Iris Shen, a 17-year-old student from The Woodlands, Texas, earned third place and a $150,000 award in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search by testing a potential cancer drug in clams, establishing a novel approach for blood-cancer research, according to the Society for Science and Regeneron.
Iris Shen Claims Third Place in Regeneron Science Talent Search
The Regeneron Science Talent Search, recognized as the United States’ oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition for high school seniors, announced its 2026 winners following a rigorous evaluation of original research projects. More than 2,600 students submitted entries for the 2026 competition, from which 40 finalists were selected to present their work in Washington, D.C., according to the Society for Science.
Shen secured the third-place prize of $150,000 for her creative approach to oncology. Connor Hill of Pennsylvania captured first place and $250,000 for his research on noble polyhedra, while Edward Kang of New Jersey received second place and $175,000 for developing an artificial intelligence-based retinal screening tool linked to autism and ADHD research, the Society for Science stated.
Testing Cancer Drugs in Clams to Bridge Research Gaps
Shen’s project tackled a practical challenge in biomedical science: researchers need reliable, ethical, and affordable living systems to test potential therapies before advancing to human clinical trials. Blood cancers, which impact blood cells and bone marrow, present distinct research hurdles because their biology differs significantly from solid tumors.
To address this, Shen investigated whether clams could serve as an effective animal model for blood-cancer drug testing. While laboratory mice, cell cultures, and organoids remain standard in the field, clams can develop a transmissible cancer known as disseminated neoplasia, where cancerous cells spread through the circulatory system in a manner resembling certain features of human blood cancers.
Clam Experiments Show Tumor Growth Slowing from Drug Combination
During her experiments, Shen administered a potential cancer drug to the clams and observed an effect similar to responses seen in human cells. She tested a combination of other potential cancer drugs and discovered that the mixture successfully slowed tumor growth in the animals.
This dual finding provides an early-stage proof of concept for evaluating both individual therapies and drug combinations in marine organisms. Because tumors frequently develop resistance to single treatments, testing multiple drugs simultaneously in a living model helps researchers observe how compounds interact. The next steps for the scientific community involve validating the clam model across a broader range of drugs, comparing its predictive reliability against established models, and identifying the biological mechanisms behind the observed responses under controlled laboratory conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Science Talent Search
How many students competed in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search?
More than 2,600 high school seniors submitted original research projects to the 2026 competition, with judges selecting 40 finalists to present their findings in Washington, D.C.
What awards were distributed at the 2026 competition?
The program awarded more than $1.8 million to its 40 finalists, with total Regeneron awards reaching $3.1 million when including support for top scholars and their respective schools.
Did Iris Shen’s research mean clams can replace human clinical trials?
No, Shen’s research provides an early-stage proof of concept rather than a replacement for human trials, offering a complementary screening tool to evaluate drug candidates before more complex and expensive testing begins.
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