King School is proud to celebrate Leon Wang ’26, who placed eighth nationally in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search, earning $60,000 in prize money and recognition as one of the nation’s top high school scientists. Out of 2,600 applicants from across the United States, Leon’s research on Alzheimer’s disease distinguished him for its originality and real-world relevance.

“Placing eighth nationally has been such a great honor. It has truly been a surprise every step of the way,” said Leon, who has recently been contacted by a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association interested in his research.

Leon earned the recognition for his work in finding two FDA-approved drugs that may 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.

“This is so exciting and so incredibly huge for King,” said Victoria Schulman, Director of Science Research. “Leon was the only candidate from Connecticut this year, and the first candidate from the state in a number of years, marking a historic milestone for King’s research program. It is hard to articulate just how big this is.”

With Schulman’s guidance, Leon conducted his research through King’s Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE) in collaboration with the Blanchard Lab at Mount Sinai Research Hospital. His work focused on potential treatments for patients with the APOE4 genetic risk factor, the most common contributor to Alzheimer’s disease. He investigated whether two FDA-approved pulmonary fibrosis drugs could be repurposed to slow Alzheimer’s progression, demonstrating promising results in stem cell cultures.

As part of the competition, Leon presented his work at a poster session and attended the black-tie Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., alongside fellow finalists and leaders in science and technology.

“I think the most meaningful part of this entire experience is being able to meet so many other incredible high schoolers from around the nation,” Leon said. “Learning from their projects, interests, and perspectives has truly been a wonderful experience.”

Leon was also able to connect with leading figures in science and innovation, including renowned scientists Edward Thorpe, a mathematics professor, hedge fund manager, and blackjack expert, and Marcian Edward "Ted" Hoff Jr., an electronics industry legend who joined Intel in its infancy and created the microprocessor chip. Senator Richard Blumenthal was also on hand to congratulate Leon.

The ASPIRE program is supported by the Advanced Mathematics and Science Study Program endowed fund, established in 2018 by Margharet, Frank, Bea, and William Nash to support students with demonstrated ability and interest in advanced STEM research, laboratory experiences, and national and global scientific competitions.