Young Writer Earns Lab Coat

October 6th, 2010 - Media Statement

Perth Modern student Emma Congear, who received a prize for an insightful essay about Huntington's disease, won the opportunity to swap her school uniform for a lab coat at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research for a week.

The year 10 student from South Perth first wrote her article as part of a health assignment, but it was entered into a competition, with work experience at WAIMR as the prize.

The 15 year old, who is trying to decide what she'd like to do after leaving school, made the most of her opportunity to learn about genetics at the WAIMR laboratories.

"I really want be able to help people," she said, "and that's shaping what I want to do as a career."

Scientists at WAIMR are involved in a number of exciting projects, investigating the genetic and environmental causes of diseases, including nerve and muscular disorders.

Emma's Article follows...

Hunting for Survival - Life with Huntington's Disease   [PDF, 1.2MB] by Emma Congear

For more information please contact:
Carolyn Monaghan
Communications Manager
Mobile: 0448 021 932 (media enquiries only)
Office: (08) 9224 0377
Email: carolyn.monaghan@waimr.uwa.edu.au