Texas Teen Wins $25,000 for Creating Potential COVID-19 Treatment

By Madelaine D. Oct 17 2020, 13:05 PM EDT

A 14-year-old Texas girl won $25,000 for developing a potential treatment for COVID-19.

Anika Chebrolu won in this year's 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her work on a potential drug to treat coronavirus. KSAT reported that Chebrolu is an eighth-grader at Nelson Middle School in Frisco, Texas.

3M is an American company in Minnesota that manufactures a wide range of products, including abrasives and adhesive tape.

As posted on the 3M challenge website, Chebrolu has used "in-silico methodology for drug discovery to find a molecule that can selectively bind to the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus in an attempt to find a cure for the COVID-19 pandemic."

The Texas teen battled with a severe flu case last year, and she decided to participate in the competition after that. Originally, Chebrolu wanted to find a cure for the seasonal flu, but it all changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The Young Scientist Challenge winner said the gravity of the pandemic's situation and the suffering of people inspired her work.

Chebrolu said she wanted to learn more from the 3M scientists to pursue her drug development. She said she would like to do in-vitro and in-vivo testing for her lead drug candidate with their help.

Aside from the prize money, the teen earned the prestigious title of "America's Top Young Scientist" and won a special destination trip.

Each finalist was also awarded an exclusive 3M mentorship that will allow the student to work directly with 3M scientists, who will mentor them as they work on with their inventions.

Chebrolu has developed a molecule binding to a protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus that would eventually stop the virus from functioning.

According to a TMZ report, she started with a database of over 682 million compounds and used a few computer programs to figure out where and how the molecule will bind to the virus.

The Texas teen credited her grandfather, a chemistry professor, for inspiring and pushing her to excel in science. She said her grandfather always tell her to learn "all these things about science, and over time I just grew to love it."

Chebrolu's favorite invention is the Internet, as it allows people to explore so much with only a few clicks. She also finds it a treasure trove of information, adding that it becomes a vital asset in pursuing knowledge and doing research anywhere and anytime.