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Meet Lahari 👩‍🔬, a 15-year-old Junior at American Heritage High School in Delray Beach, FL. Lahari's project, "Exosome-Based Cardiomyocyte Regeneration," focuses on developing a novel approach to heart tissue repair following a heart attack. Her work aims to design a targeted exosome delivery system that can precisely deliver therapeutic drugs to damaged heart tissue, while bypassing immune system activation. Through her research, Lahari hopes to advance regenerative medicine and inspire further innovation within the scientific community.

Lahari’s dedication to science is matched by her love for helping others, whether through volunteering or mentoring future generations of researchers. Dive into our #SciComm blog to learn more about Lahari’s groundbreaking work, her passion for science, and her vision for the future.

Thank you, Lahari, for joining us for our #SciComm Spotlight! To start, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired your love for science?

My name is Lahari Challa, and I’m a 15-year-old junior at American Heritage High School in Delray Beach, FL. I was born in New Jersey but raised in South Florida. I have a dog who’s my companion during late-night study sessions, and a little brother who’s just as awesome! While my family is more geared towards software engineering and math, I’ve always been drawn to experiments, microscopes, and discovery.

My love for science started in middle school, and stepping into a lab for the first time in 9th grade felt like finding where I truly belong. Science isn’t just a subject to me—it’s a passion. I’ve been on a pre-med track since 6th grade, and I plan to continue past 12th grade and well through internships and rotations.

What fuels your passion to keep exploring?

Over the past two years, my love for science truly flourished. I’ve spent countless hours poring over research papers, navigating the frustrations of experiments that didn’t go as planned, and experiencing the thrill when things finally worked. Honestly, I’ve probably spent more time in the lab than any other classroom—if the lab is open, chances are I’m there!

What project are you currently working on?

My project, Exosome-Based Cardiomyocyte Regeneration: A Novel Approach to Heart Repair after Myocardial Infarction, aims to develop an novel exosome-based gene delivery platform to promote cardiomyocyte regeneration following an ischemic Myocardial Infarction (MI).✨

During and after an MI, the heart undergoes severe damage where cardiomyocytes end up dying and are replaced by fibroblasts due to the inability of the cardiomyocytes to re-enter the cell cycle. This ends up impairing the heart’s ability to contract effectively. Although research has been done on the most effective drugs as a solution for this issue, only adenoviral vectors have been used to deliver the drugs, and the issue is that this triggers the immune system. My goal was to address this problem inducing cardiomyocyte proliferation and restoring functional tissue using a immunosurveillance-avoiding, biocompatible delivery method.

That sounds like a really impactful project, especially considering how challenging heart repair after MI can be. Could you elaborate on how you’ve utilized the abm’s Immortalized Human Cardiomyocytes (Cat. No.T0519) in your research, and how it has contributed to your investigation of the targeted exosome delivery system?

By subjecting the cells to hypoxic conditions, I simulate a Myocardial Infarction environment, allowing me to test how the exosomes, loaded with CHIR99021 and FGF-1, support cardiomyocyte survival and proliferation.

The cells are the consistent system to observe the efficacy of the drugs and delivery method of exosomes, and how they influence regeneration and cell cycle re-entry under stress conditions. I have also utilized the cardiomyocytes for imaging and cell viability assays, such as MTT and Alamar Blue. This model has been essential in establishing a solid proof of concept for a key aspect of the research, paving the way for further progression.

How do you envision this project advancing the field of heart repair and cardiac regeneration in the future?

With this project, I hope to pave the way for innovative treatments that address the root cause of cardiac dysfunction, and move beyond symptom management. I also seek to validate the precision and scalability of the exosomes, to show their targeted delivery with minimal to no side effects. I want this project to serve as a springboard for further exploration, whether through publishing findings, mentorships, or collaboration. I hope this will empower others to innovate and contribute to solving some of the most pressing research questions, as many once did for me.

What are your future aspirations, and what do you hope to pursue after graduation? 🎓

After graduation, I aspire to continue my journey in science and medicine by pursuing an MD/PhD program. My ultimate goal is to become a pediatric neuroscientist with a lab, blending clinical practice and my love for wet-lab research. In the future, as a physician, I want to be able to provide life-changing care to patients, while also continuing to drive advancements in regenerative medicine and neuroscience through work in my lab.

Beyond just my professional ambitions, I would like to become a mentor and inspire future generations of scientists and professionals, especially those who are young, sharing my experiences and fostering curiosity in others. Essentially, I envision a future for myself where I make a tangible impact on individuals and the broader medical community.

Is there anything else you’d like to share, particularly about your experience with abm?

What stands out most is ABM’s commitment to supporting STEM education, making advanced scientific resources accessible to researchers of all backgrounds and experience levels. This dedication has been empowering for young scientists like me, helping us push boundaries and make meaningful contributions to science. Thank you, ABM, for everything!

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Now for some more light-hearted questions! ☕✨

What’s your academic-geared hobbies?

I’m involved in the Neuroscience club and HOSA. Both allow me to explore my passion for the brain and connect with like-minded people.

I hear you often volunteer at shelters, wellness centers, and hospitals. What do you find most fulfilling about your volunteering experiences?

Volunteering allows me to give back to my community and connect with others in meaningful ways. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about being able to make someone's day a little easier or brighter, even in small ways. It’s a reminder of the impact we can have on each other.

How do you unwind after a long day in the lab / school?

I find so much joy in cooking and baking 🍳🍰. It’s my love language—creating delicious food for the people I care about is my way of nurturing and connecting with them, whether it’s warm homemade cookies or a hearty meal. I also cherish spending time with my friends, especially my best friend, Nidhi, who holds a particularly special place in my heart. Family is equally important to me, and I treasure our travels together, exploring new countries, sharing laughter, and creating unforgettable memories.

Favourite book genre? 📚

Reading is one of my great escapes, especially from the real world. I love thriller books and mystery along with fiction etc.

Thank you, Lahari, for another great #SciComm Interview! If you'd like to be featured, message us on our instagram channel, @abm_good!

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