“The Semifinalists of the 64th Intel Science Talent Search were chosen from among 1,600 entrants representing 508 high schools in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and two overseas schools. Three hundred Semi-finalists and their schools will receive matching awards of $1,000. From this group of 300 Semifinalists, 40 Finalists will be chosen to attend the Science Talent Institute in Washington, D.C. from March 10 - 15, 2005. During their trip to Washington, the Finalists will participate in a final judging process and share in $530,000 in scholarships. The top prize of a $100,000 scholarship will be announced at a black tie banquet and awards ceremony on March 15, 2005.” Click here to learn more about the Intel Science Talent Search (This information was taken from Intel website.)

Komisarof did his research for his project at RSI (Research Science Institute), located at Massachusetts Institute of  Technology in Cambridge, Mass. RSI focuses on excellence and curiosity in research, exposing students to the breadth and depth of scientific knowledge. Click here for more on RSI

Komisarof’s project description:
Enamelysin is an enzyme found only in the oral region that is responsible for the maintenance and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Abnormal quantities of enamelysin have been discovered in oral cancers, and the enzyme has been implicated in the process of metastasis. I investigated enamelysin’s ability to cleave two types of collagen that help maintain the extracellular matrix’s structural integrity, and found that enamelysin is effective against these substrates. These results are important in increasing our scientific knowledge about the process of metastasis in cancer.

Posted January 14, 2005