Seminar Offers Unique Hands-On Science Opportunity for Indiana High School Students

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March 5, 2007

Seminar Offers Unique Hands-On Science Opportunity for Indiana High School Students

INDIANAPOLIS — Fifty of Indiana's top high school students will gain special insights into the worlds of science, medicine and genetics during the annual Molecular Medicine In Action Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine March 11-12.

The two-day program, now in its eighth year, grants 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. New this year will be a session on visualizing the three-dimensional structure of proteins and how such information is used in designing drugs.

The Molecular Medicine In Action program seeks to get students excited about science and inspire them to pursue careers in science. Also, MMIA organizers hope to raise awareness of areas of excellence at Riley Hospital for Children and 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:

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Media Contact:

Eric Schoch
(317) 274-7722
eschoch@iupui.edu