Student from San Ramon Takes Home First Prize in Contra Costa Science Fair

Naina Chopra, a junior at Dougherty Valley, has secured her spot in the California Science & Engineering Fair after emerging as the first-place winner at the Contra Costa Science & Engineering Fair. Her interest in exploring new treatments for bladder cancer was sparked by a family friend’s use of Vitamin C as an alternative treatment method. Despite facing initial hurdles in finding a lab to sponsor her research, Chopra persisted and conducted experiments with bladder cancer cell cultures exposed to differing doses of Vitamin C. Her findings revealed that Vitamin C effectively inhibited cancer cell proliferation, leading to her winning project titled “Investigation of the Role of Ascorbic Acid in Reducing Bladder Cancer Presence.”

Chopra is enthusiastic about presenting her research at the upcoming state fair and sees it as a way to share her findings and contribute to advancements in cancer treatment. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to offer hope to those battling cancer and hopes that her project could eventually pave the way for human trials of the treatment and assess the potential of ascorbic acid as a viable solution for preventing further cancer growth in bladder cancer patients.

Chopra’s dedication to her research reflects her passion for finding innovative solutions to medical challenges, and her success at the local fair has opened up exciting possibilities for her work to impact cancer treatment on a broader scale.