A group of high school students from Lambert High School in suburban Atlanta has developed a groundbreaking method for detecting and potentially treating Lyme disease, a condition that affects nearly half a million Americans each year. Utilizing the cutting-edge gene editing tool known as CRISPR, these students are competing at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition in Paris, where they face off against teams from around the globe, including a strong contingent from China.
In their well-equipped laboratory, the team, led by senior scientists Sean Lee and Avani Karthik, is pushing the boundaries of synthetic biology. Their project aims to enhance the detection of Lyme disease, which is transmitted by ticks and can lead to severe health issues if left untreated. Current diagnostic methods often fail to identify the disease in its early stages, leaving many patients undiagnosed for years.
Avani Karthik explained that “one of the biggest problems with Lyme is the lack of timely diagnosis.” Many patients go undetected for extended periods, with some waiting as long as 15 years. The team’s innovative approach focuses on identifying a specific protein produced during the infection. By leveraging CRISPR, they have developed a method to isolate this protein from DNA strands, allowing for a rapid test similar to those used for COVID-19 or pregnancy.
During the development phase, the students consulted with professors and experts who initially cautioned them about the feasibility of their project. Despite these challenges, they persevered, also exploring how to treat Lyme disease using CRISPR to target the bacteria responsible for the illness. To facilitate this, they created software to optimize their CRISPR applications.
The team benefits from a well-funded laboratory, a privilege of being in one of Georgia’s most affluent school districts. Lambert High School has built a reputation for academic excellence, particularly in STEM fields. The team is comprised entirely of Asian-American students, reflecting the diverse demographics of the school’s student body.
With less than a month to go before the iGEM competition in late October 2025, the team celebrated successes in their research, including the ability to detect Lyme disease just two days after infection. Claire Lee, another team member, remarked on the potential impact of their work, stating, “We’re doing something in our high school lab that could potentially have a huge impact for millions of people.”
As the competition approached, the students worked tirelessly to finalize their project, creating a website to present their findings to judges and preparing for rigorous evaluations of their work. Lambert’s team has previously won the grand prize at iGEM in 2022, and they aimed for a top finish again this year.
Upon their arrival in Paris, the students were met with over 400 competing teams, a third of which were high school participants. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, as they prepared to showcase their innovative work alongside other impressive projects, including advancements in treating indoor mold and developing crops for extraterrestrial environments.
Janet Standeven, who previously established the iGEM program at Lambert, highlighted the disparity in participation, noting that while the United States had 14 high school teams, Asia boasted 120. She expressed her hope that the program could expand to more schools across the country, despite funding challenges that have emerged in recent years.
During the final presentations at the competition, Lambert High School’s team faced a panel of judges, articulating the significance of their research and its implications for public health. Drew Endy, a Stanford professor and one of iGEM’s founders, voiced the urgency of fostering more American participants in biotechnology, emphasizing the need for strong leadership in the field.
Although Lambert did not win the grand prize, which went to the Chinese team Great Bay, they earned accolades for their software tool, celebrating recognition among the world’s best in the high school category. The experience has not only fostered teamwork and innovation but also highlighted the potential for young scientists to contribute meaningfully to global health challenges.
As they reflect on their journey, the students remain proud of their accomplishments, driven by a shared passion for science and a desire to make a difference in the world.
