Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Schoolgirl awarded $25,000 for developing potential Covid-19 treatment

Teenager developed molecule to block coronavirus protein from functioning

Graeme Massie
Los Angeles
Saturday 17 October 2020 15:54 EDT
Comments
Texas 14-year-old wins $25,000 for developing potential COVID-19 treatment

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A schoolgirl has been awarded $25,000 for her work on a potential Covid-19 drug treatment.

Anika Chebrolu, 14, developed a molecule that can bind to and prevent a specific protein of the coronavirus from functioning.

“It's exciting. I'm still trying to process everything," she told KTVT.

“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.”

Anika, who is from Frisco, Texas, was handed the prize for winning the 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

Anika originally planned her science project to to fight the winter flu but adapted it when the pandemic hit earlier this year.

The youngster used multiple computer programmes to identify how and where the molecule would bind to the virus.

And she credited her grandfather for spurring her interest in science.

“My grandpa, when I was younger, he always used to push me toward science,” she said.

“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.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in