Innovative Teen Uses Vitamin C to Fight Bladder Cancer: Local Naina Chopra Wins First Place at Science Fair

Naina Chopra of Doherty Valley has won first place at the Contra Costa Science and Engineering Fair for her research on new treatments for bladder cancer. She was inspired to conduct this research after learning that a family friend with bladder cancer was using vitamin C as an alternative treatment method. After contacting several laboratories for sponsorship, she finally found one that was willing to support her research.

Chopra exposed bladder cancer cell cultures to different doses of vitamin C for two months and found that it inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells. Her project titled “Investigating the Role of Ascorbic Acid in Reducing the Incidence of Bladder Cancer” was well received at the Contra Costa Science and Engineering Fair where she won first place. Chopra is now looking forward to presenting her research at the state fair in hopes that her findings can contribute to the advancement of cancer treatment.

In an email to Patch, Chopra expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to share her research and potentially offer hope to those battling cancer. She also mentioned the hope that eventually the treatment will be approved for human trials and evaluate the viability of ascorbic acid as a mainstay solution to prevent further cancer growth in bladder cancer patients.