Lanair Amaad Lett
North Carolina
Lanair Amaad Lett, 18, of Henderson, submitted an Intel Science Talent Search
project in medicine & health that investigated the effects of the HDAC-1 gene on
the growth of beta cells, the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Because
insulin deficiency results in diabetes - a disease that has taken a toll on his
own family - Lanair is particularly interested in insulin production. In his
experiments with an insulinoma cell line and rat islets (clusters of cells in
the pancreas containing many cell types), he successfully demonstrated that over
expression of the HDAC-1 gene significantly increased beta cell proliferation.
He believes his research could help lead to more efficient treatments for
diabetes, and that better understanding of the pathway that drives beta cell
proliferation could be a key in finding a cure. At North Carolina School of
Science and Mathematics, in Durham, Lanair organized and spearheaded a
school-wide food and supplies drive for the local food bank. He is lifestyles
editor of the school newspaper and competes on the varsity science bowl team.
The son of Kim Lett, he plans a career in medicine or research and hopes to
study at Stanford or Duke.
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