61st Annual STS (2001–2002)
Finalists
Brandon Michael Palmen

MINNESOTA
Brandon Michael Palmen, 18, of Rochester, entered the Intel Science Talent Search with a biochemistry project on skin cancer. Malignant melanoma, the form of skin cancer with the highest mortality rate because of its tendency to metastasize early, is becoming more widespread. In his research, Brandon infected and destroyed melanoma cells by genetically re-engineering and molecularly re-targeting a vaccine strain of a measles virus to attack the melanoma tumors. He believes that, after further testing, this new gene therapy may be given to patients to destroy melanomas throughout the body, effectively and non-invasively. In addition to this work, completed during a mentorship at the Mayo Clinic, Brandon played a key role in helping Mayo High School prepare an experiment that flew on the space shuttle last August. Besides his science activities, Brandon gives cello and vocal performances, and is on his school's swimming and tennis teams and in its French and Latin clubs. He is also an Eagle Scout. The son of Dr. Michael and Bonnie Jean Palmen, Brandon hopes to attend Harvard and study for a career as a molecular biologist or gene therapist.