FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2008
CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Sen. Hutchison Announces Austin-Area High School Senior As First-Ever Scholastic Addiction Science Award Winner
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior senator, today announced that Kapil Vishveshwar Ramachandran, a 16-year-old senior from Westwood High School in Austin, won the first-ever National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Scholastic Addiction Science Award.
Mr. Ramachandran’s project, The Novel Role of the GluCl a; Ion Channel and Diazepam Binding Genes in Alcohol Addiction, determined that when a specific protein (Diazepam binding inhibitor) is deleted in fruit flies, the flies may lose their tolerance to alcohol. Although the protein had been previously identified, these findings are a strong indication that it may play a role in addiction. He was awarded a $2,500 scholarship provided by the Scholastic Corporation for his first-place finish.
“Continuing to encourage and reward young students who use science to address health related issues is critical if America is to remain a world leader in scientific discovery,” said Sen. Hutchison. “Mr. Ramachandran’s project is an important contribution to the scientific and health communities.”
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information to inform policy and improve practice.
Scholastic Corporation is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and children's media. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys.
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