In Grade 9, Brandon Mashandudze is already exploring how technology could help save lives. His research on using artificial intelligence to detect lung cancer earlier has earned him international recognition as an American Lung Cancer Scholar.
Mahikeng, South Africa (15 October 2026) – What started as a keen interest in lung cancer has quickly turned into a passion for Brandon Mashandudze, leading him to ask a crucial question: how could technology be used to prevent it?
Driven by this curiosity, the Grade 9 learner delved deep into the topic and was recently named an American Lung Cancer Scholar for his research on how artificial intelligence can help detect lung cancer earlier.
He earned the recognition through the Lung Cancer Innovation Challenge – an international competition for middle and high school students run by the American Lung Association’s Lung Cancer Screening Initiative.
Entrants were tasked with developing a medical innovation project focused on lung cancer awareness, screening, or early detection, working alongside mentors along the way.
Brandon’s winning proposal explored how AI and digital health technologies could improve prevention, early detection, and personalised risk assessment. To complete it, he immersed himself in oncology, epidemiology, machine learning, and biostatistics (complex subjects not typically taught in Grade 9), refining and perfecting his project over several rounds.
“At some point, it stopped feeling like a normal school project and felt more like I was actually investigating a question,” Brandon said.
He chose lung cancer because he believes early detection is important and says the research shaped how he sees technology.
“AI isn’t here to replace doctors,” he said.
“It can be a tool to help doctors look at information and possibly identify things earlier.”
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For that science fair, Brandon presented a separate research project examining how environmental conditions may influence the spread of infectious diseases.
Janita Maritz, Executive Head of Curro Mahikeng, where Brandon attends school, described him as hardworking, humble, and curious about how things work. She said the school aims to give learners room to explore ambitious questions, with teachers acting as mentors.
His physical sciences teacher, Miss Tshireletso Pitso, guided his research methodology, helped him sharpen how he communicated his findings and encouraged him when the work became challenging.
“We are incredibly proud of Brandon,” Maritz said.
“It is wonderful to see his hard work recognised on an international stage.”
Brandon plans to continue his research with more data and more time, and is interested in work where medicine, science and technology overlap.
“I want other young people to know that they don’t need to wait until they’re older to start researching something that interests them,” he said.
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