Grant Award Details

CIRM STAR High School Summer Research and Creativity Program
Grant Type: 
Grant Number: 
TC1-06302
Project Objective: 
  • this program requested 10 total slots / year. 5 interns per category. however, PD filled in 10 slots with socioeconomic needs. This is fine as long as the exceeding dollars is provided by the Program and NOT CIRM.
Investigator: 
Type: 
PI
Award Value: 
$271,160
Status: 
Closed

Grant Application Details

Application Title: 
  • CIRM STAR High School Summer Research and Creativity Program
Public Abstract: 

Our CIRM High School Summer Research and Creativity Program will be an 8-week hands-on inquiry based mentored research experience integrated with our existing High School Summer Research Program. Our Summer Research Program for high school students has been in existence for 22 years and has a proven track record of success in mentored scientific research and literacy, communication and advancement to top tier research universities. The programmatic components include a week-long hands-on stem cell biology workshop followed by the 10 interns joining a research team within the Stem Cell Center or one of the 50 Associate laboratories, biweekly progress update meetings, a mid-program social event to create a CIRM student network, and a program-end research seminar by all CIRM high school student interns. Using the rich resources of our institution, the local community and the CIRM network, a forum entitled “Stem Cells, Creativity and the Public” will serve as a platform to integrate stem cell biology research conducted at the bench with expression in the humanities, communication to the public and public policy decision-making. Anticipated near-term programmatic outcomes include literacy in stem cell biology, communication strategies (media, art, literature) and public policy development. Anticipated long-term outcomes include creating a pipeline of stem cell scientists, educators, clinicians and stem cell literate public policy decision makers for California.

Statement of Benefit to California: 

The CIRM High School Summer Research and Creativity Program will be an 8-week hands-on inquiry based mentored research experience integrated with our existing High School Summer Research Program. Our Summer Research Program for high school students has been in existence for 22 years and has a proven track record of success in mentored scientific research and literacy, communication and advancement to top tier research universities. In addition to research, the program will include creation of a CIRM student network. Using the rich resources of our institution, the local community and the CIRM network, a forum entitled “Stem Cells, Creativity and the Public” will serve as a platform to integrate stem cell biology research conducted at the bench with expression in the humanities, communication to the public and public policy decision-making. Anticipated near-term programmatic outcomes include literacy in stem cell biology, communication strategies (media, art, literature) and public policy development. This program will thus benefit the State of California and its citizens in multiple ways: by training a new generation of future stem cell scientists, and in increased public literacy and public policy development.