Jack Andraka, 15, won top prize at this year’s
Intel International Science and Engineering fair for his new method
to detect pancreatic cancer. As the Intel press release
notes: 

Based on diabetic test paper, Jack created a simple dip-stick
sensor to test blood or urine to determine whether or not a patient
has early-stage pancreatic cancer. His study resulted in over 90
percent accuracy and showed his patent-pending sensor to be 28
times faster, 28 times less expensive and over 100 times more
sensitive than current tests. Jack received the Gordon E. Moore
Award, named in honor of Intel co-founder and retired chairman and
CEO of $75,000.

The Washington Post
adds that a patent is pending for the test. Andraka’s test is a
true dianostic breakthrough since there are currently
no non-invasive tests for detecting pancreatic cancer. Early
detection of this cancer would be a boon to patients since the
five-year
survival rate for localized pancreatic cancer is 23 percent.
While that doesn’t sound great, it’s a hell of a lot better than
the 5 percent overall five-year survival rate for patients
diagnosed with the disease. 

Hearty congratulations to Mr. Andraka and also to the other 400
participants who won prizes in the competition.