Mt. Lebanon student wins biology research contest
Mt. Lebanon High School junior Libby McDyer was named winner of the 2018 Pennsylvania Society of Biomedical Research contest.
In her essay, McDyer compared the use of animal parts and 3-D printed parts for the pulmonary valve in the human heart and how those replacements can save lives.
“My topic revolved mainly around pulmonary valve replacement, like for people who are born with a dysfunctional valve or without a valve entirely,” she said. “I was interested in writing about the pros and cons of animal parts in replacing and of 3-D printing replacing human parts.”
McDyer’s three-page essay won her $500, which was presented to her June 1 in Hershey.
Her research discussed the specifics of dysfunctional hearts and how replacements help the body.
“I found that animal parts are very helpful in relation to pig parts because their anatomy is similar to that of a human,” McDyer said. “Those parts can wear down over time, so they’re not as durable of a mechanical part.”
The essay prompt asked contestants to discuss how biomedical research has affected their lives, and McDyer said she has a family member who had a melody valve to replace the pulmonary valve.
McDyer said she first took an interest in biology in 10th grade after she took Pamela Harris’ biology course. Harris received the email about the contest from PSBR this year and recommended McDyer apply.
“Before (10th grade biology), I had generic interest in the sciences,” she said. “In 10th grade when I took biology as a course, I really began to be interested in how things work internally on a cellular and molecular level and how organisms themselves functioned in ecosystems.”
While she doesn’t know where she wants to go to college yet, McDyer knows she wants to major in biology with a pre-med track.
“I’m interested in being a doctor and helping people,” she said. “The idea of helping people and teaching people through a process has always interested me.”