15-Year-Old Wins Young Scientist Award for Brain Cancer Tool

A 15-year-old student from Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk in County Kerry has achieved remarkable recognition at the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Aoibheann Daly won the prestigious competition with her innovative project, “GlioScope: Multi-task Deep Learning and Causal AI for Glioma & Glioblastoma Profiling,” aimed at enhancing brain cancer treatment.

Judges hailed GlioScope as an “extraordinary achievement” and a “stunning piece of work.” The tool is designed to assist medical professionals in identifying specific genetic mutations associated with brain tumors, addressing a significant challenge in current treatment methods. Currently, doctors rely on invasive biopsies, which are not only costly and time-consuming but also carry substantial risks, including potential bleeding in the brain. GlioScope offers a non-invasive alternative, enabling doctors to predict genetic mutations from a simple MRI scan, thereby facilitating quicker treatment decisions and minimizing patient risk.

Innovative Approach to a Serious Condition

Professor Catherine Darker, head judge for the health and well-being category, emphasized the significance of Aoibheann’s work, stating, “Brain cancer is a devastating condition, and GlioScope, developed by a 15-year-old student, is an extraordinary achievement.” She commended Aoibheann for merging scientific fields of medicine and computer science, which could improve early intervention chances for brain cancer patients.

Eileen O’Mara, chief revenue officer at Stripe, praised the depth of talent showcased by the participants, noting that Aoibheann’s project addresses a tragic health issue affecting numerous families in Ireland. “It’s a stunning piece of work,” she added. Aoibheann explained that her interest in brain tumors began during a short course at Dublin City University when she was in primary school. “It kind of shook me,” she recalled. “I thought, why is the survival rate only 5.1%? I knew how to code, so I wondered if I could combine these skills to help.”

Her project specifically targets adult diffuse gliomas, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer known for its poor outcomes. “The biggest problem with treating them is that you need to determine the genetics before deciding on the optimal treatment,” Aoibheann said. “My solution was GlioScope, which enables Day Zero decision-making by predicting WHO grade, patient survival, and genetics directly from pre-operative MRI scans.”

A Bright Future Ahead

The principal of Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School, Pat Fleming, highlighted Aoibheann’s long-standing passion for science. “She has been asking for university-level physics questions since first year,” he noted. “The talent was always there, and she’s really passionate about it.”

Aoibheann’s project builds on her previous entry in the competition, where she secured a category award. As the grand prize winner, she received €7,500 and will represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Kiel, Germany, in September 2026.

In addition to Aoibheann, other students also earned accolades at the event. Aoife Fadian and Jessica O’Connor, fifth-year students from Ursuline College in Sligo, were named Best Group for their project “Sheep Strength II: Using Sheep Wool to Reinforce Concrete.” Their research explored the use of sheep wool as a sustainable strengthening agent for concrete, which has the potential to create new business opportunities for sheep farmers in Ireland.

The competition featured participants from 221 schools and showcased 550 projects, with over 200 prizes awarded. Joshua Corbett, a sixth-year student from St Mary’s CBS in Laois, won the Individual Runner-Up award for his project on nanocarriers for drug delivery in brain cancer treatment. Judges noted that his work could significantly advance treatment methods and improve patient outcomes.

The achievements of these young scientists highlight the innovative spirit and dedication to addressing critical health challenges, promising a brighter future for research and innovation in the medical field.