Krtin Nithiyanandam

Krtin Nithiyanandam is a British student, scientist, and inventor. 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, Nithiyanandam'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]

Krtin Nithiyanandam
Born
Krtin Kanna Nithiyanandam
NationalityBritish
Alma materSutton Grammar School
Scientific career
FieldsMedical research, Cancer research, Alzheimer's disease research, Invention

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

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

Alzheimer's research

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

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

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
  1. "SA at the Google Science Fair". Scientific American. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  2. Davis, Nicola (1 January 2017). "Rising stars of 2017: research scientist Krtin Nithiyanandam". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  3. "Sensational STEM success for Sutton Grammar School - Science week 10th - 19th March 2017". www.suttongrammar.sutton.sch.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  4. 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.
  5. "Meet the 30 Most Influential Teens of 2017". Time. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  6. "A 16-Year-Old Boy May Have Cured A Form Of Breast Cancer". curiosity.com. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  7. Knapton, Sarah (13 July 2015). "15-year-old schoolboy develops test for Alzheimer's disease". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  8. TEDx Talks (14 July 2016), Why students should break into science | Krtin Nithiyanandam | TEDxLondon, retrieved 17 December 2017
  9. TEDx Talks (19 April 2017), Why Fostering Scientific Curiosity in Teens is Essential | Krtin Nithyanandam | TEDxGateway, retrieved 17 December 2017
  10. "Developing a molecular trojan horse for the management of Alzheimers disease | RSM Videos". videos.rsm.ac.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  11. 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.
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