Fayetteville-Manlius Student Takes Home Multiple Awards for Cancer Prediction Modeling Project

Yusuf Ay, a Fayetteville-Manlius freshman, recently received multiple awards at a regional science fair for his independent project on cancer prediction through modeling. His interest in using math and computer science to explain biological processes started at an early age and was further fueled by two F-M teachers. Biology teacher Mrs. Reichel sparked his curiosity about gene function and its impact on health, while computer science teacher Mr. Phan encouraged him to pursue additional projects outside of class.

With the computer skills he developed in Mr. Phan’s class, Yusuf was able to understand complex biological concepts, particularly how cancer initiates and progresses. His project focused on breast, skin, and lung cancer and utilized mathematical modeling and computer programming to examine how genetic DNA alterations and environmental factors like sunlight, radiation or pollution interact to influence cancer risk. Yusuf hopes that his project will inspire other students and underscore the district’s commitment to STEM education.

After completing his research, Yusuf participated in the 44th Central New York Science and Engineering Fair hosted at Syracuse’s Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) on April 7, 2024. He received several awards at the competition including the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award, IEEE Awards in Electrical and Computer Engineering Le Moyne Excellence in Mathematics & Computer Science Award, and a Senior Division Honors medal for his project “Cancer Prediction Through Modeling: Understanding Environmental and Heritable Factors.”