64th Annual STS (2004-2005)
Finalists
Ling Pan

NEW YORK
Ling Pan, 18, of New York, submitted a biochemistry project to the Intel Science Talent Search researching opioid receptors and ways of increasing drug effectiveness. Ling studied the Oprm gene, the only gene for the mu opioid receptor that has been isolated across the mouse, rat and human species. These mu opioid receptors are essential in mediating the ability of opium-derived drugs, such as morphine and heroin, to manage pain. Ling isolated six new splice variants from the human Oprm gene and explored their abilities to absorb drugs into the body based on their differing intracellular structures. Ling's efforts may ultimately assist in developing drugs that control pain and control opioid addiction. Ling is co-first author of a paper published in Journal of Neurochemistry. At The Brearley School, Ling participates in the Asian Awareness club, the service committee and the art club and has studied drawing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has played the violin for a dozen years and performed as a solo pianist with the school orchestra, where she serves as concert mistress. A native of China, Ling is the daughter of Dr. Yingxian Pan and Dr. Jin Xu and hopes to attend Harvard.