5.18.2007 - 06:25pm ET

(CSRwire) SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2007--The Intel Foundation awarded each of the three top winners of the Intel Engineering and Science Fair (Intel ISEF), presented by Agilent Technologies, $50,000 college scholarships. Dayan Li of Greenbelt, Md., Philip Streich of Platteville, Wis., and Dmitry Vaintrob of Eugene, Ore., were selected from more than 1,500 young scientists from 51 countries, regions and territories for the three Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards at Intel ISEF, the world's largest science fair.

-- Li focused on angiogenesis, the growth of new capillaries from existing blood vessels, which is essential for tumor growth and metastasis. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is one of the most powerful angiogenesis inhibitors and interacts with nitric oxide (NO), which can inhibit or stimulate angiogenesis. This study developed a quantitative, highly accurate and precise method to simultaneously monitor the expression of several tumor marker genes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in response to TSP1 and NO. Li's project may be able to provide invaluable information on drug targets and their potential to be regulated for the treatment of cancer.

-- Streich's research study provided the first evidence that carbon nanotubes, which are among the strongest and most conductive materials in the world, are thermodynamically soluble. He further quantified this solubility and its limits by using static light scattering to measure a parameter called the second virial coefficient B. These findings may be the key to finally realizing the potential of nanotubes as a supermaterial.

-- Vaintrob's sophisticated mathematical investigation evaluated ways to associate algebraic structures to topological spaces. Vaintrob proved that loop homology and Hochschild cohomology coincide for an important class of spaces. He also was the third-place finisher at the 2007 Intel Science Talent Search, which has often been called the "junior Nobel Prize."

"These three winners - and indeed, all 1,500 Intel ISEF participants - represent some of the most innovative thinking around the world," said Craig Barrett, Intel chairman. "Intel ISEF is part of our company's commitment to foster young innovators like these who will one day transform the world in ways we can hardly imagine. I want to congratulate Dayan, Philip and Dmitry on their very meaningful scientific accomplishments."

In addition to the three Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award winners, more than 500 Intel ISEF participants received scholarships and prizes for their groundbreaking work. Intel awards included the 18 "Best of Category" winners, selected from the categories, who each received a $5,000 Intel scholarship and an Intel(R) Centrino(R) Duo Mobile Technology-based notebook. For more information on each of these and other winners, visit http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/education/isef/.

Intel has been committed to helping students realize the promise of education for decades. Intel annually invests more than $100 million around the world, to improve the quality of education, particularly in the fields of math, science and technology. Since Intel assumed the title sponsorship of Intel ISEF in 1996, student participation has increased nearly 40 percent, and the number of countries, regions and territories sending participants to the competition has increased 70 percent.

To learn more about Intel's global commitment to education, visit
http://www.intel.com/education.

Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. For more information visit http://www.intel.com/pressroom.

Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other names and brands must be claimed as the property of others.



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