An enthusiastic science fair participant since first grade, Dwight Global IB Diploma Program student Christa Kudaverdian ’25 has always been interested in medicine and research.
In sixth grade she discovered information on stem cell therapy after coming across it on the internet. She grew interested in its effects on arthritis, and continued to read and research the topic independently.
That year, she placed fourth out of 3,500 students in the LA County Science Fair and continued to conduct science research outside of school. She also received nominations in both the Broadcom Masters National Science Fair and Arizona State University Science Fair.
It wasn’t until her father’s open heart surgery in 2017, however, that Christa knew which specific direction her medical passion would take.
“In ninth grade, I began researching potential effects of stem cell therapies on cardiovascular diseases, because my father was getting closer to the end of his graft lifespan. The known medicine and therapies were not giving any hope, and I didn’t want to believe that was the end,” she said.
Stem cell therapies have been groundbreaking in addressing diseases such a lymphoma, bone marrow cancers, leukemia and other illnesses, but stem cell therapy in conjunction with cardiovascular health has not been well researched, and so far has not been implemented in mainstream medicine.
In high school, Christa took an internship at Adventist Hospital in Los Angeles, where she lives. After two weeks, she was promoted to a clinical science coordinator position, and now works close to 10 hours a week while in high school, in the nephrology department.
In September, 2023, the Harvard Student Agencies “Learn With Leaders” program contacted Christa and asked her to apply—a rigorous process.
Once accepted, she was instructed and guided through the steps of scholarly research and publication, which yielded her most recent accomplishment: the April, 2024 publication of her paper “Advancements in Stem Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases” in the prestigious International Educational Journal of Science and Engineering.
Christa’s achievement highlights her exceptional research skills and underscores the significance of her contribution to the field. The journal publishes only six percent of the scholarly research submitted for publication.
In her research paper’s conclusion, Christa writes:
“As we stand at the intersection of stem cell research and cardiovascular medicine, the journey ahead involves standardized techniques, comparative studies, and comprehensive examinations of safety and efficacy. The revelations from these studies not only augur well for addressing the intricacies of cardiovascular disorders but also herald a promising trajectory for the evolution of sophisticated treatments in the realm of regenerative medicine. The dynamic interplay between stem cells and cardiac tissues opens avenues for transformative interventions, paving the way for a future where cardiovascular diseases may find innovative and effective solutions.”
The high school junior, whose goal is to one day be an interventionist cardiologist, said her current Dwight Global IB biology class with Ms. Castle “is a challenge. She pushes us to go above and beyond, and the amount of details she requires is impeccable. She also asks us to write with a great deal of detail, which indirectly helped me write my journal article.”
Outside of school, Christa plays piano and tennis and serves on the Teen Advisory Council of The Friends of Semel, connected to the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, a research institute of the University of California Los Angeles.
“My research work has been perpetuated by hope,” said Christa. “I always wanted to be a doctor, and I work hard to stay strong for my parents, who have always worked hard themselves to send me to private school my whole life. I want to reward them and show them what this education has given me.”
