Kenneth Jiao

Kenneth Jiao after winning the Siemens regional competition at the University of Texas. (Contributed photo)

When you picture a high school student's science project, you think baking soda volcano or the like.

What you don't expect is an honest-to-goodness breakthrough in breast cancer research.

Kenneth Jiao, a 17-year-old senior at Indian Springs High School in Pelham, just took our expectations and spewed them like so much fake lava at the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology held last weekend at the University of Texas in Austin.

Kenneth won the individual category in the Siemens regional, taking home a $3,000 scholarship and moving on to the final round of the nation's premier science research competition for high school students.

At the finals in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4-5, he could win as much as $100,000 in scholarship money.

Just the name of his project is mind-boggling: "Retain CHD7, and Epigenetic Regulator, in the Nucleus to Combat Breast Cancer Metastasis."

In his research, Kenneth discovered a new role of the gene, CHD7, and its molecular processes that could help combat metastasis, or the spreading of cancer cells from a primary site to other organs.

An estimated 90 percent of breast cancer deaths are a result of metastasis of breast cancer cells to other vital organs such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain, according to the Siemens news release.

"Despite great progress in cancer therapy, treatments to cure metastatic breast cancer do not exist," the Siemens news release states," the Siemens news release states. "(Kenneth's) research could lead to an improved molecular understanding of the growth and prognosis of breast cancer, as well as better methods of developing treatments for patients with breast cancer."

Even the judges at the Siemens competition were amazed that Kenneth's high school science project could result in a major break-through for cancer research.

"Kenneth's research could bring scientists one step closer to developing a new biomarker for breast cancer metastasis and saving lives," said competition judge Dr. Z. Jeffrey Chen, D. J. Sibley Centennial Professor of Molecular Biosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. "It's rare to see this level of progress achieved in an independent project. Kenneth's work is phenomenal, and could help reveal the underlying mechanisms in breast cancer metastasis."

It helps to be from the Birmingham area, home to one of the nation's most prestigious medical centers. Dr. Lizhong Wang of The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine was his mentor on the project.

Plus, his own genetics are predisposed to scientific research. His mother, Dr. Qin Wang, is a professor of cell, developmental and integrative biology at UAB and his father, Dr. Kai Jiao, is an associate professor of genetics at UAB.

Kenneth decided to pursue this research after his mother had a breast cancer scare two years ago. She was diagnosed with a breast tumor that had to be removed. It turned out to be benign, but it was still a frightening experience for the entire family.

"While waiting for the pathological report, I was so worried and scared," Kenneth said. "From this personal experience, I understood the patients' vulnerability, and the desperation their families feel," Kenneth said. "Therefore, I decided to do research on breast cancer. I hope my efforts will help to create a world where nobody worries about breast cancer anymore."

So how does a 17-year-old get involved in breast cancer research?

At Indian Springs, Kenneth had taken part in science fairs since his eighth grade year, and founded the school's Science Olympiad team. He has already made a splash on the national science fair scene, placing third at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

As a junior, he attended the 2016 Summer Science Institute at UAB, where he strengthened his lab and research skills, and took Advanced Placement classes in research methods, biology and chemistry.

Plus, "I received excellent training from my mentor and other scientists in the lab," Kenneth said.

Kenneth wants to pursue Life Sciences Management at the University of Pennsylvania, exploring both the medicinal and business sides of health care. It's a course of study that puts him on the path for his life goal, simply, to "change the world."

"My ultimate goal is to save human lives and improve population health through medicine," he said. "I want eventually to become a leader in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry," Kenneth said.

Oh, and while he's not making amazing scientific discoveries, Kenneth dabbles in chess, where he's led his school's team to two state championships and is currently ranked as the 28th best player in Alabama.

Haskins writes about points of pride statewide. Email your suggestions to shaskins@al.com, or tweet them to @Shelly_Haskins using #AlabamaProud