WASHINGTON - At just 18-years-old, Elana Simon from Manhattan has beaten a rare form of cancer, co-authored a study on the disease and been accepted to Harvard University.
On Tuesday, she racked up another accomplishment: She wowed the President.
'Can I just say, I did not do this at 12, or 18,' President Obama told her during the fourth annual White House Science Fair. 'We're so proud of you.'
The Dalton School senior was among more than 100 students recognized by Obama for work in science, technology, engineering and math competitions or programs.
At the age of 12, Simon was diagnosed with a liver cancer known as fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. After her tumor was successfully removed, Simon, at 15, suggested a study to her surgeon.
That step seemed normal because both her parents are scientists, she says.
The study, which she helped to conduct, unconvered a genetic mutation that may play a role in how the tumor strikes. The findings were published in the prestigious journal, Science.
In April, Simon was named a 'Young Champion in Cancer Research' by the American Association for Cancer Research.
But she called the White House Science Fair, during which the President reviewed a visual representation of the mutation she studied, 'totally the coolest thing I've done.'
'I freaked out so much,' the mostly poised high school senior said afterward. 'I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is so exciting.''
Students at the event included Jayda Collazo, 12, from the Bronx, who met Obama Tuesday after showing enthusiasm for science at an event organized through a partnership between Time-Warner and the Boys and Girls Club of American.
'He shook my hand,' Jayda said. 'My heart stopped beating for a second.'
It was first trip outside New York and first plane flight for Collazo, who says she wants to become a pediatrician.
dfriedman@nydailynews.com
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Entities 0 Name: Simon Count: 3 1 Name: Obama Count: 3 2 Name: White House Science Fair Count: 1 3 Name: Dalton School Count: 1 4 Name: American Association for Cancer Research Count: 1 5 Name: WASHINGTON Count: 1 6 Name: Collazo Count: 1 7 Name: American Count: 1 8 Name: Jayda Collazo Count: 1 9 Name: Harvard University Count: 1 10 Name: Bronx Count: 1 11 Name: Girls Club Count: 1 12 Name: Elana Simon Count: 1 13 Name: New York Count: 1 14 Name: Jayda Count: 1 15 Name: Manhattan Count: 1 16 Name: Time-Warner Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1oKplts Title: Obama meets 18-year-old cancer researcher Elana Simon, among other science-fair achievers. Description: President Barack Obama lauded whiz kids at the White House Science Fair on Tuesday, including Elana Simon, an 18-year-old who helped research a rare liver cancer that she was diagnosed with at age 12.
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