A Paly senior was declared a semi-finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search on Jan. 14.

Hrishikesh Srinagesh is one of the 300 high school students in the nation who have received this distinction out of a pool of 1,602 applicants.

“It’s exhilarating,” Srinagesh said. “I didn’t really expect to win anything, but it feels really good.”

Srinagesh said that he received the award for his research conducted during an internship at Stanford. He found that a naturally occurring lipid in the brain can bond with and kill the T-cells attacking the brain in an animal model of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis. While the lipid has only been tested in mice, it may develop into a treatment usable on humans.

Spending time with a senior citizen with a compromised memory at Lytton Gardens inspired Srinagesh to apply for the internship at Stanford. He worked 40 hours a week during the summer and 10 hours a week during the school year.

In addition to Shrinagesh’s achievement, he and Paly will each receive $1,000.

“I really want to thank my research advisers, Dr. Lawrence Steinman and Dr. Peggy Ho, as well as my parents,” Srinagesh said. “Mr. Ronald Pruzan, of all my science teachers, really inspired me.”

Srinagesh says he plans to put his money reward into his college fund.