The Woodlands Student Won Third in Science Contest
Iris Shen secured a $150,000 prize for research using clams to test blood-cancer drug combinations.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Cancer
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Iris Shen, a 17-year-old from The Woodlands, Texas, earned third place in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Her project utilized clams as a novel animal model to evaluate the effectiveness of drug combinations in slowing blood-cancer tumor growth.
Why it matters
The research highlights the potential for using clams as an affordable and ethical animal model in drug discovery. This approach could streamline the identification of viable treatment candidates before advancing to expensive and complex human trials.
The 2026 competition included 2,600 submissions, with 40 finalists competing for a total prize pool of $1.8 million. The awards are part of a larger $3.1 million distribution supporting the students and their schools.
The players
Iris Shen
She is a 17-year-old student from The Woodlands who placed third in a major national science competition.
Regeneron
This biotechnology company has served as the title sponsor of the science talent search competition since 2017.
The details
Shen tested potential cancer drugs on clams to observe their effects on a transmissible cancer known as disseminated neoplasia. Her findings showed that drug combinations produced effects in the clams similar to those previously observed in human cells.
Timeline
2017: Regeneron began sponsoring the science talent search.
2026: Iris Shen won third place in the competition.
The Big Picture
This work follows a pattern set by the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which encourages high school researchers to apply rigorous methodology to complex biomedical questions. It underscores the broader academic shift toward utilizing diverse, non-traditional animal models in early-stage laboratory experiments.
While the project is currently in the experimental stage, it offers a potential blueprint for more accessible pre-clinical cancer drug testing. Future validation of these methods could eventually help refine how medical researchers screen for effective blood-cancer treatments.
The takeaway
This study demonstrates how unconventional animal models can provide cost-effective insights into complex disease mechanisms. Students and researchers interested in oncology can look to similar collaborative models to bridge the gap between initial discovery and clinical application.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research in this field by visiting Cancer.
Live Poll
Should unconventional research methods be prioritized alongside traditional scientific laboratory models?
