Indian-American teenager wins prize for research on finding a cure for COVID-19

Indian-American teenager Anika Chebrolu has won USD 25,000 for her research to find a treatment for COVID-19. 

The 14-year-old has developed a molecule that can bind to a certain protein of the coronavirus and prevent it from functioning, which has won her the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

The eight grader from Nelson Middle School used in-silico methodology for drug discovery to find a molecule that can selectively bind to the Spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in an attempt to find a cure for the coronavirus.

"I developed this molecule that can bind to a certain protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This protein by binding to it will stop the function of the protein," Chebrolu told ABC News. "It's exciting. I'm still trying to process everything”. 

Crediting her grandfather, a chemistry professor, for inspiring her interest in science, Anika hopes to be a medical researcher and professor.

"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 told CNN. 

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CtoI News Desk
CtoI News Desk – CtoI

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