Boca Raton Teen Triumphs at Global Science Fair with Groundbreaking Project

Boca Raton, Florida, USA - Boca Raton’s own Kasey Moore, a bright 16-year-old from American Heritage Schools, made waves recently by clinching 2nd place in the Translational Medical Science category at the prestigious 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Taking place in sunny California, this annual competition is the largest pre-college STEM contest, showcasing over 1,600 talented finalists from more than 60 countries who were selected from millions of applicants worldwide. Kasey’s impressive achievement comes with a reward, as she was honored with a $2,400 award for her standout project.

Her research, intriguingly titled “The Effect of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) and Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis Repair With Bacillus subtilis in Locomotion and Alpha Synuclein Aggregation in Caenorhabditis elegans Transgenic Strain NL5901, an Animal Model for Parkinson’s Disease,” digs deep into potential treatments for Parkinson’s disease. By incorporating both botanical medicine and microbiome science, Kasey is on the cutting edge of research aimed at finding new methods to combat this debilitating condition. For those interested, her project presentation can be explored in the ISEF 2025 Virtual Showcase.

Recognizing Global Talent

The Society for Science also announced the Grand Awards for ISEF 2025, which highlighted a variety of young innovators from across the globe. In addition to Kasey, other remarkable projects were recognized, ranging from innovative bionic prosthetics to novel approaches in environmental science. The award roster includes winners like Adam Kovalcik from Slovakia, who received the George D. Yancopolous Innovator Award for his project on the synthesis of aza-C-nucleosides. Meanwhile, Benjamin Davis from Massachusetts earned the Regeneron Young Scientist Award with his creative approach to combining pultrusion and extrusion technologies.

This year’s fair celebrated not just scientific brilliance but also the spirits of exploration and innovation. Young scientists from all corners of the world brought forward their groundbreaking research, contributing to a dazzling array of discoveries set to change various fields.

A Bright Future Ahead

In Kasey Moore’s case, her journey doesn’t just stop here. Her accomplishment at ISEF is a testament to her hard work and ingenuity, but also a stepping stone to greater ventures. The recognition she has gained is a clear indicator that she is on the right path in the world of science, potentially paving the way for future breakthroughs in medical research.

With excitement buzzing in Boca Raton and beyond, Kasey’s feat has certainly put the local community on the map in the global scientific arena. Her work stands as an inspiration for students everywhere, proving that with creativity and dedication, there’s no limit to what can be achieved. As Kasey continues her studies and research, we look forward to hearing more from her—certainly, there’s more to this story than we see now!

The complete list of award winners and more details about ISEF 2025 can be found on the official website for Society for Science.