Ellie Chong, a 16-year-old student at Highland Park High School, has created an innovative gel that can detect hospital-acquired infections before symptoms appear. Her project won first place in the Biomedical and Health Science category at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair, earning her $1,000 and a spot at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May.
Chong’s invention is a simple yet effective solution to a common problem faced by hospitals around the world. The gel contains a dye that changes color based on the acidity of the solution, which can indicate if an infection is about to develop before symptoms manifest. Infected sites become less acidic before symptoms develop, so this makes it possible to detect them early with Chong’s gel.
The potential applications for Chong’s project are vast and could benefit many patients who may not have easy access to medical facilities. Patients living in rural areas or those with limited mobility could use this gel to monitor their wounds at home, providing an easy and fast way to detect infections early without requiring specialized knowledge or training. This would be especially useful for patients who cannot travel long distances for medical care or those who do not have access to specialized doctors or equipment.
Chong credits her science teachers at Highland Park High School for their support and encouragement throughout the project, as well as her parents for their unwavering belief in her abilities. She hopes that other students interested in science will follow her lead and pursue their passions through projects like hers.
In summary, Ellie Chong’s innovative gel has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by enabling earlier detection of hospital-acquired infections before symptoms appear. This simple yet effective solution could benefit many patients who may not have easy access to medical facilities, making it a valuable tool for hospitals around the world.