18-Year-Old Princeton Student Creates AI to Forecast Tumor Response to Cisplatin

Mythreya Dharani, a senior at Princeton High School in New Jersey, was named a top-40 finalist in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search after developing an artificial-intelligence model that forecasts individual tumor responses to cisplatin. The system merges machine-learning techniques with genomic information, aiming to guide doctors toward the most suitable treatment and avoid unnecessary toxicity. His physics-focused work also introduced a three-network architecture to process particle-collision data, preserving speed while correcting measurement errors.

Dharani balances his scientific pursuits with leadership as co-captain of the varsity debate team and mentorship through the UCLA Math Circle, where he teaches advanced mathematics to younger students. The Society for Science highlighted his achievement as a notable example of high-school-level contributions to personalized medicine. His recognition underscores the potential impact of early-stage innovators on future cancer therapies.