America’s future as a science leader may rest with students like the teenagers at Lambert High School in suburban Atlanta. Competing at iGEM — the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition in Paris — the team set out to build a better way to detect and treat Lyme disease, which affects nearly half a million Americans a year. Their primary tool was CRISPR, the revolutionary gene‑editing technique.
In Lambert’s college‑level lab, students like Sean Lee and team captain Avani Karthik work as synthetic biologists, designing guide RNAs that activate CRISPR proteins to collateral‑cleave surrounding nucleic acids. They used those capabilities to tackle two longstanding problems with Lyme disease: late diagnosis and limited treatment options.
Current tests often miss early infections, the period when Lyme is easiest to treat. Lambert’s detection approach targets a protein produced during infection. Using CRISPR and a simulated blood serum, the students designed guides to find DNA regions associated with that protein, then used collateral cleavage to remove extraneous genetic material and expose the protein. The result: a potential kit‑style test, similar to COVID or pregnancy strips, that showed detection as early as two days after infection, compared with roughly two weeks for existing tests.
For treatment, the team proposed using CRISPR to target the bacteria that cause Lyme. To refine that approach they built software to model optimal CRISPR delivery and targeting strategies, and planned lipid nanoparticles as a delivery method. Their teacher, Kate Sharer, described the project as “very high risk, high reward,” and said the students often taught her new ideas. The team reached out to professors and stakeholders for feedback, acknowledging the scale of the challenge but pushing ahead.
Lambert’s students benefit from significant resources: a well‑funded lab, rigorous selection for the iGEM team (about 100 applicants for roughly 10 spots), and intense work hours. The team is majority Asian‑American; many are children of immigrants. Their program grew from efforts by Janet Standeven, who brought synthetic biology into Georgia high schools and later secured federal funding to expand the initiative. That funding was later cut by the Trump administration amid claims it fell under diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; a judge temporarily restored the funds but its future beyond 2026 remained uncertain.
At iGEM in Paris more than 400 teams — including many high school groups — presented synthetic biology projects ranging from enzymes to treat indoor mold to crops for Mars and eye drops for cataracts. Standeven noted the disparity in high school participation: 14 U.S. teams versus 120 in Asia. Drew Endy, a Stanford professor and iGEM co‑founder, warned that while iGEM has helped cultivate new talent, America’s lead in biotechnology is slipping as other nations, notably China, make synthetic biology a national priority.
Lambert’s work drew attention in Paris. The team prepared not only lab results but also a website, software demonstrations and presentations for judges. Although they did not win iGEM’s grand prize — which went to Great Bay from Shenzhen, China — Lambert earned recognition, winning the best software tool award and finishing in the high school top 10. They were the only American high school in that group, alongside teams from South Korea, Taiwan and several from China.
Students expressed pride and purpose. Claire Lee said the work could “potentially have a huge impact for millions of people.” Avani Karthik acknowledged the competitive drive behind much of the effort: “I like to win.” Team members pulled all‑nighters to compile results, code and build their presentation, motivated by the possibility their high school lab work could translate into a major scientific breakthrough if further testing holds up.
Scientists at iGEM, including Endy, suggested Lambert’s diagnostic approach could be transformative — not just for Lyme disease but for detecting other markers in blood — while noting that much more testing and development would be required before clinical use. The students’ achievement highlights both the promise of bringing synthetic biology into high schools and the broader strategic questions about cultivating scientific talent as global competition intensifies.
