8th grader, Chebrolu won $25,000 for her work on a potential treatment for Covid

[calendria]

 


Texas 14-year-old wins $25,000 for developing potential COVID-19 treatment

https://abc7.com/covid-19-cure-14-year-old-young-scientist-challenge-anika-chebrolu/7077464/

2 days ago · One girl in STEM has made a big step towards finding a coronavirus cure, CBS 11 reports. 14-year-old Anika Chebrolu’s research won her $25,000 from the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Chebrolu originally focused on the seasonal flu, The Quint reports. The severity and impact of the pandemic encouraged her to switch directions and specifically study the SARS-CoV-2 virus.



"I developed this molecule that can bind to a certain protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This protein by binding to it it will stop the function of the protein," she said.

Chebrolu started off working on ways to fight the seasonal flu, but like many professional scientists, her plans changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In order to find her potential drug, she used multiple computer programs to identify how and where the molecule would bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It's unclear whether her research has been tested in cells or a live model.

She said the scope of the pandemic and the stories about the people who were suffering inspired her work. She also credits her grandfather for pushing her to thrive in science.

"My grandpa, when I was younger, he always used to push me toward science. He was actually a chemistry professor, and he used to always tell me learn the periodic table of the elements and learn all these things about science and over time I just grew to love it."

[countrygirl12]

I saw this last night.  They have treatments that seem to work well now they just are not using them.  Or they don't use them until the person is near death.  So in other words they wait until it is basically too late anyway.

I can say one thing for sure this did not come from one man eating bat.

[cadence4u]

Wow - amazing!

[Donnamarg323]

I saw this last night.  They have treatments that seem to work well now they just are not using them.  Or they don't use them until the person is near death.  So in other words they wait until it is basically too late anyway.

I can say one thing for sure this did not come from one man eating bat.

Or unless your name is Trump

[tnshpalmer85]

I read the story the other day, it is amazing. I always say just because you are a kid does not mean you can not make a difference. There are some amazing kids out there.

[willzz1]

thats good news

[jkhanson]

This is exciting news!  I hope the science community/vaccine creators -- or whatever these organizations are -- are able to utilize her work and truly get a something made that will stop this virus. 

Amazing work Anika Chebrolu!