Alameda resident Grace Zang gave a presentation at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) 2022 annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pa. on April 5.

ASPET is an annual four-day event where some of the brightest minds in the world present and discover innovative science studies in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics. This year’s ASPET took place on April 2 to 5 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

Zang, a high school junior at California Crosspoint Academy in Hayward, was invited to present her biomedical research at the event after her submission was selected by a panel of judges. The event receives a large pool of submissions every year from graduate students, professors, and other scientists from all over the world.

Zang’s submission was a system to improve drug discovery methods, which would essentially cut drug permeability screening costs and time in half. Zang, 17, hopes that her drug discovery method can be applied to benefit therapeutic treatment options for cancer and other diseases such as antibacterial and central nervous system.

“Many people I know have suffered from cancer,” said Zang. “Translating my biomedical research into aid for patients in my community with unmet medical needs, is my greatest goal.”

The project that led Zang to APSET started as a high school research project. Zang’s passion for biomedical research drove her to continue her study. She has been working on her project remotely with her mentor in San Diego since 2021.

When Zang is not working on her research project she is on an athletic field. She is a member of the Crosspoint Rams’ women’s soccer and volleyball teams. She is also a member of her school choir.

Zang’s research study is titled, “One Assay, Two Vital Values-Estimating Intrinsic Permeability and Efflux Using MDCK-MDR1 Assay.” To read the report of her study, visit www.eventscribe.net/2022/EB2022/PosterBiographies.asp?pfp=PresenterList.