It's not every high school student who can offer up a science project with a title like Analysis of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Gamma in the Regulation of Angiogenesis.

But Greenhills School Senior Mary Guan did, and her efforts recently made her a semifinalist in the INTEL Science Talent Search, one of America's oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competitions.

In layman's terms, Guan's project was about the cell biology of tissue growing new blood vessels.

"It was pretty amazing," says Guan, a senior at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor. "I didn't expect it at first."

But Jim Lupton, one of Guan's science teachers, isn't surprised.

"Mary's got a lot of academic talent, and she takes the initiative on projects," says Lupton, who teaches the advanced research class at Greenhills through which Guan worked. "Some of our students we match with research projects, but through her own initiative Mary had already found a research position. I think that's pretty commendable."

A few summers ago,Guan was looking for something to do, and contacted several researchers at the University of Michigan to see if she could help out in their labs on a volunteer basis. Dr. Eugene Chen agreed.

"Dr. Chen allowed me to come into his lab and shadow people while they were doing experiments," says Guan. "I thought it was pretty interesting so I came back the summer afterwards for my research position."

She worked with Chen and a post-doctoral student. The lab team was interested in looking at fat and diabetes research, so Guan read papers about fat and the growth of new blood vessels in a process called angiogenesis.

"The post doc student was looking specifically at angiogenesis," says Guan. "After I read some of the papers I discussed possible topics to research with the post-doc student. We decided to look at the role of a protein called PPAR Gamma, and how that protein could affect the growth of new blood vessels. Then I did a series of experiments, such as a cell migration experiment, and a cell proliferation experiment, and I concluded that the proteins could slow down the growth of new blood vessels."

Guan was excited about their findings. "It was really cool because the implications were if the protein could slow down angiogenesis, then maybe it could be used in developing cancer-treating drugs. Tumors need blood vessels to grow."

Guan worked in the lab from June through early September. Then in October wrote her paper and submitted it for the competition.

"I was really surprised when I won!" she says.

Guan is also a key member of the school's Science Olympiad team and does volunteer work. Last year, she volunteered at King Elementary school in Ann Arbor.

"I coached kids from second through fifth grade for their science Olympiad, and for Estimania, a science camp where the kids had to measure and convert different things. It was really fun coaching the kids."

But she isn't all about science. She has been playing the violin since she was 7. "I play in the Michigan Youth Orchestra, through the U of M and during the school year I also play in my school's pit orchestra for the musical," says Guan. "I really like doing that because the music is different from traditional classic."

She also enjoys running in her free time, both for fun and to keep in shape.

For her award, Guan received a $1,000 cash prize. Greenhills will also receive the same, which will go toward its science program.

Guan is still undecided on which college she'll attend. She is waiting to hear from several.

"She has an application into MIT," says Lupton. "I'm thinking positively on that. I'm thinking they'll say 'yes.' She's a very promising young woman."

Pamela Gossiaux is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.