The Intel Science Talent Search Winners have been announced.

Congratulations Nithin Tumma, 17, of Fort Gratiot, Mich., who won the top award of $100,000 from the Intel Foundation for his research, which could lead to more direct, targeted, effective and less toxic breast cancer treatments. He analyzed the molecular mechanisms in cancer cells and found that by inhibiting certain proteins, we may be able to slow the growth of cancer cells and decrease their malignancy.

We’d also like to congratulate Florida’s own Neel Patel of Geneva, Fla. who received a $25,000 award for studying how non-speech patterns of sounds – called sonifications – can convey information, which could lead to a computer-user interface as revolutionary as the graphical interface was 30 years ago. Neel is first in his class of 483 at Oviedo High School, and has varsity letters in swimming and water polo.

The Intel^®   Science Talent Search^® (Intel STS) is the nation’s most prestigious science research  competition for high school seniors. Since 1942, first in partnership with Westinghouse and beginning in 1998 with Intel, SSP has provided a national stage for the country’s best and brightest young scientists to present original research to nationally recognized professional scientists.

To all finalist, job well done.