The 2025 Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair was held this past month with over a hundred middle school and high school teams from across the state gathering to showcase their research. The statewide fair is judged by academic and industry leaders in partnership with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) — the world’s largest international STEM research competition. After several weeks of virtual judging, IMS eighth graders, Bonnie Zhao and Tino Xie, were selected as finalists to compete in this year’s final round of judging at Quinnipiac University. 

The two young scientists were thrilled to receive this recognition after months of hard work and research. The pair have developed a prototype of a micro-needle patch capable of delivering drug treatments for diabetes. Tino shared that having a family history of diabetes was what first sparked his desire to develop this treatment tool. With the help of Bonnie, he spent months reading papers, connecting with labs, and running experiments to create a successful prototype of their patch.

Their outstanding research earned them the third-place distinction in the Stanley Black and Decker Applied Technology Awards, as well as, individual finalist medals in the Alexion Biotechnology Awards and Connecticut Science Fair Association Life Science Awards with The Jackson Laboratory. 

Looking beyond this fair, the team’s hope for the patch is that it will someday allow diabetic patients to manage their diabetes affordably, reliably, and without pain. Congratulations to these rising scientists on their extraordinary research and effort to make a difference.