Inspired by His Family's Health Struggles, Teen Researches Genetic Malformations and Dreams of Being a Scientist (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

Logan Cyr, 16, is researching genetic malformations as part of an intensive science program for teens

His project is inspired by his mom's and sister's health struggles and the desire to help other families in the future

The Knowledge Society is a competitive global accelerator program that enables young people to work on science projects that interest them

Logan Cyr dreams of being a scientist. In some ways, he already is.

The 16-year-old from Calgary in Alberta, Canada, is researching how to prevent genetic malformations, an interest piqued by the fact that he, his mom and his sister were born with different genetic conditions.

His mom, Kelly, was born with only one kidney. His sister, Madison, has a thalamus connectivity disorder, a condition that impacts the signals in her brain. And Logan says he struggles with a sensory gating deficit, which means his brain has a hyperawareness of auditory and sensory information. Although the genetic conditions aren't related, they each impact the family's quality of life. Logan's dad, Jason, is the only one without a genetic disorder.

Logan Cyr

Logan with his mom Kelly

Kelly has been in the hospital since November after a failed kidney transplant. Now she is in pain and her muscles have weakened, Logan says. “She's been sitting there since November because she's not able to walk, and it sucks."

Between going to school and visiting his mom in the hospital three times a week, the teen is devoting himself to better understanding his family's collective health journey. He wants to find a way to prevent other families from experiencing similar struggles.

A program called The Knowledge Society (TKS) is giving him the opportunity. It's a competitive program for teens interested in becoming leaders in emerging science and technology.

Logan Cyr

Logan with his sister Madison

Through TKS, Logan has been investigating how to make “a biological sensor made out of protein," he says. While most genetic editing works by removing faulty DNA, Logan wants to fix genetic mutations before they develop using a special tool called a toehold-mediated strand displacement, which exchanges one strand of DNA or RNA with another.

Logan first learned about TKS from an assistant principal at his school. Young people from around the world enroll in the months-long program and attend weekly in-person or online sessions with their assigned cohort. Overseen by two directors, the kids in each group work on projects that interest them as they build real-world, problem-solving skills and receive mentorship.

Logan Cyr

Logan Cyr presented his project in March.

Logan has already completed 10 months of research during his first stint in TKS, and is preparing for his second year.

“You can be Tony Stark,” says Logan of the design process, referencing the genius inventor in the Marvel Universe, also known as Iron Man, “because no one else has the drive or incentive to go try and do this.”

While he feels both “infinitely” closer yet also farther away from a final solution, he says his ultimate goal is to one day create technology that would allow doctors to use a tablet to help patients with genetic malformations. Working like a biological spell checker, a toehold could help correct DNA errors before they cause damage.

In March, Logan presented his research to fellow teens and leaders in the program in Calgary. It's one of his favorite memories, he says.

TKS was founded in 2016 by brothers Nadeem and Navid Nathoo.

“We pretty much built a new education system with training young people for outlier outcomes in mind,” says Nadeem. “So that's the goal."

The Nathoo brothers, who also hail from Calgary, want to help teens change the course of their lives — and the world.

“In order to accomplish anything amazing, you’ve got to know what you want,” says Nathoo. “You’ve got to want it really badly, and then you’ve got to believe you can do it, right?”

Ben Ramnico

Loga Cyr with his TKS cohort.

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He says that’s exactly what TKS is doing for students like Logan, who hopes his commitment and dedication will propel him to a future of unending possibility.

“I'm going to graduate with high enough marks that I can go literally anywhere and do anything,” he says. “That's my plan.”

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