63rd Annual STS (2003-2004)
Finalists
Duy Minh Ha

OREGON
Duy Minh Ha, 18, of Portland, studied the effects of long-term estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on white and gray brain matter via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for his Intel Science Talent Search project in medicine and health. Duy's major finding is that long-term ERT preserves white matter, while having little morphological effect on gray matter during the healthy aging process. He believes his work may explain some of the positive cognitive changes found in women when undertaking ERT as well as their lowered risk for Alzheimer's disease. As part of his project, Duy developed a new software tool to quantify his MRI data. First in his class of 406 at Ulysses S. Grant High School, Duy sings in the a cappella choir, participates in science, math and octagon clubs, and authored a poster presentation at a national cardiology conference. The son of Anh Mai Ha and Anh Thi Ngoc Tran, Duy has won many science awards and a gold medal on the National Latin Exam. Duy plans to attend nearby Reed College, become a neurologist and eventually open his own research lab so he can advocate for those with neurodegenerative disorders -- especially in third world countries like his native Vietnam.