Throughout the year, CBS News Colorado, along with our partners PDC Energy and Ping Identity, celebrates six high school students who excel in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Winners receive $1,000 and a profile on CBS News Colorado.
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The latest Future Leaders winner is Aditi Avinash, a rising senior at Rock Canyon High School. Although she is an excellent student, Avinash has taken her STEM curiosity far beyond her schoolwork.
For the past three years, he has been researching the causes and possible treatments for celiac disease and gluten intolerance.
“I found that there are these three specific enzymes that work in combination together and are really effective at breaking down the gluten protein,” Avinash explained.
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Last year, his research got to the point where he needed more powerful equipment, so he partnered with a researcher at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and was able to gain access to that researcher’s lab on the University of Colorado Medical Campus. ‘Anschutz in Aurora.
“Perseverance is what is helping him or helped him get to where he is today,” said Sujatha Venkataraman, PhD., Assistant Research Professor, Pediatrics-Heme/Onc. and bone marrow transplantation.
“My goal is to try to move my research from the bench to the bedside and create some kind of pill for gluten intolerance,” Avinash said.
It is well on its way. Venkataraman told CBS News Colorado that Avinash has made some findings that no other scientist has yet made. This project is so impressive that Avinash won first place in the Translational Medical Science category at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
“It’s considered the Olympics of science fairs,” Avinash explained.
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Her interest in medicine spurred Avinash to volunteer at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree.
“I love it. I work in the mother and baby unit at Sky Ridge,” said Avinash. “This past year, I actually went to nursing school.”
She earned her Certified Nursing Assistant license while still in high school so she could be of greater help to the nurses and patients at Sky Ridge Medical Center.
“I’ve always been fascinated by medicine,” Avinash said. “In the future, I want to be an MD, PhD because I am very interested in both the clinical side of healthcare and also research.”
Avinash balances his love for science with the art of singing. He earned the opportunity to go to All-State Choir last year.
“I don’t think anything I’ve ever done has involved as much teamwork as heart,” he said.
Working as a team or individually, Avinash has already proven himself to be a leader at all levels.
LINK: Learn more about the Future Leaders Award
