Regeneron Science Talent Search 2026 Recognizes America’s Top Young Scientists, Awarding More Than $1.8 Million to High School Seniors for Innovative Research in Computational Mathematics, Neural Science, and Blood Cancer Treatment

Rhea-AI Summary

Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) and Society for Science honored 40 finalists in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search, awarding more than $1.8 million to finalists and a $250,000 top prize to Connor Hill. Regeneron pledged an additional $150 million to extend title sponsorship through 2036, bringing total support for Regeneron STEM programs to over $300 million from 2017 to 2036.

Forty finalists received awards for original research across computational math, neuroscience, and blood cancer models; the competition recognized a total of $3.1 million in awards and named Colin Jie Chu the Seaborg Award winner.

Positive

• Regeneron pledged $150 million to extend STS title sponsorship through 2036
• Regeneron STEM support totals > $300 million from 2017 to 2036
• Forty finalists received > $1.8 million in awards; top prize $250,000
• Company awarded $3.1 million in total prizes for the 2026 competition

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – REGN

+0.34%

1 alert

+0.34% News Effect

On the day this news was published, REGN gained 0.34%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Top STS award: $250,000 Finalist awards: More than $1.8 million Sponsorship extension: $150 million +5 more

8 metrics

Top STS award $250,000 First-place prize to 2026 Science Talent Search winner

Finalist awards More than $1.8 million Awards to 40 finalists at 2026 Science Talent Search

Sponsorship extension $150 million Additional STS title sponsorship from 2026–2036

STS & ISEF support More than $300 million Total Regeneron support for STS and ISEF from 2017–2036

2026 finalists 40 students Number of Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists honored

2026 STS submissions More than 2,600 students High school seniors submitting original research in 2026

Students engaged More than 20,000 Top young scientists engaged since Regeneron sponsorship began in 2017

Prizes awarded Over $31 million Total STS prizes awarded since 2017 sponsorship start

Market Reality Check

Price: $774.66 Vol: Volume 471,437 vs 20-day ...

low vol

$774.66 Last Close

Volume Volume 471,437 vs 20-day average 705,022 (relative volume 0.67) low

Technical Trading above 200-day MA 644.06 with price at 772.03, about 6% below 52-week high 821.11.

Peers on Argus

REGN was down 1.22% while key biotech peers were mixed: ALNY -0.99%, ARGX +0.08%...

REGN was down 1.22% while key biotech peers were mixed: ALNY -0.99%, ARGX +0.08%, ONC -0.51%, INSM +0.71%, VRTX +3.51%. Moves do not indicate a unified sector trend.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 09 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Mar 09	Clinical trial update	Positive	+2.9%	Positive Phase 3 obesity data from Hansoh trial of olatorepatide in China.
Mar 05	Investor conference	Neutral	-0.7%	Announcement of webcast for Barclays Global Healthcare Conference presentation.
Feb 27	Regulatory opinion	Positive	+1.4%	Positive CHMP opinion on Dupixent for chronic spontaneous urticaria in children.
Feb 26	STEM sponsorship	Positive	-1.7%	Renewal of Science Talent Search sponsorship with additional <b>$150M</b> commitment.
Feb 24	FDA approval	Positive	-1.9%	U.S. approval of Dupixent for allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS).

Pattern Detected

Positive regulatory and clinical news often aligned with gains (e.g., +2.86%, +1.41%), while some positive strategic/philanthropic updates coincided with declines (e.g., -1.72%, -1.89%).

Recent Company History

Recent news for REGN has blended core pipeline progress with strategic and philanthropic initiatives. On Feb 24, FDA approval for Dupixent in AFRS saw a -1.89% move, and a CHMP opinion on Feb 27 coincided with a 1.41% gain. The Feb 26 Science Talent Search sponsorship renewal and added $150M commitment aligned with a -1.72% move. A Mar 9 obesity trial update in China produced a 2.86% gain. Today’s education-focused announcement fits this ongoing STEM and philanthropy narrative rather than a new clinical or financial catalyst.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Regeneron’s deepening commitment to STEM education through the Science ...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Regeneron’s deepening commitment to STEM education through the Science Talent Search, awarding more than $1.8 million to 40 finalists and extending sponsorship with an additional $150 million pledge. Combined STS and ISEF support exceeds $300 million from 2017–2036, reinforcing the company’s long-term STEM-Fueled strategy. In context of recent clinical wins and regulatory milestones, investors may watch how such philanthropic initiatives interact with core revenue drivers and pipeline progress in shaping the company’s overall profile.

