When 16-year-old Jasmine Eyal from Singapore started researching treatments for her grandmother’s diabetes, she discovered more than just cutting-edge science—she found her calling. Her exploration of mechanogenetic cellular engineering, inspired by her beloved “Popo’s” struggle with Type 1 diabetes, became the foundation for a video that would win her the 10th annual Breakthrough Junior Challenge and transform three lives in the process.
Jasmine’s victory demonstrates exactly what Julia and Yuri Milner envisioned when they founded the competition: young minds tackling complex scientific concepts not as abstract academic exercises, but as potential solutions to real human challenges. The Breakthrough Junior Challenge, established by Yuri Milner and his wife Julia, has grown into a global platform for inspiring scientific curiosity among teenagers worldwide.
“I was inspired to learn more about this field of biology because of its potential to revolutionize health and medicine, treat chronic illnesses, and improve health outcomes,” Jasmine explained after her victory. “The intersection of biology and technology in cellular engineering is an area where breakthroughs can dramatically improve the quality of life for countless individuals, including Popo.”
A Competition That Changes Lives Beyond the Winner
Yuri Milner’s approach to recognizing young scientific talent through the Breakthrough Prize Foundation extends far beyond individual achievement. Jasmine’s $250,000 college scholarship opens doors for advanced study in computer science and biology, but the impact ripples outward in carefully designed ways.
Her teacher, Julie Li-Eyal, receives $50,000 in recognition of her role in fostering scientific curiosity—acknowledging that great students often reflect great educators. Most significantly, Community High School in Brooklyn will receive a state-of-the-art science lab worth $100,000, designed in partnership with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
“We are incredibly grateful for this generous gift, which will be a true blessing for our students and the entire Community High School family,” said Esosa Ogbahon, Superintendent of Beginning with Children and Community High School Principal. “Having access to a dedicated lab will allow our students to engage in hands-on learning, deepen their curiosity, and explore the endless possibilities that science offers.”
Personal Stakes Drive Scientific Excellence
What makes Jasmine’s story particularly compelling is how personal connection fueled scientific curiosity. Her grandmother’s diabetes wasn’t just a family health concern—it became a window into understanding how mechanogenetic cellular engineering might revolutionize medical treatment for millions worldwide.
The philosophy behind Yuri Milner’s scientific initiatives consistently emphasizes science’s human impact. Through programs like Tech for Refugees, Yuri Milner demonstrates how scientific innovation can address immediate human needs while building capacity for future advancement. When young researchers see direct connections between scientific advancement and improving lives—whether their grandmother’s or millions of strangers’—they’re more likely to pursue careers dedicated to discovery and innovation.
The fact that Jasmine’s grandmother was able to surprise her with the news of her victory, and later joined her at the Breakthrough Prize ceremony, adds another layer of meaning to the achievement. Science isn’t just abstract knowledge; it’s a tool for creating better futures for the people we love.
Building Tomorrow’s Scientific Leaders
Jasmine’s victory marks her second time as a competition finalist, having previously entered in 2023. This persistence demonstrates another crucial aspect of scientific development: breakthrough discoveries often emerge from sustained curiosity and repeated attempts to understand complex problems.
Her plans to study computer science and biology position her perfectly for the interdisciplinary future of scientific research, where the most significant advances increasingly happen at the intersection of multiple fields. The mechanogenetic cellular engineering that captured her imagination represents exactly this kind of boundary-crossing innovation.
As outlined in Yuri Milner’s Eureka Manifesto, science serves as humanity’s universal language, capable of uniting people across cultural and geographical boundaries. Jasmine’s story exemplifies this vision, showing how personal curiosity about a grandmother’s health condition can lead to global recognition and contribute to worldwide scientific understanding.
As the 11th Breakthrough Junior Challenge opens for submissions, Jasmine’s story serves as both inspiration and proof of concept. Personal passion, combined with rigorous scientific understanding and creative communication, can lead to global recognition and substantial support for continued learning. The teenager who started by researching treatments for her grandmother’s diabetes has become a symbol of science’s power to transform individual curiosity into collective human advancement—exactly the kind of inspiration that Yuri Milner believes drives future scientific breakthroughs.
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