MNPS senior’s Vanderbilt study advances in Regeneron science competition

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School for Science and Math participant Anagha Ashokan (photo provided)

Anagha Ashokan, a member of the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and a senior at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School, is a semifinalist in the 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Her project was a collaboration with a Vanderbilt researcher as part of her curriculum at SSMV.

Ashokan conducted “POPDC3 Regulates Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition in Colorectal Cancer Cells” in partnership with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s Christopher Williams. He is associate professor of medicine and cancer biology in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Ashokan will receive a $2,000 prize and a matching award will be sent to Hume-Fogg.

Of 1,749 applications from 46 states and 527 highs schools, only 300 were selected as semifinalists, and Ashokan was Tennessee’s only semifinalist. Later this month 40 finalists will be selected to travel to Washington, D.C., to compete for the top prize.

Ashokan’s class of students will be the seventh to graduate from the SSMV, a joint venture of Vanderbilt and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. The program offers qualifying MNPS high school students an interdisciplinary, research-centered learning experience.

Program contact:
Angela Eeds
, (615) 322-7132
angela.eeds@vanderbilt.edu