SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 12, 2006 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- MedImmune, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MEDI) presented its "Advancing Science for Better Health" Award to
Lynbrook High School junior Bryan Huh at the Santa Clara County Science Fair
on April 2 in San Francisco, California. The award is designed to recognize
the scientific work of a Santa Clara County high school junior or senior.
Employees from the Mountain View, California location of biotechnology
company MedImmune, Inc. selected Huh's project titled, "Can we cook garlic and
still retain its medicinal properties?" as the best example of the award's
spirit and purpose from among entries submitted. The team of MedImmune judges
reviewed individual projects in the fields of biochemistry, medicine and
health, and microbiology. Criteria for evaluation included alignment with
MedImmune core values, including an entrepreneurial spirit, high integrity,
collaboration and a strong work ethic.
In addition to commissioning the special award, MedImmune was a sponsor at
this year's science fair. "It was exciting to see young people who were
interested in science," said Kutubuddin Mahmood, research scientist at
MedImmune. "Bryan was selected because of his entrepreneurial spirit, which
was evident in his project."
Huh's project studied whether or not cooked garlic loses its medicinal
affect against helicobacter pylori and staphylococcus aureus. "I expected
there to be a significant difference in the medicinal properties of cooked and
raw garlic," said Huh. "The results indicated that cooked garlic retains its
medicinal properties, which is good news for people who tend to cook with
garlic rather than to eat it raw."
Huh hopes to attend Stanford or Brown University when he graduates in
2007. In addition to an award certificate and trophy, Huh received an offer
for a six-week paid internship at MedImmune as the company's award winner.
Huh commented, "It feels incredible to spend so many hours, days, and weeks on
this project and to have it pay off. That day was definitely one of the most
memorable in my life up to now, and I hope and plan to continue my passion and
success in science in the future."
Toni Stiefel, director, community relations at MedImmune noted how the
company's continued support of science and health education is expanding.
"Advancing health and science education is a key objective for MedImmune. By
supporting the science fair, we can participate in our local communities and,
in the long-term, encourage students to pursue careers in science," she said.
"This year MedImmune is sponsoring fairs in the four U.S. cities where the
majority of our employees work and live. Each site's employees participate by
serving as science fair judges and, subsequently, by mentoring a local student
through the awarded internship. It's exciting to work on a corporate
initiative that has such local relevance."
About MedImmune, Inc.
MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical
options for physicians, rewarding careers to employees, and increased value to
shareholders. Dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live
better lives, the company is focused on the areas of infectious diseases,
cancer and inflammatory diseases. With more than 2,200 employees worldwide,
MedImmune is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland. For more information,
visit the company's website at http://www.medimmune.com.
SOURCE MedImmune, Inc.
Clarencia Stephen of MedImmune, Inc., +1-301-398-4073