This story has been updated with pictures of the winners and quotes from the school district.
Madeleine Pachella and Axel Robinson, both Pelham Memorial High School seniors, were named to the list of the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2025 run by the the Society for Science.
Pachella was chosen for her project “Analyzing B Cell Classification Changes in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood Influenced by Ocrelizumab Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis,” while Robinson was named for his work titled “Insomnia Phenotypes and Their Adverse Health Effects.”
According to the Jan. 8 announcement on the Society for Science’s website, scholars are chosen based on “outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders” in what is “the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.”
In a press release, the Pelham school district said, “Madeleine and Axel were selected from nearly 2,500 entrants from 795 high schools across 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 14 other countries. They will each be awarded $2,000 along with an additional $4,000 awarded to PMHS.”
Abstract for Robinson’s research, as provided by the school district: “Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder that is stereotyped by symptoms of difficulty falling asleep (DFA) and difficulty staying asleep (DSA). While people often associate insomnia with DFA and DSA, they frequently overlook the fact that insomnia has two prevalent phenotypes that present themselves differently: insomnia with normal sleep disorder (INSD) and insomnia with short sleep disorder (ISSD). Unlike with general insomnia disorder, there are few studies that examine INSD and ISSD and the exclusive and shared health disorders that these phenotypes are associated with. Amidst already limited research on INSD and ISSD, almost no studies examine insomnia phenotypes in an adolescent sample. The goal of this study is to examine the associations between INSD and ISSD and mental and physical health disorders and substance use, all while controlling for demographic characteristics. The study concluded that both phenotypes are strongly associated with mental health disorders including ADHD, learning disorders, and internalizing disorders. INSD and ISSD are also associated with physical health disorders, including respiratory disorders and neurological disorders. Interestingly, short sleep disorder, which is its own disorder and is not a branch of insomnia, is extremely strongly associated with high blood pressure. As for substance use, tobacco use is most strongly associated with both phenotypes, and use of any psychoactive medication is also associated with both phenotypes. These findings are significant because the INSD and ISSD phenotypes have not previously been associated with health disorders and substance use in adolescents.”
The abstract of Pachella’s project, as provided by the school district: “The B cells in our immune systems are some of the most active contributors to multiple sclerosis pathology. Ocrelizumab, more commonly known as Ocrevus, is a drug that targets these B cells that prompt T cells to attack the myelin of the central nervous system by depleting the populations to minimize the attack and therefore prevent relapse. There have been studies examining the effects of the drug on the immune system as a whole; however, it has yet to be discovered how the classifications of these B cells change from pre-treatment to post-treatment. This is imperative to look into as it determines the true efficacy of the drug and the possibility of patients experiencing relapse—so, in my study, I investigated how B cell classifications change as a result of the Ocrelizumab treatment for multiple sclerosis.”
“Congratulations to the 300 scholars in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search,” said Maya Ajmera, president and chief executive officer of the Society for Science, in the press release. “With a record-breaking number of applications, these exceptional young scientists and engineers represent the best in the nation. We are thrilled to celebrate their ingenuity, hard work, and passion for STEM.”
