Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive and fatal forms of brain cancer. Patients diagnosed with GBM face a grim prognosis: average survival rates remain just 12 to 18 months despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The tumor’s rapid growth, ability to infiltrate healthy brain tissue, and resistance to current treatments make it one of medicine’s most daunting challenges. New therapies are desperately needed, yet breakthroughs are slow and costly.
But through the YRI Fellowship, student researcher Prannav Murukesh has taken on this challenge, demonstrating how even high school innovators can contribute to cancer science. His research explores new therapeutic strategies targeting a novel protein called C1orf159, which was recently discovered to be overexpressed in glioblastoma cells but has not yet been addressed by existing drugs. For researchers, this kind of protein is what’s known as a “druggable target”—a molecule whose inhibition could slow or stop tumor growth.
With mentorship and guidance from YRI, Prannav designed a cutting-edge in silico docking study to explore whether naturally occurring plant compounds—phytochemicals—might block this protein and open the door to new therapies. Computational drug discovery methods like molecular docking are critical tools in modern oncology because they allow scientists to rapidly screen thousands of compounds virtually before committing to costly laboratory testing.
Prannav’s study evaluated five phytochemicals with known anticancer potential:
Arglabin
Palmatine
Ginkgolide B
Solenopsin
Taccalonolide
Using advanced molecular modeling and virtual screening, he tested how strongly these compounds bound to C1orf159, whether they met established drug-likeness criteria, and whether they could pass the blood–brain barrier—a notoriously difficult hurdle in brain cancer treatment.
Among the candidates, Arglabin and Palmatine emerged as the most promising. Both showed strong binding affinity to the target protein, fulfilled drug-likeness requirements, and avoided major toxicity risks. While the other compounds demonstrated some anticancer potential, their inability to effectively cross the blood–brain barrier limited their therapeutic viability.
“Through the YRI Fellowship, I was able to dive deep into neuro-oncology research and develop a project that explores truly novel cancer targets,” said Prannav. “This experience taught me that even as a student, I can contribute to research with real-world impact.”
His conclusion is clear: Arglabin and Palmatine should advance to laboratory and clinical testing, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies against GBM. If validated in future studies, these compounds could represent a breakthrough in treating one of the most devastating cancers known to medicine.
Prannav’s work also underscores the potential of computational research in accelerating drug discovery. Traditional drug development can take more than a decade and billions of dollars before reaching patients. By leveraging AI-driven modeling, molecular docking, and virtual screening, researchers can dramatically narrow down the most promising compounds before stepping into a lab. This efficiency is particularly critical in rare or difficult-to-treat cancers like GBM, where time is precious.
Beyond the science itself, Prannav’s project embodies the mission of the YRI Fellowship: to equip ambitious students with the mentorship, structure, and rigor necessary to tackle humanity’s toughest problems. The Fellowship doesn’t limit students to textbook learning. Instead, it pushes them into frontier research, pairing them with PhD-level mentors and holding them accountable through weekly milestones, publication-level writing support, and conference preparation.
By the end of the program, Fellows aren’t just learning about science—they are doing science. In Prannav’s case, this meant contributing meaningful insights to the global search for glioblastoma therapies. His project shows how phytochemicals—long studied for their medicinal properties—can be repurposed through computational methods to target emerging cancer proteins.
For patients, this kind of research offers hope. Glioblastoma has long defied traditional therapies, but targeting new proteins with novel compounds could one day shift the paradigm. For the research community, Prannav’s work is a reminder that talent and innovation aren’t limited by age. When young scientists are given the right tools and mentorship, they can push boundaries in ways that matter.
With innovators like Prannav Murukesh leading the charge, the YRI Fellowship continues to set the global standard as the fastest-growing research program of its kind—turning bold ideas into breakthroughs that could redefine the future of medicine.
Learn more about how the YRI Fellowship empowers students like Prannav to pioneer discoveries in cancer research and beyond at yriscience.com.
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