The two-day program, now in its ninth year, affords these select students the opportunity to work alongside some of the nation’s top researchers in the labs of the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research.
“With the rapid new discoveries in molecular and cell biology, exciting new approaches to diagnose and treat diseases are being investigated, particularly in the areas of targeted approaches to treatments and personalized medicine,” said program director Mark R. Kelley, Ph.D., associate director of the Wells Center. “Working side-by-side with our scientists, our program gives science students a realistic and meaningful hands-on experience.”
IU scientists will guide students through laboratories and workstations where they will learn how gene mutations are identified, how DNA is isolated and other fundamentals of modern biomedical research. Also, Eric M. Meslin, Ph.D., director of the IU Center for Bioethics, will explain to students the role of ethics in biomedical research. Dr. Meslin will be incorporating a new computer-based interactive component to his lecture this year.
“We are excited about integrating this novel technology into our program,” said Karen E. Pollok, Ph.D., program co-director.
The Molecular Medicine in Action program is designed to get students excited about science and inspire them to pursue science-related careers. Also, MMIA organizers hope to raise awareness of areas of excellence at Riley Hospital for Children and the IU School of Medicine, and increase interaction between the medical school and Indiana’s secondary schools and teachers.
“Our goal is to share the excitement of what cutting edge, state-of-the-art science promises,” says Dr. Kelley, the Jonathan and Jennifer Simmons Professor of Pediatrics and associate director of basic research at the Indiana University Cancer Center. “We merely loan the student participants the resources to learn – they provide the vision.”
Support for this year’s program includes funding in part from the Lilly Endowment, the Riley Children’s Foundation, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, IU School of Medicine, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Pathology Multimedia Education Group, Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Association of Biology Teachers and the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers.
Students participating in this year’s program are:
Hena Ahmed Carmel High School Hamilton County
Taiwo Ajumobi Ben Davis High School Marion County
Emily Alvey Signature School Vanderburgh County
Lilli Ashmore The Indiana Academy for Science,
Mathematics & Humanities Delaware County
Adam Brown Terre Haute North Vigo High School Vigo County
Bethany Buis Beech Grove High School Marion County
Alison Burger International School of Indiana Marion County
Callie Burgin New Washington High School Clark County
Kelsey Bush Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Marion County
Derek Camp DeKalb High School DeKalb County
Quinn Carrico Scecina Memorial High School Marion County
Rachel Cheeseman Harrison High School Tippecanoe County
Lauren DreylingTri-West Hendricks County
Christopher Ebling Floyd Central Floyd County
Jarrod Felton Union County High School Union County
Alexandra ForthHuntington North High School Huntington County
Erin Gish Oldenburg Academy Franklin County
Whitney Gray Central Noble Noble County
Caitlin Hargett Rock Creek Christian Academy Clark County
Elizabeth Hoaglund Zionsville Community High School Boone County
Christine Hopp Warren Central Marion County
Haley Inman Delta High School Delaware County
Kristyn Jeffries South Spencer High School Spencer County
Amanda Jones North Miami High School Miami County
Mark Kalinich Lake Central Lake County
Monika Knapp Perry Meridian High School Marion County
Brandon Knueve New Haven Allen County
Maggie Kubina Sheridan High School Hamilton County
Ashley Langen Home Schooled Clark County
Samantha LehmanEast Noble High School Noble County
Kathryn LeonardR. Nelson Snider High School Allen County
Eric McClellanSouthport High School Marion County
Megan Meets Twin Lakes High School White County
Allen Meyers Batesville High School Franklin County
Bharathi Muthusamy Chesterton High School Porter County
Cameron Owen Hamilton Southeastern High School Hamilton County
Mallory Parker Southmont High School Montgomery County
Parth Patel Fishers High School Hamilton County
Steven Sanders Argos High School Marshall County
Madeleine Schnittker Trinity School at Greenlawn St. Joseph County
Zachary Sherwood Franklin Central High School Marion County
Kurt Skaggs Lapel High School Madison County
Sean Snodgrass Jeffersonville High School Clark County
Jennifer Strasser Lafayette Jefferson High School Tippecanoe County
Kendall TroeschPerry Central Perry County
Benjamin UlrichPlainfield High School Hendricks County
Samuel Wilhite Heritage Hills Spencer County
Amanda WilliamsCastle High School Warrick County
Lauren Zmirski Marian High School St. Joseph County
William Zuke Highland High School Lake County