Key Terms

microgravity, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, bone morphogenetic protein 4, cellular signaling pathway, +3 more

7 terms

microgravity technical

"for building a device to simulate microgravity in order to study how wounds heal"

Microgravity is a condition where objects experience almost no net weight because they are in continuous free-fall, such as aboard orbiting spacecraft; think of passengers feeling weightless in a smoothly falling elevator. For investors, microgravity matters because it enables scientific experiments and manufacturing processes that behave very differently than on Earth, potentially creating novel drugs, materials, or technologies, changing development timelines, costs, market opportunities and regulatory considerations.

juvenile idiopathic arthritis medical

"developing a cellular model of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). She treated cells"

A chronic inflammatory condition in children in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of joints, causing persistent pain, swelling and stiffness that can limit growth and daily activities; think of the immune system as an overzealous security guard misidentifying healthy joint tissue as a threat. It matters to investors because the condition creates ongoing demand for approved medications, therapies and monitoring tools, shapes clinical trial and regulatory pathways, and influences long-term revenue potential for companies developing effective treatments.

bone morphogenetic protein 4 medical

"arthritis with bone morphogenetic protein 4, a protein linked to JIA joint damage."

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a naturally occurring signaling protein that guides how cells grow, specialize and form tissues such as bone and blood vessels; think of it as a traffic cop telling cells where to go and what to become. It matters to investors because BMP4 is a target in drug development and regenerative medicine—discoveries, clinical trial results, or patents involving BMP4 can influence a biotech company’s future products, clinical value and ultimately its stock outlook.

cellular signaling pathway medical

"Both drugs reduce the activity of a cellular signaling pathway linked to an"

A cellular signaling pathway is a chain of chemical messages inside a cell that tells it how to behave—grow, divide, die, move or make specific proteins—much like a series of traffic lights and signs directing cars through an intersection. Investors care because drugs, diagnostics or biotech products that change these signals can alter disease outcomes and market value; understanding whether a therapy targets a clear, well‑validated pathway helps gauge scientific risk and commercial potential.

machine learning technical

"for building a machine learning program to quickly and accurately track particle"

Machine learning is a set of computer programs that learn patterns from large amounts of data and improve their predictions or decisions over time, like a recipe that gets better each time it’s adjusted based on taste tests. For investors it matters because these systems can speed up analysis, spot trends or risks humans might miss, automate routine work, and potentially create competitive advantages or cost savings that affect a company’s performance.

fda-approved drugs regulatory

"for finding two FDA-approved drugs that may also be effective against Alzheimer's"

Drugs that are "FDA-approved" have passed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s review showing they are safe and effective for specific uses, allowing the company to market and sell them legally in the U.S. For investors this matters because approval removes a major regulatory hurdle, clears the way for sales and revenue, and reduces the risk that a product will be delayed or blocked—like getting an official license to operate a business product.

computational mathematics technical

"research in Computational Mathematics, Neural Science, and Blood Cancer Treatment"

Computational mathematics is the use of mathematical ideas and computer programs to solve problems that are too complex to work out by hand, such as forecasting prices, measuring risk, or optimizing portfolios. It matters to investors because these computer-driven calculations turn raw data into practical decisions—like a digital toolset that speeds up and improves accuracy in pricing, model testing, and automated trading—helping investors assess value and manage risk more reliably.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

$250,000 top award goes to Connor Hill in America’s longest running and most distinguished science and math competition

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and WASHINGTON, March 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Society for Science (the Society) announced that Connor Hill, 17, of State College, Pennsylvania, won the top award of $250,000 in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), the U.S.’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

Key Takeaways:

• This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Science Talent Search and Regeneron’s 10^th year as the title sponsor; Regeneron is extending its title sponsorship through 2036, pledging $150 million to fuel the next generation of science and technology leaders.
  
• Forty finalists were honored at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., receiving more than $1.8 million in awards recognizing groundbreaking research, exceptional analytical rigor, exceptional problem-solving skills and potential to shape the future of STEM.
  
  
• Top Three Winners:
  
  
  • Connor Hill, 17, of State College, Pennsylvania won first place and $250,000 for discovering a way to identify all the possible "noble polyhedra," highly symmetric shapes with flat sides and straight edges. He wrote a computer program to do the computations and proved there are two infinite families of noble polyhedra, as well as 146 isolated examples.
  • Second place and $175,000 went to Edward Kang, 17, of Hackensack, New Jersey for using retinal images to train AI models on subtle patterns linked to autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to create a screening tool called RetinaMind. He also created retinal cell models to study gene changes that may help explain why these differences occur.
  • Third place and $150,000 went to Iris Shen, 17, of The Woodlands, Texas, for testing a potential cancer drug in clams to see if they could serve as an animal model for blood cancer drug discovery. In the clams, the drug had a similar effect to what researchers observe in human cells. She also tested a mix of other potential cancer drugs, which slowed the clams' tumor growth.
    
