Scientists around the world are rushing to find a cure for coronavirus, including a young girl.
Courtesy 3M Young Scientist Challenge
14-year-old Anika Chebrolle won the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
Anika Shebrolu, 14, of Frisco, Texas, has won the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge – and a 25,000 prize for a discovery that could potentially cure Covid-19.
Anika’s winning discovery uses the in-silico method to detect lead molecules that can selectively bind the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“The last two days, I’ve seen a lot of media hype about my project because it contains the SARS-Cavi-2 virus and it reflects our collective hope to end this epidemic, just as I, like everyone else, want. That we go “get back to our normal lives soon,” Anika told CNN.
Coronavirus has killed more than 1.1 million people globally since China filed its first case with the World Health Organization (WHO) in December. More than 219,000 people have died in the United States, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
Anika, an Indian-American, submitted her project when she was in 8th grade – but she didn’t always focus on finding a solution to the Covid-19.
Initially, their goal was to use in-silico methods to identify lead compounds that could bind to influenza virus proteins.
“After doing a lot of research on epidemics, viruses and drug discovery, I was mad to think that he was really living something like this,” Anika said.
“Due to the extreme severity of the Covid-1p epidemic and the strong impact it had on the world in such a short time, I, with the help of my mentor, changed the direction of targeting the SARS-Cov-2 virus.”
Anika said that after learning about the 1918 flu pandemic and knowing how many people die each year despite annual vaccinations and anti-influenza drugs on the market in the United States, she was inspired to find a possible cure for the virus.
An M Young Scientist Challenge Judge Dr. “Anika has a curious mind and uses her curiosity to ask questions about the Covid-19 vaccine,” Cindy Moss told CNN.
“Her work was extensive and numerous databases were examined. She also developed an understanding of the innovation process and is a skilled communicator. Her willingness to use her time and talents to help make the world a better place gives us all hope.”
Anika said that it was an honor to win the award and degree of top young scientist, but it did not work out.
Her next goal is to work with scientists and researchers who are fighting the epidemic’s “discoloration and mortality” by developing its findings into a real solution to the virus.
“My attempt to find a lead compound to bind the spike protein of the SARS-Co-to-virus this summer may be a drop in the ocean, but it still adds to all these efforts,” he said. “How I develop this molecule with the help of virologists and drug development experts will determine the success of this effort.”
Of course, Anika also gets 14 years of normalcy time. When she is not in a lab or working towards her goal of becoming a doctor or a researcher, Anika trains for Indian classical dance called Bharatnatyam, which she has been practicing for eight years.
Che courtesy Chebrolu family
Anika Bharatnatyam, an ancient Indian dance.
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