Now 17, Zhang is a cancer biology and bioinformatics researcher, educator and co-founder of Tumor Tactics, a 72-card educational game that turns cancer biology and treatment decisions into a strategy game for young learners. His story was recently featured by Young Planet Leaders, which named him its September 2026 Young Planet Leader. When Daniel Zhang was nine, cancer was something he could not understand. His grandmother had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and the months that followed were filled with hospital visits, treatments and questions that were difficult for a child to process. Years later, that experience would inspire the San Diego teenager to create something designed to help other children make sense of the disease.
Zhang’s connection with cancer began when his grandmother was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer. He was also selected for the 2026 Summer Science Program at Purdue University, according to Young Planet Leaders.
He spent months watching her undergo treatment and struggling to understand why medicines intended to help her could also leave her exhausted and unwell, according to the story behind Tumor Tactics. The experience stayed with him. Years later, when cancer affected his family again, Zhang found himself trying to explain the disease to his younger sister. That experience reinforced something he had felt as a child: medical terminology could be overwhelming, particularly for young people watching someone they love go through cancer. The idea for Tumor Tactics grew from that gap. Created with fellow student Zachary Tou, the game places players in the role of doctors and asks them to make decisions based on cancer biology, treatment options and potential side effects. The creators say the aim is not to make cancer seem simple, but to make its underlying science easier for children to understand. Zhang’s interests extend well beyond education. He conducts cancer-related research and has worked with the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.