Jack Andraka - Breakthrough How One Teen Innovator is Changing the World

Jack Andraka, an 18-year-old high school senior, shares his journey of developing a low-cost, rapid paper sensor for early detection of pancreatic cancer. Motivated by a personal loss, he researched extensively and discovered the mesothelin protein as a biomarker. Using carbon nanotubes and antibodies, he created a sensor that is significantly faster, cheaper, and more sensitive than existing methods. Despite numerous challenges, his innovation holds promise for improving cancer survival rates and has potential applications in detecting other diseases.

What motivated Jack Andraka to start researching pancreatic cancer?

• A school project

• The loss of a family friend

• A documentary he watched

• A science competition

What was the main challenge Jack faced when trying to detect cancer early?

• Understanding cancer biology

• Getting funding for his research

• Identifying a specific protein marker

• Finding a lab to work in

Which protein did Jack identify as a potential marker for early cancer detection?

• Insulin

• Hemoglobin

• Mesothelin

• Albumin

What innovative material did Jack use to create his cancer detection sensor?

• Gold nanoparticles

• Silicon chips

• Carbon nanotubes

• Graphene

How did Jack finally secure a lab space for his research?

• He won a science fair

• He applied to 200 labs and got one positive response

• He received a government grant

• He partnered with a biotech company

What is one of Jack's current projects involving nanotechnology?

• Developing solar panels

• Creating nanorobots to track cancer

• Building a new type of computer

• Designing a space telescope

What lesson does Jack emphasize about innovation and the internet?

• Age and background don't matter

• Innovation is too expensive

• Only experts can innovate

• The internet is unreliable