    

"Congratulations to the winners of this year's Regeneron Science Talent Search," said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News. “Their bold vision and perseverance reveal what the next generation of problem solvers truly looks like—and why our future is in capable hands. Their creativity, ambition and courage to confront the world’s toughest challenges are exactly what this moment demands.”

The Regeneron Science Talent Search is committed to providing a national platform for high school seniors to showcase original, innovative STEM research that proposes novel solutions to real-world issues. Finalists are evaluated for their scientific rigor, originality, critical thinking, leadership potential, and commitment to creating meaningful impact in crucial STEM fields.

“Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search, and to all the finalists who participated in this year’s competition. These students represent exactly the kind of extraordinary talent scientific progress depends on,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., co-Founder, Board co-Chairman, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron and a 1976 Science Talent Search winner. “From my own experience as a Science Talent Search winner, I know the transformative power of this competition. That’s why Regeneron is deepening our commitment and extending our title sponsorship for another decade. Through our support of Science Talent Search and our title sponsorship of the Regeneron International Science Fair, the world’s largest high school science competition, we will invest more than $300 million from 2017 to 2036. We may never know where the next great scientific leader will come from, but we do know it’s our responsibility to find that talent, fuel it, and give it every chance to change the world.”

Other top honors from the competition include:

• Fourth Place and $100,000: Rachel Chen, 18, of Los Angeles, California for developing a concrete, visual way to describe systems of many quantum particles using Temperley-Lieb diagrams, expanding on a 1997 finding. Rachel illustrated how a magnetic field influences the entire quantum system using these simple point-and-line diagrams.
  
• Fifth Place and $90,000: Jerry Xu, 17, of Lexington, Massachusetts for building an AI program that compresses the features of protein molecules into strings of numbers. He showed that his model enabled a more efficient comparison of protein structure without the loss of important features. This could speed up genetic research and drug discovery.
  
• Sixth Place and $80,000: Leanne Fan, 18, of San Diego, California for building a device to simulate microgravity in order to study how wounds heal in space. With the device, she tested red light on injured flatworms and found that it sped up tissue regeneration by 95.2%. She also found that red light treatment speeds up wound repair in human models in normal gravity.
  
• Seventh Place and $70,000: Claire Jiang, 18, of Wyckoff, New Jersey for developing a cellular model of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). She treated cells used to study rheumatoid arthritis with bone morphogenetic protein 4, a protein linked to JIA joint damage. Her experiments showed they acted like JIA cells in their growth and gene expression.
• Eighth Place and $60,000: Leon Wang, 17, of Stamford, Connecticut, for finding two FDA-approved drugs that may also be effective against Alzheimer's disease. Both drugs reduce the activity of a cellular signaling pathway linked to an Alzheimer's gene. In lab-grown brain cells, the drugs reduced signs of damage due to the pathway.
• Ninth Place and $50,000: Jonathan Du, 18, of Mountain View, California for investigating the unrestricted finite factorization property. Factorization breaks down mathematical objects into simpler parts. Jonathan's work explores complicated algebraic systems where some elements have several factorizations, and others do not factor at all.
• Tenth Place and $40,000: Seth Nabat, 18, of Winnetka, California for building a machine learning program to quickly and accurately track particle collisions without sacrificing accuracy by favoring symmetry. Seth's program uses an unconstrained network to catch errors, and another network to find patterns in them.
• Colin Jie Chu, 18, of Palo Alto, California was named the Seaborg Award winner and selected to speak on behalf of the Regeneron Science Talent Search Class of 2026. The 40 finalists chose Colin as the person who best exemplifies their class and the legacy of nuclear chemist Glenn T. Seaborg, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1951 and served on the Society’s Board of Trustees for 30 years.
• The remaining 30 finalists received $25,000 each. In total, Regeneron awarded $3.1 million in awards, including $2,000 to each top scholar and their school. Since the start of Regeneron’s sponsorship in 2017 through this year’s competition, Regeneron and the Society have engaged and inspired more than 20,000 of the nation’s top young scientists, recognized 3,000 as Regeneron scholars, and awarded over $31 million in prizes.
  
