8legs: Lambert high school students

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Teens may have come up with a new way to detect, treat Lyme disease using CRISPR gene editing

Lambert High School's iGEM team finished in the global top 10, marking a high achievement for a high school team.
The students used CRISPR and synthetic biology to develop a kit-style Lyme test that targets a bacterial protein.
The project aimed to detect Lyme disease earlier than existing two-week detection windows.
Lambert's team built software to model how best to use CRISPR in their approach.
The iGEM competition drew teams from across Asia and China, highlighting global leadership in biotechnology.
Drew Endy warned that American leadership in biotechnology is slipping while China prioritizes synthetic biology.
Lambert's project included a public-facing website and documentation to explain their work to judges at iGEM Paris.
The trial also underscored ongoing debates about funding for high school biotech programs in Georgia.
Lambert's results show potential for broader diagnostic applications beyond Lyme disease.
The team earned recognition in 2022 for winning a grand prize in iGEM before competing in Paris in 2025.

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