Krtin Nithiyanandam
Krtin Nithiyanandam | |
|---|---|
| Born | Krtin Kanna Nithiyanandam 20 June 2000 (age 23) Chennai, India |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Sutton Grammar School |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Medical research, cancer research, Alzheimer's disease research, invention |
Krtin Nithiyanandam is a British medical researcher. He was awarded the Scientific American Innovator Award at the 2015 Google Science Fair for his work on developing a novel diagnosis test for early-onset Alzheimer's disease.[1] The award came with $25,000.[2] In 2017, Krtin's research on identifying a mechanism to make triple-negative breast cancer more treatable won the Intermediate Science stream at the national Big Bang Fair.[3] Recently, Nithiyanandam was the recipient of the U.K. Junior Water Prize for his project titled "A novel, photocatalytic, lead-sequestering bioplastic for sustainable water purification and environmental remediation". He represented the U.K. at the international Stockholm Junior Water Prize.[4]
In 2017, Nithiyanandam was named as a Rising Star in Science by The Observer and as one of TIME's 30 Most Influential Teens of 2017.[2][5] Krtin currently attends Stanford University.
Biography[edit]
Krtin Nithiyanandam was born in Chennai, India and moved to Britain with his family. Nithiyanandam's interest in the medical sciences started after he suffered from hearing impairment as a child. He studied at Sutton Grammar School.[6][7] Nithiyanandam has explained his research at TEDxLondon, TEDxGateway, WIRED: Next Generation, and the Royal Society of Medicine, and has advocated for increased student participation in scientific research.[8][9] Krtin is a member of Stanford University's Class of 2022.
Research[edit]
Alzheimer's research[edit]
Nithiyanandam's work focused on oligomeric amyloid beta as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease instead of amyloid beta plaques.[8] Nithiyanandam developed a bispecific antibody composed of two different Fab' fragments: one fragment from an anti-oligomeric amyloid beta IgG molecule and another fragment from an anti-transferrin receptor IgM molecule.[10] Nithiyanandam's bispecific antibody is conjugated to a quantum dot with MRI and fNIR detection capabilities. Nithiyanandam's in vitro studies suggest that the bispecific antibody quantum dot conjugate has little cross-reactivity and could potentially cross the blood-brain barrier.[7][8][10] He won the Scientific American Innovator Award at the Google Science Fair for this work.[1]
Cancer research[edit]
Nithiyanandam's research sought to develop a novel siRNA mechanism to decrease ID4 expression in aggressive triple-negative breast cancers.[5][6] Nithiyanandam found that a knockdown in ID4 expression resulted in aggressive triple-negative breast cancers developing primitive oestrogen receptors on their surface, consequently making the cancer susceptible to existing breast-cancer treatments.[11] Moreover, Nithiyanandam found that increasing PTEN expression in several breast cancer cells lines, including MCF-7, resulted in increased chemosensitivity to cisplatin. However, increased PTEN expression in "healthy cell line" MCF10A resulted in decreased chemosensitivity to cisplatin.[6][11] He was the winner of the Intermediate stream of the Big Bang Fair for his work.[3]
Bioplastic research[edit]
Nithiyanandam developed a novel bioplastic capable of sequestering lead and purifying water through photocatalysis.[5] CIWEM, the organisation that awards the U.K. Junior Water Prize, commented that Nithiyanandam's project focused "on meeting global wastewater management challenges, and exhibits wastewater as an opportunity rather than a waste product".[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "SA at the Google Science Fair". Scientific American. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b Davis, Nicola (1 January 2017). "Rising stars of 2017: research scientist Krtin Nithiyanandam". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Sensational STEM success for Sutton Grammar School - Science week 10th - 19th March 2017". www.suttongrammar.sutton.sch.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b Jones, Alison (5 September 2017). "Krtin Kanna Nithiyanandam Wins CIWEM's UK Junior Water Prize - Green Energy News". Green Energy News. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "Meet the 30 Most Influential Teens of 2017". Time. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "A 16-Year-Old Boy May Have Cured A Form Of Breast Cancer". curiosity.com. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b Knapton, Sarah (13 July 2015). "15-year-old schoolboy develops test for Alzheimer's disease". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b c TEDx Talks (14 July 2016), Why students should break into science | Krtin Nithiyanandam | TEDxLondon, retrieved 17 December 2017
- ^ TEDx Talks (19 April 2017), Why Fostering Scientific Curiosity in Teens is Essential | Krtin Nithyanandam | TEDxGateway, retrieved 17 December 2017
- ^ a b "Developing a molecular trojan horse for the management of Alzheimers disease | RSM Videos". videos.rsm.ac.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ a b Knapton, Sarah (27 August 2016). "16-year-old devises way to make deadly breast cancer more treatable". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 December 2017.