C11 : Hidden Loops in Cancer: Persistent Homology Framework for PDAC Transcriptional State Discovery


Students Siqi Tan
School HDSB - Iroquois Ridge High School - Oakville
Level Intermediate 9/10 - Grade 10
Group Group 12 - Health Science IV
Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers, with a five-year survival rate below 12%. Its aggressive progression is driven by complex cellular dynamics that conventional computational models oversimplify by imposing tree-like or linear trajectory assumptions. To address this limitation, this project developed a persistent homology-guided pseudotime framework using topological data analysis to detect nonlinear and cyclic gene expression patterns missed by conventional methods.
Awards
Group Award Prize
Dr. M. Doyle AwardDr. M. Doyle Biology Award$ 250
Plaque, and trophy for winner's school
Merit AwardsGold Merit Award$ 100
ISEF Trip AwardsISEF Trip Award