  

Resources:

• 2026 Winner Media Kit (photos, bios, research summaries, b-roll, video)
• Virtual Project Showcase (All 40 finalist projects)
• Full List of 40 Finalists
• Top 300 Scholars
• Notable STS Alumni
  
  

What is the Regeneron Science Talent Search?

The Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science since 1942, is the United States’ oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. This year, more than 2,600 students submitted original research in critical scientific fields and were judged by leading experts. Unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and globally, the Regeneron Science Talent Search identifies and supports the U.S.’s most promising future leaders in science as they develop innovative solutions to solve significant global challenges through rigorous research and discoveries. The program provides students with a national stage to present new ideas and challenge conventional ways of thinking.

For over eight decades, the Science Talent Search has rewarded talented high school seniors who dedicate countless hours to original research projects and present their results in rigorous reports that resemble graduate school theses. Collectively, STS alumni have received millions of dollars in scholarships and gone on to be awarded Nobel Prizes, Fields Medals, MacArthur Fellowships and numerous other accolades.

What is Regeneron’s role?

For Regeneron, the Science Talent Search is a deeply personal commitment, as its co-Founders George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D. and Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D. began their scientific careers as Science Talent Search participants. In 2017, Regeneron became the third long-term sponsor of the Science Talent Search, succeeding Westinghouse and Intel, with a 10-year, $100 million commitment to help reward and celebrate the best and brightest young minds. Since the beginning of this enduring sponsorship, through this year’s Science Talent Search, Regeneron and the Society have engaged and inspired more than 20,000 of the nation’s top young scientists, recognized 3,000 as Regeneron Scholars, and awarded over $31 million in prizes. In February 2026, the company renewed its sponsorship for another decade, increasing its investment by 50%, pledging an additional $150 million. Regeneron is also the title sponsor of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a program of the Society and the world’s largest high school science competition. Regeneron’s support for these two premier programs totals more than $300 million from 2017 to 2036.

Learn more at https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/ or www.regeneron.com/STEM

What is Society for Science?

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its STEM Outreach programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire.

Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What is Regeneron?

Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops, and commercializes potentially life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous approved treatments and product candidates in development, most of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases, and rare diseases.

Regeneron believes that operating as a good corporate citizen is crucial to delivering on our mission. We approach corporate responsibility with three goals in mind: to improve the lives of people with serious diseases, to foster a culture of integrity and excellence, and to build sustainable communities. Our most significant philanthropic investments are in science education, a commitment we call STEM-Fueled™ – our collection of programs and partnerships, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) and the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), that fuel future scientific innovators to pursue bold ideas and advance world-changing solutions. Throughout the year, Regeneron empowers and supports employees to give back through our volunteering, pro bono, and matching gift programs. We are proud to be recognized on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Civic 50 list of the most “community-minded” companies in the United States.

For more information, please visit www.Regeneron.com or follow Regeneron on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or X.

Media Contacts:
Tina Parisi Tuttle, Regeneron
973-975-9357, tina.parisituttle@regeneron.com

Gayle Kansagor, Society for Science 
703-489-1131, gkansagor@societyforscience.org

FAQ

What did Regeneron (REGN) announce about the 2026 Science Talent Search on March 11, 2026?

Regeneron announced it honored 40 finalists and awarded more than $1.8 million in finalist prizes. According to Regeneron, the top prize of $250,000 went to Connor Hill and Regeneron pledged an additional $150 million to extend sponsorship through 2036.

How much additional funding did Regeneron (REGN) commit to STEM sponsorship through 2036?

Regeneron committed an additional $150 million to extend title sponsorship through 2036. According to Regeneron, this raises the company’s total support for its two major STEM programs to more than $300 million from 2017 to 2036.

Who won the top award in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search and what was the prize?

Connor Hill won the top award and received $250,000 for his work on noble polyhedra. According to Regeneron, his project combined computation and proofs to identify two infinite families and 146 isolated examples.

How much did Regeneron (REGN) award in total prizes for the 2026 Science Talent Search?

Regeneron awarded a total of $3.1 million in prizes for the 2026 competition. According to Regeneron, this total includes finalist awards, top scholar payments, and $2,000 awards to each top scholar and their school.

What types of research projects earned awards at the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search (REGN)?

Finalist projects covered computational mathematics, neural science, and blood cancer treatment models, among other STEM fields. According to Regeneron, judges evaluated projects on rigor, originality, critical thinking, leadership potential, and potential societal impact.