A Coombe Girl has delved into human DNA to try to find the genetic cause of cancer and personalised treatments for it.

Seventeen-year-old Aisha Ben-Younis thought up the project after getting a work experience last summer on the Nuffield Research Placement, which is a six week programme for talented young scientists from state schools.

She has now made her way into the finals of the National Science and Engineering Competition with her project investigating the effects of chemotherapy drugs for personalised cancer treatments.

Representing the South East, she will have to pitch her project to judges at the Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair in Birmingham next month.

She said: “I am really excited. Some of the other projects that I’ve seen online are amazing too. I’m really interested in genetics and what causes cancer.

“It's been a lot of fun thinking about science and engineering in a new light and coming up with something that can help enhance people's everyday lives.”

Sixth form tutor Richard Jones said: “Aisha is very active. She found out about this work experience from her own initiative.

“She got four A’s in her AS Levels. She is somebody who has always known what she wants to do. She is so modest about it all.”

Aisha hopes to study biochemistry at Imperial College in the future.

 

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