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<p>Seventeen students spent their summer vacations exploring possible careers as cancer researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center.</p>

IU Simon Cancer Center’s Summer Program Exposes Students to Possible Cancer Research Careers

For nine weeks (June 1-July 31), the students participated in the cancer center’s Summer Research Program, gaining hands-on experiences by working with physicians and researchers. The program seeks to increase the number of cancer researchers among underrepresented groups.

During the program, students are assigned to mentors affiliated with the center. Participant selection was based on interest in biomedical or behavioral science, grades and personal interviews. The students worked with faculty who are doing research in the most progressive areas of cancer research.

High school students in the program must have completed at least their junior year and have maintained a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Undergraduates in the program must have completed 24 hours of college credit, be majoring in a biomedical or behavioral science and have maintained a grade point average of at least 3.2.

The following students participated in the program:

Taiwo Ajumobi, a student at DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind.

Saba-Na’lmah Berhane, a student at Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, Indianapolis.

Charmayne Duerson, a student at the University of Cincinnati.

Cristine Gutierrez, a student at Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis.

Robert Hawthorne, a student at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School, Indianapolis.

Sara Ibrahim, a student at North Central High School, Indianapolis.

Tahvia Jenkins, a student at North Central High School, Indianapolis.

Victoria Jennings, a student at University High School of Indiana, Indianapolis.

James Knight, a student at Fishers High School, Fishers, Ind.

Christian Lola, a student at Indiana University-Purdue University – Indianapolis.

Julie Loza, a student at the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, Ind.

Ezra Nelson, a student at North Central High School, Indianapolis.

Frederick Olaleye, a student at Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis.

Krystin Prince, a student at Pike High School, Indianapolis.

Gabriel Rangel, a student at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

Jeremy Staley, a student at Cathedral High School, Indianapolis.

Nichelle Whitney, a student at Pike High School, Indianapolis.

The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as a premier national center for the study of cancer and the development of new cancer treatments. The NCI designation places the IU Simon Cancer Center in an elite group of research centers that focuses on the rapid translation of research discoveries to directly benefit people with cancer.

The IU faculty members affiliated with the IU Simon Cancer Center are recognized for their excellence in developing gene therapies for bone marrow diseases such as leukemia, the 95 percent cure rate for testicular cancer in young men, and the use of umbilical cord stem cells for bone marrow transplantation.

To learn more about the Summer Research Program, visit www.cancer.iu.edu/srp.