Molecular Medicine In Action Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary – Offering Unique Hands-On Research Opportunity for Indiana High School Students

The two-day program provides 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. Special guests and former MMIA participants will return this year to share with students how MMIA helped steer them onto their research career paths.

“This conference introduces the students to incredible new knowledge that is rapidly becoming accessible from the recent advances in biomedicine and the quickening pace of scientific discovery,” said program director Mark R. Kelley, Ph.D., Betty and Earl Herr Professor of Pediatric Oncology Research and associate director of the Wells Center. “We are celebrating 10 years of success. Nearly 500 Indiana high school students now have shared the excitement of what genetic science promises –both for understanding and developing treatments as well as cures of complex diseases.”

IU scientists will guide students through laboratories and workstations where they will learn how gene mutations are identified, how DNA is isolated, how to use the latest microscopic imaging techniques 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 incorporates a computer-based interactive component to his lecture. “We are excited about integrating this novel technology into our lectures and research modules,” commented, Karen E. Pollok, Ph.D, Wells MMIA program co-director.

The Molecular Medicine In Action program seeks to get students excited about science and inspire them to pursue careers inthe field. 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.
Support for this year’s program includes funding in part from the Riley Children’s Foundation,Lilly Endowment Inc., Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, and IU School of Medicine.

Students participating in this year’s MMIA program are: