The 2016 CIRM SPARK EiHS Stem Cell Research Program at Caltech provided a unique opportunity for high school students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in real-world science. This immersive hands-on program enabled four aspiring scientists to work alongside scientific experts at a leading college campus. This eight-week program not only enriched their scientific and social skills but also provided motivation and guidance for attending a four-year college. The research experience began with a five-day preparatory course in current stem cell techniques which provided hands-on training in a range of professional science skills from pipetting, to stem cell culture to flow cytometry. Once prepared the students worked for seven-weeks in the laboratory of Caltech Scientists focusing on scientific research aimed at understanding the mechanisms of Huntington’s Disease and developing improved technologies for manipulating murine stem cells. In addition to scientific research, the students took part in educational forums which completed their understanding of how scientific research impacts the world. These forums addressed a range of topics such as ethics, law, computational biology and entrepreneurial science in addition to providing career counseling. The trainees also participated in patient engagement activities aimed at relying the diseases they had researched such as Huntington’s disease personally impact patients and their families.
The summer program ended with a poster presentation and graduation both at Caltech and the CIRM SPARK conference in Berkeley. The students are now focused on preparing articles for the EiHS Journal – a collection of scientific articles focusing on stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, written by high school students, for high school students.
Reporting Period:
Year 2
The Early Investigator High School (EiHS) CIRM SPARK Program at Caltech provides a unique opportunity for six socioeconomically disadvantaged students to take part in hands-on research under the guidance of a Caltech scientist. This year’s trainees worked on research projects relating to Huntington’s disease, psychiatric disorders and basic developmental mechanisms. They gained unique exposure to an entrepreneurial biotech industry setting through a five-day hands-on technique course held at Pathways to Stem Cell Science, which provided introductory training in essential stem cell techniques. They also attended educational science forums focusing on ethics, science writing, Math, biolaw and career development and presented their scientific findings through a research poster at the CIRM SPARK conference.
Through a patient engagement outreach activity, the students organized a blood drive in collaboration with a local Pasadena Hospital. They also authored articles relating to stem cell ethics for our publication - EiHS Journal, which helps to educate the public on the science, ethics and application of stem cells. In addition to helping (at-risk) students from low income families progress to college, the EiHS CIRM SPARK Program at Caltech plays an important role in public outreach and education and creates a pipeline of future researchers from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Reporting Period:
Year 3
The Early Investigator High School (EiHS) CIRM SPARK Program at Caltech provides a unique opportunity for six socioeconomically disadvantaged students to take part in hands-on research under the guidance of Caltech scientists. The students spend a total of seven weeks working in Caltech laboratories and one-week learning introductory stem cell techniques at the industry-based non-profit, Pathways to Stem Cell Science. At the end of the program they present their findings through a research poster at the EiHS Colloquium and CIRM SPARK conference. It is a transformative experience that enables talented students from underserved communities to better their lives.
The trainees worked on scientific research projects relating to neurogenesis, nicotine addiction, pluripotency and Huntington’s disease. They attended two science education forums focusing on a wide array of scientific subjects conducted outside of the laboratory, such as computational biology; biolaw; Intellectual Property; communication; science writing; business and entrepreneurial science. In addition to being uniquely informative, these forums help students develop important real-world skills for future college and career applications.
This year's program also featured a special focus forum, addressing the importance of patient engagement in science and medicine. During this forum, the trainees learned from a panel of guest speakers spanning research, medicine and patient advocacy, learning how debilitating and fatal diseases affect patient’s lives and drive stem cell research efforts. Their understanding of patient engagement was further cemented through a patient outreach activity, in which they helped to organize a blood drive in collaboration with the American Red Cross. In addition to assisting students from low income families progress to college, the EiHS CIRM SPARK Program at Caltech creates a pipeline of future stem cell scientists from diverse backgrounds.
Reporting Period:
Year 4
Through a unique collaboration involving Caltech and Pathways to Stem Cell Science, the Caltech CIRM SPARK program enables socioeconomically disadvantaged high school students to gain hands-on experience in an academic an industry research setting. After undergoing preparatory lab training in a biotech incubator, participating students spend seven weeks at Caltech working on a stem cell research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The program also features education forums that broaden the students understanding of scientific fields conducted outside of the laboratory. These forums connect the students to professional guest speakers from bioinformatics, patient advocacy, industry start-ups, medicine and IP law. They also provide practical experience in a variety of essential real-world skills from science writing, to networking to career development.
This year’s trainees worked on an array of fascinating research projects, using stem cells to understand how the brain develops and create new technologies for studying opioid addiction. They presented their findings in a research poster at the annual CIRM SPARK meeting, hosted at Caltech by Pathways to Stem Cell Science and CIRM SPARK director Dr. Henry Lester. In addition to helping students from low income families progress to college, the Caltech CIRM SPARK program ensures future generations of stem cell scientists are well trained from a young age and sourced from the diversity of backgrounds needed to tackle humanities biomedical challenges.
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
CIRM Early Investigators High School Stem Cell Research Program
Public Abstract:
The CIRM Early Investigator High School (EiHS) Stem Cell Research Program enables socioeconomically challenged students from ethnic groups that are unrepresented in science and medicine to step into the shoes of stem cell researchers. In addition to providing advanced technical training, the eight-week summer program fosters a wide range of academic and interpersonal skills useful in any work environment. Like professional scientists, students learn hands-on science techniques and complete an original research project in the laboratory of an internationally recognized scientist. They attend collegiate-level lectures, read and critique scientific publications, debate central issues such as ethics, public policy and patient advocacy, and attend special career forums. They also communicate their work to friends, family and scientists via a university-level poster session and the EiHS Journal, a free scientific publication that they write and edit. The CIRM EiHS program is of direct benefit to stem cell research in California because it creates a pipeline not only for training future scientists, but also for increasing diversity and ensuring that our future doctors and scientific leaders are individuals of all genders and races. It also provides a unique opportunity for at-risk students — who might not otherwise attend college or pursue advanced education in a college-level environment — to connect with university professionals. Participating students undergo significant enrichment as students, scientists and individuals in addition to creating memories and friendships that last a lifetime.
Statement of Benefit to California:
To fully benefit from the vast potential of stem cell research and advance as a society, we must ensure our doctors and scientists originate from a diverse range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. However, at-risk students from socioeconomically challenged communities often lack access to the advanced academic training and enrichment needed to forge successful careers in science or medicine. The proposed program will strengthen the future of scientific research by providing socioeconomically disadvantaged high school students from ethnic groups that are underrepresented in science the opportunity to take part in hands-on research in a professional college setting. The students will learn advanced and highly specific science practices and acquire broadly applicable skills that could benefit any workplace. The program will train a future generation of scientists with the skills and public awareness to keep California at the forefront of stem cell science and engage college educators in the importance of mentoring at-risk youth
