Durham, NC (WTVD) – Ava Grace Cummings is still on the new cloud after having placed 2nd in the search for scientific talents Regeneron 2025. The johnston county teenager is senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham.
“I was a little shocked. I was amazed. I didn’t expect top 10,” she said.
She focused her research for this national science competition around Native American myopathy, also known as Stac3, which is a muscle disorder. Cummings tested adult flies and larvae and found that the combination of the experimental tirasemtiv drug and a common nettle herb improved movement.
“It is enough to bring more resources and more advocacy and more awareness of medicine in these fields. I was able to contribute to it by examining this disease specific to my tribe and using our traditional practices and by finding a solution,” said Cummings.
She learned to be proud of her culture and is a member of the two Lumbee And Coharine tribes.
“One of the approaches I used in my project was to fill Western medicine and traditional indigenous practices,” she said.
Cummings is inspired by his two parents. His mother is in plant remedies, including making elderberry syrup at home.
Ava G. Cummings place second in search of scientific talents Regeneron 2025
“What I have often said to my children is that the creator gave us everything to survive and maintain. You just have to know what is good for what,” said Synora Cummings, Ava mother.
Jason Cummings is the father of Ava and he works as an engineer.
“These roadblocks from separate schools and not being able to obtain the best education are no longer there. We can go to get the best education in the world,” he said.
Ava love for science has started in the first year when it has participated in many scientific fairs over the years. When she doesn’t do a search, she likes to play the piano. Cummings is the oldest of three children and plans to graduate in May from the school.
The $ 175,000 she won the search for scientific talents Regeneron will go to her tuition fees. It was accepted at the University of Yale and has great hopes of specializing in bio-medical engineering. Cummings hopes for a day defender for access to health care and medicine.
“In poorly served and rural communities, including the Lumbee tribe and my people. I really want to be able to work with them in the future,” she said.
Regeneron Science Talent Search is produced by the Society for Science. Maya Ajmera, CEO of Society for Science, is from Raleigh.
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