Teenage innovators from Lambert High School in suburban Atlanta have made significant strides in detecting and treating Lyme disease, a condition impacting nearly half a million Americans each year. Leveraging the groundbreaking gene editing technology known as CRISPR, the students are preparing to compete at the prestigious iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition in Paris, facing off against teams from around the globe, including those from China.
In their laboratory, students like Sean Lee and his classmates are emerging as pioneers in synthetic biology. Their approach involves using CRISPR to develop an early detection method for Lyme disease, which is transmitted by ticks and can lead to severe health issues if left untreated. The students aim to pinpoint a protein associated with the disease, which will facilitate a more accurate diagnosis, especially in the critical early stages of infection.
Avani Karthik, another team captain, explains the intricacies of their project: “We are creating a guide RNA that activates a protein to cut surrounding DNA.” This method could drastically improve detection times, addressing one of the principal challenges in diagnosing Lyme disease, where current tests often fail to identify the infection in its initial two weeks.
The Lambert team’s innovative idea involves using CRISPR to target specific DNA strands linked to the disease. This allows them to expose the protein in a simulated blood serum, enabling detection through a straightforward test, much like those used for COVID-19 or pregnancy.
The challenges they faced were substantial. Despite initial skepticism from various professors about the feasibility of their project, the students remained undeterred. They collaborated with experts, refining their approach to not only detect Lyme disease but also to explore treatment options. Traditional therapies rely on antibiotics; Lambert’s team aims to utilize CRISPR to directly target the bacteria responsible for the disease.
The lab at Lambert High School is equipped with advanced technology, a privilege not commonly found in high school settings. Funded by local taxpayers and donations, the school has cultivated an environment where students can engage in high-level scientific research. The demographic of the school is predominantly Asian-American, with many students being children of immigrants, further enriching the diversity of thought in their projects.
Competition for spots on the iGEM team is fierce, with around 100 students vying for approximately 10 positions each year. The selection process is rigorous, involving project proposals, tests, and interviews. As the iGEM competition approached, the team worked tirelessly, pulling all-nighters to finalize their results and prepare their project presentation for the judges.
By the end of October 2025, the team arrived in Paris, joining over 400 competing teams. The atmosphere was electric, with Lambert’s students eager to showcase their work among elite scientific peers. Claire Lee, one of the team members, expressed the significance of their project: “We’re doing something in our high school lab that could potentially have a huge impact for millions of people.”
The Lambert team presented their findings with high hopes. They demonstrated their ability to detect Lyme disease just two days post-infection, a remarkable advancement over existing tests. Despite facing formidable competition, they had already achieved significant recognition.
As the competition unfolded, Lambert was nominated in five categories, receiving accolades for their innovative software tool. Although they did not secure the grand prize, which went to China’s Great Bay, they celebrated their achievement of being the only American school to finish in the high school top ten, alongside teams from South Korea, Taiwan, and China.
The journey of Lambert High School’s iGEM team highlights not only their scientific ingenuity but also the importance of fostering young talent in the field of biotechnology. Their work underscores a critical need for continued investment in education and research to maintain global leadership in science and innovation.
The success of these students echoes a broader call for supporting high school programs in synthetic biology, as emphasized by Janet Standeven, a former Lambert teacher and iGEM program creator. She advocates for expanding such initiatives across schools in Georgia and beyond, believing that nurturing the next generation of scientists is essential for future advancements in biotechnology.
