Gavriela Beatrice Kalish-Schur
Julia R. Masterman High School
Philadelphia, PA
IRE1 Knockdown Leads to an Anxiety Phenotype in Drosophila and Changes in BiP and BDNF Levels
Gavriela Beatrice Kalish-Schur investigated a potential neurological cause of human anxiety by studying genetically altered fruit flies. She documented their behavior in their testing dishes, along with levels of proteins in different parts of their brains, and she found that flies with decreased IRE1 levels, a type of enzyme, spent more time along the outside of the testing dishes, indicating anxiety.
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Gavriela Beatrice Kalish-Schur, 18, of Philadelphia, studied a potential neurological cause of anxiety using fruit flies as a model, in hopes that one day it may help humans for her Regeneron Science Talent Search neuroscience project. Gavriela focused on a specific brain pathway found in both fruit flies and humans, IRE1, because it affects the critical protective process of cellular protein folding.
When folding is disrupted, it can lead to cellular stress, in turn causing anxiety or other problems. She manipulated the fruit flies’ genetics so that the IRE1 pathway was “knocked down” or decreased in different parts of the brain.
She noticed that all the flies with the decreased IRE1 spent more time around the outside of the testing dish, indicating anxiety. She also noted various protein levels differed depending on where in the brain the IRE1 was knocked down. She believes these findings suggest multiple research paths to aid in treating anxiety.
The daughter of Jennifer Kalish and Yechiel Schur, Gavriela attends Julia R. Masterman High School and edits the newspaper. As president of a social justice group, she received a state award after a voter registration drive enrolled 95% of eligible students at her school. She looks forward to casting her first vote.
Beyond the Project
Gavriela attends and leads meetings with members of Congress to advocate for the Give Kids a Chance Act. Although this act has not yet passed, she advocates for the beneficial impact it would have on children who are battling cancer.
FUN FACTS: Gavriela is an avid reader and as of November 2023 she was on target to reach her goal of reading 100 books during that year.
