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ManitobaVideo

Winnipeg teen saves cancer researchers decades in data processing time

Computer science enthusiast Dylan Bucci worked tirelessly to push cancer research forward even as he struggled with the disease himself. In February 2022, the former Sisler High School student died of Ewing sarcoma, but his work lives on.

Less than two years after his death, Dylan Bucci's legacy lives on

Teen computer whiz saves researchers decades of processing time

10 months ago
Duration 4:31
Dylan Bucci worked tirelessly on pushing cancer research forward even as he struggled with the disease himself. Watch his family, teacher and a research scientist celebrate his legacy less than two years after his death. Video: Sean Monfero, Evan Rivard, and Patrik Dela Cuesta

Dylan Bucci had a dream: He wanted to help cancer researchers in Canada fast-track complex computations.

That was 2018.

Bucci, then a Grade 10 student at Sisler High School and an avowed computer science enthusiast, was inspired by a previous assignment that harnessed unused computer processing power. But Bucci took the idea to the next level, collaborating with the World Community Grid, a volunteer network of computing platforms.

Bucci harnessed the unused computing power of the servers at Sisler High School and shared that power with the World Community Grid.

Researchers at the Krembil Research Institute in Toronto, via the World Community Grid and its connection to the Sisler servers, sent complex data calculations to the school. The servers completed the calculations and sent the information back to the researchers at the institute.

Head and shoulders photo of a young man with short, dark hair smiling. He has dark-framed glasses and is wearing a dark, crew-neck sweat shirt.
Dylan Bucci was enthralled with computers, starting when he was a toddler. That fascination later led the teen to spearhead a cancer data processing project. (CinemaRolls Studio)

Robert Esposito, the cyber-security teacher at Sisler High School who helped Bucci with the project, estimated Bucci, via the World Community Grid connection, saved researchers several decades of computation time, thereby fast-tracking advancements in research.

"He was actually able to contribute tens of years of advance access the scientific community was looking for," Esposito said.

The student wasn't able to see the full impact of his work. In February 2022, he died at age 19. He had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Ewing sarcoma at the start of the pandemic.

"It never stopped him from doing what he loved," said Spencer Bucci, Dylan's brother. "He pushed through everything, all the pain, all the suffering. He continued to keep tabs on the research to see if there was something he could do remotely."

A silver-framed photo of a bald, young man in a dark suit and red tie sits on a desk.  On the right, sits a small stuffed Baby Yoda doll. A clay plant pot sits on the left of the frame with one red and green leaf popping over the top of the pot. To the left of the pot sits a model of R2D2 from Star Wars.
Dylan Bucci was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma after he had devoted his time to helping cancer researchers. The teen died in February 2022, but work on his data project continues. (CinemaRolls Studios)

Bucci's quest to harness the computing power and his abbreviated life are now the subject of a short documentary by three students in the Create program at Sisler High School in Winnipeg. The post-high program trains students in the creative digital arts, including filmmaking.

Create students Sean Monfero, Evan Rivard and Patrik Dela Cuesta, all 18, produced the story about Bucci.

The short documentary was produced as part of CBC Manitoba's Project POV: Sisler Create, an ongoing video storytelling collaboration.

Meet the filmmakers

Young man with short, straight hair and bangs sits on a stool. He is wearing a sweatshirt that says Athletic Championships on the front and cargo pants with a pocket on the side. He wears round metal framed glasses and has his hands clasped on his lap.
Sean Monfero (CinemaRolls Studios)

Sean Monfero loves film production, lighting and editing. He loves to experiment with his filmmaking, trying new techniques and working with other creative storytellers. When he isn't behind a camera, you can find him snoozing in his bed or hanging out with his friends.

Young man with curly dark hair sits on a stool with his hands clasped at his lap. He wears a button down shirt open with a white graphic T-shirt underneath. He is wearing dress pants.
Evan Rivard (CinemaRolls Studios)

Evan Rivard is a new student to Sisler and the Create program. He has been making and watching movies ever since he was a toddler. He has a deep passion and desire to tell poignant stories in all types of films.

Young man with shaggy, dark, shoulder-length hair sits on a stool in this black and white portrait. He is wearing a dark, unzipped sweatshirt with a black T-shirt underneath. He is wearing grey sweat pants and his hands are clasped on his lap.
Patrik Dela Cuesta (CinemaRolls Studios)

Patrik Dela Cuesta has been experimenting with different types of editing techniques and motion graphics since middle school. He is also a car enthusiast who can regularly be found at meets near Portage Avenue.

More about Project POV: Sisler Create

CBC Manitoba's Project POV: Sisler Create is a storytelling collaboration that partners filmmaking students with CBC Manitoba journalists to produce short docs. The collaboration is in its second year. Past projects can be found here.

During fall 2023, CBC journalists taught storytelling to filmmaking students and led producing workshops over several weeks at the Create program at Sisler High School.

The post-high school program focuses on education and career pathways into the creative industries. Students can take courses in animation, film, game design, visual effects, graphic design and interactive digital media.