The Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association (DCAT) has awarded $30,000 in grants to student scientists of four projects who participated in the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college student science and engineering competition that took place in Columbus, Ohio, from May 10–16, 2025. 

Owned and produced by the Society for Science, Regeneron ISEF provides a platform for the best and brightest young scientists (in 9th to 12th grades) to showcase their science, technology, engineering, or math research. The competition brought together nearly 1,700 young scientists representing 48 US states and more than 60 countries, regions, and territories. 

The DCAT Science & Scholarship Committee, a volunteer committee within DCAT, facilitated DCAT’s participation as a Special Awards Organization at Regeneron ISEF. DCAT’s participation enables the organization to invest in the bio/pharmaceutical industry’s future by supporting young scholars who represent the geographic regions and areas of study reflected in DCAT’s global membership.  

“It was an incredible honor to attend and conduct interviews at this year’s science and engineering fair,” said Troy M. Austin, Chief Commercial Officer, Garonit Pharmaceuticals Inc., and a member of the DCAT Science and Scholarship Committee and part of the DCAT task force that evaluated student applications and selected the winners for the DCAT awards. “Witnessing the passion and brilliance of these talented young students was truly inspiring. They were all eager and prepared to build on their projects and take them to the next level.” 

The DCAT Science & Scholarship Committee supports the needs of students through grants and member-supported initiatives, which includes DCAT’s role as a Special Awards Organization at Regeneron ISEF. Since 2017, DCAT has awarded $150,000 in grants. The grants are funded via member support, including the DCAT Scholarship Golf Outing, which was held June 23, 2025, at the Jasna Polana Golf Club in Princeton, New Jersey.  

Winning projects and student scientists  
The student scientists awarded grants from DCAT and their projects are outlined below. 

Adam Kovalcik (School: Gymnazium Nove Zamky, Nitra, Slovakia) developed a more cost-effective and efficient method for the synthesis of an investigational antiviral drug, galidesivir, used to treat RNA viral diseases. After a literature search and retrosynthetic analysis, he created a new total synthesis of galidesivir that starts with furfuryl alcohol as an inexpensive and green starting material and that reduced the number of steps in the synthesis. The improved synthesis is not only valuable for producing this drug candidate but also provides a possible building block for the development of other new drugs.  

Sanjay Lakshmanan & Naija Shah (School: Academies of Loudoun, Leesburg, Virginia) provided the results of their research that examined how to limit esophageal cancer metastasis via targeted keratin-16 small-interfering RNA (siRNA). Esophageal cancer is associated with a high mortality rate due to its high metastatic capability, which occurs when epithelial cells transform through a process called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which enables cancer cells to move more freely and penetrate surrounding tissues. The expression of keratin-16, a cytoskeletal intermediate filament responsible for cell structure, is directly proportional to the rate of EMT. The students’ research examined whether targeted keratin-16 siRNA would decrease the rate of EMT in esophageal cancer cells. Their research found that higher siRNA concentrations corresponded with decreased cell migration and that knocking down keratin-16 expression shows promise as a potential way in limiting esophageal cancer metastasis. 

Natalie Andrea Osorio (School: H. Frank Carey High School, Franklin Square, New York) conducted a biophysical investigation into the structure and function of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitric oxide signaling system as a means to better understand bacterial biofilm formation. Nitric oxide sensing proteins (NosPs) have been studied as important signaling molecules in various organisms, particularly in the bacterium, Pseudomonas.aeruginosa. NosPs play a role in heme binding and controlling the phosphorylation of NosPs’ associated histidine kinase. Her research further examined these relationships and helped to lay the basis for further work into how heme binding plays a role in kinase inhibition. 

Colin Tang (School: Spring Valley High School, Columbia, South Carolina) provided results from his research that examined the molecular mechanisms underlying the antimicrobial activity of a bile acid antibiotic as a means to further understand antimicrobial resistance in antibiotics. Using disk diffusion assays and membrane permeability tests, his research found that a cationic bile acid derivative used in his study exerted antimicrobial activity via a membrane permeabilization mechanism. Together with dye leakage assays against model membranes, the findings provide insights into how the compound compromises bacterial but not mammalian membranes. This research may pave a potential pathway for developing antibiotics with selective activity, thereby offering a promising strategy to address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance in certain antibiotics.