Meet Anika Chebrolu, 14-year-old Indian-American, whose discovery may help in the treatment of Covid-19

Team Udayavani, Oct 20, 2020, 3:58 PM IST

A 14-year-old Indian-American has won a USD 25,000 prize for a potential treatment to Covid-19.

Anika Chebrolu, an eighth-grader from Frisco in Texas, has won the 3M Young Scientist Challenge which is regarded as the US’ premier middle school science competition, for her work that could provide a potential therapy to Covid-19.

Anika who received the title of America’s Top Young Scientist will also get a ‘one-of-a-kind 2 day/1-night destination trip’.

Anika has developed an antiviral drug for Covid-19 by researching protein spikes in the ongoing pandemic. She used in-silico methodology to find a molecule that can selectively bind to the Spike protein.

Anika told CNN, “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”

“After spending so much time researching about pandemics, viruses and drug discovery, it was crazy to think that I was actually living through something like this,”he added

Anika said that she wants to be a medical researcher and professor one day. She also told that her grandfather inspired her interest in science.