‘By P. Sarojini’
Texas (CWBN)_ Anika Chebrolu, a 14-year-old Indian-American from Frisco, Texas, won the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge and was rewarded with USD 25,000 for discovery in potential treatment to COVID-19 ,where she found a method using in-silico methodology to discover a lead molecule that can selectively bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Her discovery gained wide attention across the world and among the scientists who are trying hard to find a cure to treat the novel coronavirus.
On winning the award she said “I am extremely humbled at being selected America’s Top Young Scientist as all of the finalists had amazing projects and were extremely well-rounded individuals”.
Anika said that she was a grade 8 student when she submitted this project and initially she did not aim at finding a cure for corona virus. Her goal was to find a cure for influenza virus following her fight with the disease last year. She said “I was drawn towards finding effective cures for influenza disease after a severe bout of the infection last year”.
She suggested the use of in-silico methods to identify a lead compound that could bind to a protein of the influenza virus. She said “The last two days, I saw that there is a lot of media hype about my project since it involves the SARS-CoV-2 virus and it reflects our collective hopes to end this pandemic as I, like everyone else, wish that we go back to our normal lives soon”. She added “Because of the immense severity of the Covid-19 pandemic and the drastic impact it had made on the world in such a short time, I, with the help of my mentor, changed directions to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus”.
Anika said that the flu pandemic of 1918 inspired her to find a cure for viruses. She said that she realised the importance of this project on learning about the past pandemics and the facts on the death rate in United States caused by influenza despite the anti-influenza drugs and annual vaccinations.
An American manufacturing company based in Minnesota said on its website that Anika’s work makes use of in-silico methodology for drug discovery to locate molecules that can selectively combine to the spike of SARS-COV-2 virus, thereby, attempting to find a cure for the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The teenager wishes to work with top scientists and researchers to create an actual cure for the disease. She said “I would like to learn more from 3M scientists to pursue my drug development and with their help, would like to conduct in-vitro and in-vivo testing of my lead drug candidate”.
Anika’s aim is to become a medical researcher and a professor. She said “Science is the basis of life and the entire universe and we have a long way to go understand it fully.”
