers, from which only one researcher called dr. This really bothered 14yearold jack andraka from baltimore, maryland, who lost a close family friend to the disease. Feb 25, 20 jack andraka is 16 years old, a sophomore in high school, and a pretty endearing chap. Jack andrakas mentor, professor anirban maitra, said. Oh yeahwhen jack was 15yearsold he also created a new diagnostic test for pancreatic cancer. Jack andraka is not an ordinary kid psychology today. Jack s test detected mesothelin in artificial samples and pinpointed mesothelin in the blood of mice carrying human pancreatic tumors. He was able to come out with progress, even when he had a few setbacks. Jack andraka is 16 years old, a sophomore in high school, and a pretty endearing chap. Most of us could barely keep our rooms clean or get out of bed to make it to school on time.
Jack andraka s test is 28 times faster, 26,000 times less expensive and over. He sent me a nice write up on his lab plans and research, very interesting coming from a 15yearold boy. He is the 2012 intel science fair grand prize winner. Jack andrakas diagnostic test for detecting pancreatic. At 15, he invented a new type of sensor to spot the presence of cancer cells, which proved to be less expensive, much faster x168, and more accurate 2550% than all other tests. Luckily, one pathologist and pancreatic cancer researcher at john hopkins school of medicine, anirban maitra, said yes.
Jack andraka teen scientist jack andraka chronicles his development of an inexpensive early detection test for pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancer, and recounts his own personal story of overcoming depression. The first early test for pancreatic cancer devised by 15yearold jack andraka. He was rejected by almost 200 labs until he was finally endorsed by dr. Jack andraka enjoys mountain biking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and science. Jack andraka, the teen prodigy of pancreatic cancer a high school sophomore won the youth achievement smithsonian american ingenuity award for inventing a new method to detect a lethal cancer. Jack andraka 15 year old genius invents early cancer detection. His discovery has left all of us, including his mentor anirban maitra, a johns hopkins pathologist and pancreatic researcher, asking one question. Jack andraka, now 18, became depressed when a close family friend died. Teen prodigy rebels by developing pancreatic cancer. After a close family friend died of pancreatic cancer, jack then a ninth grader became interested in finding a better earlydetection diagnostic test.
And that is what jane andraka did, wearing out several ford escort station wagons ferrying jack to math competitions and, ultimately, to the hopkins lab of dr. Seeing an intelligent gay teen in the science industry making changes in the world is amazing. A teenage ted speakers mom on how she encourages her sons. Andraka drew up a research protocol for his idea and emailed 200 scientists. A 15yearold us high school student whose uncle died of pancreatic cancer has developed the first test for the disease that could detect tumours before they. How one teen innovator is changing the world in the kitchen of his familys home. We at bright side found proof that age doesnt matter when we talk about changing the world. Meet jack andraka, who was 14 years old hes all of 15 now when he began. But one personprofessor anirban maitra of johns hopkins school of medicinewas intrigued, and agreed to work with him. Meanwhile of the 200 researchers he wrote to, only one responded, anirban maitra, a john hopkins pathologists and an expert on pancreatic cancer.
Its no secret that as kids we have more creativity, and we look at the world with wonder and curiosity. Jack andraka stands up after being acknowledged by president obama at the white house science fair in april. Anirban maitra, johns hopkins university, the baltimore sun 5242012. After andrakas proposal to build and test his idea for a pancreatic cancer detector was rejected from 199 labs, the teen landed at johns hopkins. Ive been delighted and honored to have him in my lab, maitra said. This book follows jack s life so far while giving encouragement and insight into how such a young man has made such a change in the world. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Jack andraka was born in crownsville, maryland and is of polish ancestry. Jack andrakas parents on raising a science whiz kid wsj. My three cents on cancer jack is a fifteen year old freshman in high school. The one rule in jack andrakas laboratorydont burn the house. If not for one professor, anirban maitra, who gave him some lab space, jack andraka couldnt have attained success.
I have been delighted and honoured to have him in my lab. After exhausting efforts and numerous times of trying and failing, jack andraka invented a small device that. Anirban maitra, responded and invited jack to his lab. Mar 10, 2015 most of us could barely keep our rooms clean or get out of bed to make it to school on time. What we learned about raising gifted children from the parents of boy wonder jack andraka, profiled on 60 minutes. What we learned about raising gifted children from the parents of wonder boy jack andraka. Andraka has developed a simple dipstick diagnostic test which can detect levels of mesothelin, a biomarker for early stage pancreatic cancer found in the urine and blood. Jack andraka is the recipient of the smithsonian american ingenuity award, first place in the siemens we can change the world challenge, a national geographic explorer grant, the intel gordon moore award, and the stockholm water prize. Jack andraka keynote speakers bureau and speaking fees. Meet jack andraka, 15yearold cancer researcher the. Jack andraka, marylands boy wonder, on mean scientists. I just rack up those book charges, andraka said, adding that j. Anirban maitra, the professor andraka mentions in his ted talk who after hed received 199 rejections gave him a corner in his lab and a. And the story of jack andraka, the teenage math and science prodigy who recently rocketed.
He then did some research about cancer biochemistry and decided to contact the 200 professors at john hopkins university and national institutes of health with a plan and a budget. He received back 199 rejections, including one that pointed out in great detail why his idea wouldnt work. After a close family friend died of pancreatic cancer, andraka then a ninth grader became interested in finding a. May 23, 2012 jack andrakas parents on raising a science whiz kid after jack andraka took home the top prize at the intel international science and engineering fair at age 15, his family steered him through. His name is jack andraka, and some of the top medical researchers in the united states are calling him the edison of modern times. Another pivotal moment in wengers life happened in 10th grade, when her cousin was diagnosed. Jacks test detected mesothelin in artificial samples and pinpointed mesothelin in the blood of mice carrying human pancreatic tumors. What jack is doing is better than what i was doing in high school, i promise you. Anirban maitra of johns hopkins, just happens to specialize in the kind of research that jack was doing, and just happened to.
Andraka enrolled as a freshman at stanford university for the 20152016 academic year. The teen inventor on a mission to fight pancreatic cancer. Jack andraka was just a fifteen year old maryland high school sophomore when he invented an inexpensive early detection test for pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers. How did you feel when you first read jack s book, which covers, among other things. Physicanscientist anirban maitra brings leading expertise. With memoir, teen writes new chapter of an already storied.
One such project a test for the early detection of pancreatic cancer won andraka first place in the 2012 intel international science and engineering fair. Jack is a member of the national junior wildwater kayak team, a life scout and has won numerous awards in national and international math competitions. Even when samples do finally get to the lab, the testing method is over 60 years old and isnt very reliable. Jack andraka speaks after receiving smithsonian magazines first annual american ingenuity award for youth achievement last year. Maryland teen gets worldwide stage after winning intel. It took jack andraka 18 months to turn his idea into reality. Anirban maitra, then of johns hopkins and now of the md anderson cancer center, recognized jack.
A teenage ted speakers mom on how she encourages her sons to. May 27, 2015 jack was just fifteen at the time he came up with his solution. Jack andraka 15yearold andraka invents groundbreaking. After andraka s proposal to build and test his idea for a pancreatic cancer detector was rejected from 199 labs, the teen landed at johns hopkins. Jack andraka project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Jack andraka 15 year old genius invents early cancer. Oct 14, 20 jack andraka is not your typical teenager. Jack andraka, the teen prodigy of pancreatic cancer. Breakthrough, jack andraka matthew lysiak with shop. Anirban maitra, professor of pathology, oncology and chemical and biomolecular engineering at johns hopkins school of medicine. Andraka spent the next year working to perfect a prototype. Jack s work was supervised by professor anirban maitra at johns hopkins university, baltimore.