Sixteen-year-old Austin Jin, a senior at William A. Shine Great Neck South High School in New York, has developed M-CATCH, a CRISPR-based diagnostic platform for tuberculosis. The test uses blood serum to detect bacterial DNA and can identify genetic mutations linked to drug resistance.
M-CATCH uses polymerase chain reactions and CRISPR-Cas12a technology to find TB-related genetic signatures. Jin designed CRISPR guide RNAs that can distinguish genetic differences as small as a single nucleotide.
The platform also uses a microfluidics chip. It allows multiple reactions to run simultaneously and can screen hundreds of reactions for several mutations.
Jin developed M-CATCH as an alternative to sputum-based testing. Many existing TB tests require patients to produce sputum from deep inside the lungs. Young children and severely ill or immunocompromised patients can have difficulty producing a usable sample.
Drug-resistance testing is another component of the platform. M-CATCH can identify mutations that indicate whether TB bacteria are resistant to particular drugs.
Jin spent weeks testing and refining the CRISPR guide RNAs. Several candidates that appeared promising in initial testing did not perform as expected in experiments.
His research earned him a 2026 Davidson Fellowship and a $50,000 scholarship. The Davidson Institute recognised M-CATCH among this year’s fellowship projects.
Jin also received third place at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair for his research. He plans to study biomedical engineering and biochemistry and pursue a career as a physician-scientist.
