Difference between revisions of "Team:New York City/Integrated Practices"

Revision as of 22:47, 13 October 2018

Integrated Practices

Last year, our team focused on developing a modified RNA protein replacement technology for treating Huntington’s Disease. We were motivated to delve further into research at the RNA level after collaborating with the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Through our collaboration, we realized that current research in Huntington’s Disease was not selective in specifically targeting mutated Huntingtin RNA strands. Instead of targeting mutated strands only, research would try to target both endogenous and mutated strands, thereby stopping all production of the Huntingtin protein and resulting in undesired side effects. To resolve this, our team began developing modified RNA technology that would specifically target mutated Huntingtin mRNA strands through a specific toehold recognition and exchange process, allowing the mutated strands to be replaced by a corrected synthetic mRNA strand. This year our team is taking this research further by testing the efficacy of the modified RNA replacement technology in Huntingtin cell lines to determine whether our treatment decreases the levels of mutated Huntingtin protein.

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-     <p class="lead">Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare and deadly inherited disease, so our team was motivated to develop a cure that would attack the root of the problem instead of solely relieving the symptoms. The severity of the symptoms, along with the late onset of the disease, affects victims both mentally and physically. Thus, we wanted to spread awareness of HD and our research to both the public and scientific community. We held information sessions within our respective high schools to educate students on HD as well as our ongoing research. We also participated in New York City and Long Island Teams Hope Walk of HDSA (Huntington’s Disease Society of America) to raise awareness about Huntingtin Diease in public parks along the Hudson River and Long Island park. We also became a member of HDSA National Youth Alliance where we connected with other high school and college students who care about Huntington disease and participated in their 2019 annual fundraising and event organizing committee meetings and conference calls. Through direct outreach to institutions and educational communities such as our schools, the colleges/universities in our city, and affiliated organizations, we hoped to inspire further experimentation and interest in HD.
+     <p class="lead">Last year, our team focused on developing a modified RNA protein replacement technology for treating Huntington’s Disease. We were motivated to delve further into research at the RNA level after collaborating with the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Through our collaboration, we realized that current research in Huntington’s Disease was not selective in specifically targeting mutated Huntingtin RNA strands. Instead of targeting mutated strands only, research would try to target both endogenous and mutated strands, thereby stopping all production of the Huntingtin protein and resulting in undesired side effects. To resolve this, our team began developing modified RNA technology that would specifically target mutated Huntingtin mRNA strands through a specific toehold recognition and exchange process, allowing the mutated strands to be replaced by a corrected synthetic mRNA strand. This year our team is taking this research further by testing the efficacy of the modified RNA replacement technology in Huntingtin cell lines to determine whether our treatment decreases the levels of mutated Huntingtin protein.
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