Student Wins First Place at Contra Costa Science & Engineering Fair for Research on Bladder Cancer Treatments with Vitamin C

Naina Chopra, a student from Dougherty Valley High School, has won first place at the Contra Costa Science & Engineering Fair for her research on new bladder cancer treatments. Inspired by a family friend’s battle with the disease and their use of Vitamin C as an alternative treatment method, Chopra embarked on a mission to investigate the effectiveness of this natural remedy.

After reaching out to several labs for sponsorship, Chopra finally found one willing to support her research. Over the course of two months, she exposed bladder cancer cell cultures to varying doses of Vitamin C and discovered that it inhibited cancer cell proliferation.

Chopra’s project, titled “Investigation of the Role of Ascorbic Acid in Reducing Bladder Cancer Presence,” was well-received at the Contra Costa Science & Engineering Fair where she received top honors. The young scientist is now looking forward to presenting her findings at the California Science & Engineering Fair and hopes that her research can contribute to the advancement of cancer treatment.

In an email to Patch, Chopra expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to share her research and potentially offer hope to those battling cancer. She also mentioned her hope to eventually get the treatment cleared for human trials and assess its viability as a major solution for preventing further cancer growth in patients with bladder cancer.