Major achievement by 17-year-old high school student

Simay Yüksel, one of the few students in Turkey to qualify for a patent number under the age of 18, has also made a name for herself on the international patent platform.

The 17-year-old Yüksel, a 12th-grade student at TED Ankara College and founder of the Molecular Biology Club, told an AA reporter that she has wanted to be a scientist since childhood and has been curious about science, particularly biology, and mathematics.

Yüksel stated that she is particularly interested in neurodegenerative diseases, for which there is currently no definitive cure, and that she and her teammates have been working to develop themselves in this direction.

Explaining that neurodegenerative disorders, defined as the progressive loss and structural deterioration of neuron functions in the brain, include diseases such as frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and Huntington's, Yüksel noted that because these diseases are a serious global health issue, she has been conducting research in this field.

Yüksel said:

"After seeing that the incidence of these neurodegenerative diseases continues to rise despite advancements in medicine and technology, I began to think about the question, 'How can I solve this problem?' and started researching the topic in more detail. My research showed that although studies in this field have increased, diagnostics remain insufficient and there is no definitive treatment method. The fact that symptoms are not clearly observed in the early stages also makes early diagnosis of these diseases difficult."

"WE FOCUSED ON FIVE DISEASES"

Emphasizing that artificial intelligence is now being used effectively in medicine as it is in many other fields, Yüksel continued:

"I began to wonder if we could use artificial intelligence for the early diagnosis of these diseases. Afterward, as a team with two of my friends, we developed an epigenetic-based artificial intelligence model, which refers to the effect of different factors on gene expression. We developed this model for use in the early diagnosis of these neurodegenerative diseases. We focused on five diseases. These are frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and Huntington's. This artificial intelligence model contains the epigenetic foundations of these 5 neurodegenerative diseases."

Providing information about the data uploaded to the AI-developed model, Yüksel said, "Within the scope of the study, saliva and blood samples taken from individuals are uploaded to the machine we developed. Using the artificial intelligence system we created, the machine examines and analyzes approximately 16 different markers that are valid for these 5 diseases."

Stating that the artificial intelligence algorithm calculates a risk estimate for the individual by combining genetic data, such as DNA and family history, with other non-genetic factors like age and lifestyle, Yüksel explained that the machine's results can detect the disease by directing the patient, who has a higher probability of developing the condition, to a specialized laboratory capable of further analysis.

Yüksel added, "These data will be able to reveal how susceptible a person is to these diseases. With this model, the possibility of early diagnosis could become much easier."

"WE OBTAINED THE PATENT NUMBER"

Explaining that they applied to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office after completing the preparations for the model and creating the prototype, Yüksel said, "We sent the document explaining our project with diagrams and schematics to the office, and at the end of November 2023, we obtained the internationally valid patent number."

Stating that they learned there are very few young scientist candidates who have received a patent number under the age of 18, Yüksel remarked, "Just as in Turkey, there are few people worldwide who have received a patent number for a product they developed under the age of 18. In this respect, I am very happy to have received a patent number. It showed us that our efforts were not in vain, and it has been a very proud beginning for my future achievements."

"I TOOK AZIZ SANCAR AS MY ROLE MODEL"

Yüksel said that she will take the university entrance exam this year and will choose schools that specialize in this field to further develop herself.

Expressing that the process of receiving acceptance from many schools abroad is ongoing, Yüksel said, "My application process for universities in the USA is also continuing, and there are interviews. In the future, I aim to progress more toward research in my field. I want to focus on R&D and project development in terms of both laboratory work and entrepreneurship. My main goal is to contribute to science and humanity. I aim to achieve this by finding innovative solutions to today's problems in the light of science and by making the future more sustainable."

Yüksel also mentioned that she had the opportunity to attend a summer school related to medicine at Oxford University this summer by receiving a merit scholarship, adding, "As a scientist, I took Aziz Sancar as my role model. He is a valuable Turkish scientist who has achieved significant successes. For this reason, he inspires me greatly. His work as a biochemist also overlaps with my areas of interest. His discipline and dedication have impressed me a lot. That is why I find him very inspiring."