Beusse Sanks is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 James H. Beusse Memorial Patent Award, presented during the 70th Annual State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida!
This year’s fair, held at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland from April 1–3, brought together over 900 brilliant young minds from across the state, each showcasing innovative projects in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Hosted by the Florida Foundation for Future Scientists (FFFS), the event continues its legacy of inspiring the next generation of inventors and changemakers.
We’re thrilled to honor two exceptional students whose groundbreaking work embodies the spirit of innovation and impact:
🔬 Junior Section Winner: Arshiya G.
Project Title: “An Innovative Approach to Reduce Biofilm Formation & Progressions: Evaluating the Impact of Antimicrobial Compounds on Thioredoxin-A in Biofilm for Colorectal Cancer Treatment.”
Arshiya’s research takes a novel approach to cancer treatment, addressing a critical medical challenge with the potential for real-world application.
Below is a message from Arshiya:
I am in grade 7 at Starkey Ranch K-8 school in Pasco County. I am a Finalist in the 70th State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida-STEM Competition held in Lakeland March 5-27, 2025. I was the recipient of the Beusse Sanks Patent Award sponsored by your organization. I would like to thank you for your support of this year’s SSEF of Florida.
My project was about Colorectal Cancer tumors that are covered in biofilms. Biofilms are complex bacterial communities that provide protection from treatments. Furthermore, many studies show that Thioredoxin-A (Trx-A) has a major impact on Biofilm formation and progression as Trx-A influences the production of biofilm matrix components and assists bacteria by maintaining homeostasis and redox balance within the cells. Research shows reducing Trx-A activity will help weaken biofilms and improve treatments. Therefore, this experiment investigates which of five antimicrobial compounds is most effective against Trx-A. The tested compounds are shRNA (Targeting Molecular Structure), Auranofin (Targeting Bacteria), Oxacillin (Antibiotic), Allium Sativum (Ayurvedic Approach), and Dithiothreitol (Targeting Chemical Composition). Each of them have properties and potential effectiveness against Trx-A. The purpose is to see which compound binds best to Trx-A, lowering Biofilm strength. Using computer simulations, each compound was virtually docked to measure overall Trx-A inhibition, binding affinity (how well it binds), Root Mean Square Deviation (how stable the bond is), and the number of hydrogen bonds created. Results showed that shRNA outperformed the others in all parameters and had the most stable bond, suggesting it forms a strong stable interaction that could block Trx-A effectively, proving my hypothesis. These findings suggest shRNA, with its strong and stable binding to Trx-A using Nanoparticle-Based Delivery, might be the most promising choice for future research into treatments targeting biofilm-associated infections in cancer. I learned a lot about the process this year about how to present effectively and talking with others to learn more and even making your board visually appealing! Overall I really enjoyed the fair and it will definitely help me in the future as I am considering doing more research about this in future years and getting a career based on this.
Again, thank you very much. Your support helped make the SSEF of Florida a success and I hope you continue to support youth involved in STEM research in the future.
🌊 Senior Section Winner: Sophie S.
Project Title: “Detecting and Freeing Entangled Marine Animals with AI and Innovation.”
Sophie’s project harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to protect marine life—an inspiring blend of technology and environmental stewardship.
Congratulations to both winners on their remarkable achievements! Beusse Sanks is honored to support and celebrate Florida’s future innovators through this meaningful award.
Stay curious, keep innovating, and we’ll see you next year!
