RetinaMind
Edward Kang · Hackensack, New Jersey
Second Place ($175,000) · Regeneron Science Talent Search · 2026
An AI screening tool that reads retinal images for patterns associated with autism and ADHD, paired with cellular models built to examine the genetic factors that might explain the association.
The cellular work is what separates this from a classifier that finds a correlation nobody can explain. Building a mechanistic arm alongside the model is the answer to the "why would that even work?" question a judge will ask.
- Retinal image analysis
- Deep-learning classification
- Cellular disease modelling
- Genetic factor investigation
- If your model finds a surprising signal, build the arm of the project that explains why the signal exists
- Screening claims need care about who the training population was — that limitation is worth stating first
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