Nikhiya Shamsher

The test is based on color change produced upon heating saliva with the QuitPuff reagent. The intensity of color produced is directly proportional to the concentration of Malondialdehyde in the saliva sample and is indicative of the degree of lipid peroxidation and the risk of a smoker towards developing oral pre-cancer and cancer.

One of the major challenges while making this device was the heating element. The saliva had to be heated with the reagent for any color change to be produced. In the lab setting, we used a water bath and it took nearly 15 minutes of reaction time. The challenge was to replicate the same in a point-of-care device. However, I realized that the device would need to hold more than 1.5 litres of water. This would make the device bulkier. So, I scrapped the idea of creating a mini-water bath and experimented with dry heat. The challenge was to build a device capable of heating the mixture up to 100 degree Celsius. I used a thermoelectric peltier cooler or generator TEC1-12706 that creates a temperature differential on each side, with an operating voltage of 12V at 6A. This worked well and even reduced the reaction time.

It costed me approx. $20. It was because I used some of my school resources like the 3D printing of the box. However, if we include the cost of 3D printing outside it would be approx. $30.

I was born in India, one of the most diverse countries in the world, known for its linguistic, geographic and religious variety. For every 300 kilometres you travel, you are hit by a different local language, food, religion and landscape.

My home town is Bangalore. It was once referred to as the Garden city or the Pensioners Paradise. But over the years the city has experienced a dramatic change with the expansion of information technology and business process outsourcing, and now is more aptly known as the Silicon city of India.

My school, Greenwood High, is located on 22 acres of land on the outskirts of Bangalore, amidst a lot of greenery. The large open space, fresh air and serenity fosters a love for learning. Along with an organic atmosphere, it has all the modern amenities like a half-Olympic sized swimming pool, basketball court, library and international standard science labs.

I have presented my project to the officials of the Government of India and have received a research grant under the Gandhian Young Technological Awards 2019. My aim is to improve the specificity and accuracy of the test and make it more specific to suit consumers smoking different categories of cigarette and tobacco like beedi, paan, smokeless tobacco, betel nut, gutka, zarda, mawa, kharra and khaini. I want to explore if a simpler method like a lateral flow assay or a paper strip method could be devised which could make the test more accessible and user friendly. I wish to test my method, take it to clinical trials and eventually launch it as a commercial point-of-care diagnostic test.

On the academic front, I wish to pursue theoretical physics, simply because it reveals many secrets of the universe. And of course, an important component of theoretical physics is math. I believe math is the language by which the universe speaks to itself. If you figure out math and physics, you can figure out the universe, and imagine what we could do with all that information! I had a tough time explaining my subject choices to my school counsellor. I chose Physics, Math and Art. They tried to convince me to drop art and instead take up Chemistry as it would be easier for me to choose a career path. However, I was convinced I wanted to take Art. I love the rationality of Physics and Math, but I also love the abstractness and creativity of Art.

Fortunately, I have had a very modern upbringing. My parents, my grand-parents, relatives and my immediate community are all broad-minded people. I have never faced gender bias.

My parents are both doctors and equally ambitious, treat each other as equals and neither one is more responsible for housework than the other. Growing up in an environment without gender roles has taught me to be self-reliant, create my own path and is one of the biggest reasons for my foray into the research field.

Largely, my parents and my family have given me the freedom to choose who and what I want to be. If I choose to become a scientist, they would not worry about me being a woman and accept me whole-heartedly with my career choice and decision.