Anika Chebrolu is an Indian American girl from Frisco, Texas who, at the age of fourteen, won the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge and a $25,000 prize for her work on a potential drug to treat COVID-19. Along with this, she also won the prestigious title of “America’s Top Young Scientist”.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Anika Chebrolu was born in 2006 (age 14 years; as of 2020), in Frisco, Texas. He attended Nelson Middle School in Frisco, Texas, where he studied until the eighth grade. Later, he attended Independence High School in Frisco, Texas.
Family
Anika Chebrolu belongs to an Indian American family of South Asian ethnicity. There is not much information about his family.
Anika Chebrolu with her parents
She credits her grandfather, who was a chemistry professor, for inspiring her to pursue science.
When I was young, my grandfather always inspired me towards science. He was actually a chemistry professor, and he was always telling me to learn the periodic table of elements and all this stuff about science, and over time I started to like it.
Winners of 3M Young Scientist Challenge
On October 14, 2020, 3M, in partnership with Discovery Education, announced Anika Chebrolu, an Indian American student, as the winner of the 2020 Young Scientist Challenge competition. In the 13th annual competition, students from classes five to eight were called to submit a video showcasing an innovation that can help provide a solution to an everyday problem. Anika Chebrolu was declared the winner out of ten finalists selected by a panel of judges. Anika won $25,000 in the competition for her work on a potential treatment for COVID-19. Upon Anika winning the competition, Dr. Cindy Moss, one of the judges of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, described her as a curious-minded girl who used her curiosity to ask questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Said,
His work was extensive and he examined many databases. He also developed an understanding of the innovation process and is a skilled communicator. His willingness to use his time and talents to help make the world a better place gives us all hope.
Anika’s winning invention
Anika Chebrolu won the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her work on a potential drug that uses in-silico methodology to discover a lead molecule that can selectively bind the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus Is. He developed a novel antiviral drug to combat the spread of COVID-19 by extensively researching the protein spikes in the coronavirus. In her study, Anika discovered a molecule that can selectively bind the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. It is believed that binding and inhibiting this viral protein would potentially stop virus entry into the cell; Creating a viable drug target.
Anika Chebrolu showing her research work
a comprehensive research
In her research, Anika Chebrolu screened millions of small molecules for ADMET properties, drug-like properties, and drug toxicity properties. He also conducted extensive research on the binding affinity of small molecules against the spike protein using multiple software tools. Of these molecules, the molecule with the best medicinal and biological activity towards the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was selected as the lead molecule, and this lead molecule could be a potential drug for the effective treatment of COVID . -19. Talking about his research in an interview, he said,
After spending so much time researching pandemics, viruses, and drug discoveries, it was crazy to think that I was actually living through something like this.
preacher
In her research, Anika Chebrolu worked with Dr. Mahfuza Ali, a 3M corporate scientist, who mentored her one-on-one throughout the summer. Under the guidance of Dr. Mahfuza Ali, Anika transformed her idea from concept to reality. In an interview, talking about his mentor and working amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said,
Due to the extreme severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its widespread impact on the world in such a short period of time, I changed directions to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus with the help of my mentor.
next goal
After winning the award and title of “America’s Top Young Scientist”, Anika Chebroğlu felt honored; However, she admits that her work is not done, and her next goal is to work with scientists and researchers to find a cure for COVID-19. She says,
My effort this summer to find a lead compound to bind the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus may seem like a drop in the ocean, but it nevertheless contributes to all these efforts. How I further develop this molecule with the help of virologists and drug development experts will determine the success of these efforts.
Facts/General Knowledge
- The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is considered America’s premier middle school science competition.
- Reportedly, Anika Chebrolu decided to compete in the Young Scientist Challenge after battling a severe influenza infection in 2019.
- This was the first time in the competition’s history that the 3M Young Scientist Challenge showcased the top ten finalist projects, and it was also the first time that the winner was announced in a virtual event.
- In addition to receiving a $25,000 cash prize, Anika Chebrolu also won the prestigious title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” and an exclusive destination trip.
- According to Anika, she was inspired to find a possible cure for the virus after learning about the 1918 flu pandemic.
- Anika loves the Indian classical dance Bharatnatyam and has been practicing this dance form for eight years.
Anika Chebrolu performing Bharatnatyam
- She is also good at sketching and has a good collection of her sketches.
Anika Chebrolu’s sketch
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn