Teen scientist advances research on the cancer she survived

19-year-old Elana Simon recently co-authored a study published in the prestigious Science magazine about a genetic mutation she helped discover

BY SUZANNE KURTZ SLOAN, The Times of Israel

JTA — At 12 years old, Elana Simon was diagnosed with fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, a rare form of liver cancer that largely affects adolescents and young adults.

“I didn’t know much about [fibrolamellar] and it was pretty scary,” said Simon, now 19. “But I was extremely fortunate to have an incredible surgeon.”

After having her tumor removed, Simon, who grew up in New York, where her family remains active members of Temple Shaaray Tefila on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, has been “totally fine ever since.” Currently a freshman at Harvard University, Simon is majoring in computer science.

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