Elizabeth Heimbaugh of Akron, OH is doing research that would be impressive for scientists with years of experience. Thing is, she’s just graduating high school.

The 17-year-old recently won one of the Akron Beacon Journal Newspaper’s 2007 Gold Star Students awards. Earlier this year, she was named a semifinalist in the Intel Science Talent Search, known as the junior Nobel Prize. Her research was based on finding a less expensive way to test for spinal muscular atrophy. Elizabeth did her research at Northwestern University with the help of her aunt, Christine DiDonato, who works at the university and has a doctorate in molecular genetics.

An excerpt from the Beacon Journal article:

In simple terms, they sought to develop a method for detecting spinal muscular atrophy, a disease in infants that affects the muscles used for crawling, walking, head and neck control, and swallowing. They amplified samples of DNA from infected patients. Then, using a machine called a light scanner, they heated the samples up. Lastly, they used a computer program to examine the curves created by this process.

Elizabeth and DiDonato determined this method could detect the disease in infants and would be cheaper and easier than the process currently being used. DiDonato is continuing this research at Northwestern.

“It’s a promising technique,” Elizabeth said.

With Elizabeth’s Intel Talent Search award, she received a $1,000 scholarship and [her high school] got $1,000 for science materials.

Elizabeth will attend Stanford University, where she might major in human biology.

You can read the entire article on this remarkable young lady at the Beacon Journal site.

On May 18, 2007, a letter signed by clinicians and investigators from the medical and scientific community was presented to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and Children (ACHDGDNC) restating the case for spinal muscular atrophy to be included in the newborn screening efforts. Additional signatories are still being recruited and we welcome any scientists who would like to add his or her name to contact Laura Breiteneicher.

You can read a copy of the letter in PDF format on the Fight SMA website.