WOODBRIDGE - Her life has been under the microscope of late and that has helped put Helen Liu on a bigger stage.
Liu, an Amity High School senior was chosen as a finalist at the International BioGENEius Challenge, which is a competition that recognizes outstanding research in biotechnology. Liu returned from the noted competition in San Francisco this week and garnered second place honors.
Liu's project, four years of work, showcases a new, less expensive treatment for Gaucher Disease, which causes anemia, organ enlargement, and brittle bones.
"I knew I wanted to work with rare diseases" Liu said.
Her research took her to campuses around the region seeking help from mentors in various labs.
"I was at Southern (Connecticut State University), UConn, then Yale, Jackson Labs and finally at NYU," Liu said.
Deborah Day, the director of Amity Science Research said of Liu, "she's accomplished so much at such a young age... she's a high achiever and setting high goals for others."
Liu, who is looking forward to graduating with her classmates at Amity High on Wednesday added, "I want to make an impact and improve medicine so we can save more lives."
