RCHS scientist wins top honors
… for gluten-busting research
Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) rising senior, Aditi Avinash, is a science star in the making.
In May, Avinash earned top honors at Regeneron’s International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas, Texas. Her research and findings for Model Validation and Preclinical Testing of Digestive Enzymes for Gluten Breakdown: A Move to Cure Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease, won first place out of more than 80 fellow competitor submissions in the Translational Medical Science category.
It is a tradition at the International Science and Engineering Fair to find your name on the wall of competitors. Aditi Avinash is all smiles when she finds hers surrounded by more than 1,800 others at the 2023 fair that was held in Dallas, Texas in May.
In addition to her category’s first-place win, Avinash was granted a generous scholarship to Arizona State University should she apply and attend the university. “It was everything. I was completely shocked,” said Avinash, adding that everyone there was so incredible, so educated, and so well versed in their topic.
Her findings show that with the right pH environment and the correct ratios, a combination of three fruit enzymes is capable and effective at breaking down gluten in pre-clinical trials. Much like taking Lactaid for milk sugars, Avinash foresees a pill that can be taken before eating gluten so those who suffer with intolerance or disease can be less diet restricted. “Instead of avoidance, this would allow people to face it head on,” she said.
The process for FDA approval, in and of itself, takes 10 to 15 years, so beyond the pill formulation, coating testing, and mouse modeling, it will be years in the making. But she is determined to see it through.
Avinash’s passion for science has been evident with her involvement in biotechnology classes at RCHS and dedication to research both at school and at Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. She also volunteers at Sky Ridge Medical Center’s front desk, pharmacy and mom and baby room and earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) degree in January.
During her CNA clinical rotations, Avinash spent two days at Craig Hospital in Englewood and realized just how much she loves direct patient care. Once she turns 18, she will be able to work as a CNA, something she plans to do during college. Outside of science, she is passionate about singing classical Indian music and being part of the school choir.
From here, Avinash looks forward to finishing her senior year and deciding what the future will hold. She anticipates majoring in cognitive neuroscience or psychology and neuroscience and minoring in singing. Longer term, she wants to be a doctor and pursue her dual Medical Doctor and Doctor of Philosophy.
“I have such an immense love for research but also just love the clinical side of medicine,” said Avinash. She thinks some of the best doctors are the ones who have both clinical compassion and see patients on a firsthand level but also have the research capabilities to understand new treatments available.
Learn more about Avinash through her blog aimed at simplifying science communication for everyone. Stepping Stone to STEM (www.steppingstonetostem.com) helps deconstruct science topics for easy understanding – another passion of this incredible young scientist.
Aditi Avinash, a rising senior at Rock Canyon High School, has spent a lot of time at University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus performing research on her testing of digestive enzymes for gluten breakdown. This photo was taken while there earlier this year.
By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Aditi Avinash
