Anika Chebrolu of Frisco, Texas, was 14 when she discovered a potential treatment for Covid-19. Initially, she’d been researching influenza treatments, but when the pandemic hit, she pivoted to focus on the coronavirus. Last fall, she found a molecule that can stop the virus from infecting human cells. Anika, now 15, won the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, but she’s not done yet: Now she’s working to turn her discovery into an antiviral drug.
Q: How do you explain your discovery to nonscientists?
A: Say you have a thousand keys and you need the one key to fit into a lock. That’s like drug discovery: I had one target [the spike protein that causes Covid-19] and I needed to find the best molecule that could fit into the target and inhibit it.
Q: How did you decide to focus on Covid-19?
A: When I realized I could use my knowledge to help, I went right to work.
Q: What have you learned from this experience?
A: I learned so much about the scientific process and how to not get discouraged when I don’t get the answer I’ve been looking for.
Q: What would you tell other teens who are interested
in scientific research?
A: Take on any opportunity that you see, because you never know where you’re going to end up.
(This interview was edited and condensed for length and clarity.)