Huntington Medical Research Institutes Holds Closing Symposium Celebrating Successful Biomedical Research High School STEM Program for Pasadena Unified School District Students
​ Students Recap Their Learning Experiences and Receive Certificates of Completion

Eight 11th- and 12th-grade students from two Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) high schools and Huntington Medical Research Institutes’ (HMRI) today celebrated the conclusion of HMRI’s inaugural biomedical research high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program with a closing symposium at which the students gave brief presentations recapping their respective learning experiences and received certificates of completion.

PUSD high school participants from CIS Academy were Skylar Adams (12th grade for Fall 2021) and Anthony Romero (11th grade for Fall 2021); and from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School – Haydee Angeles and Emily Martinez (12th grade for Fall 2021); and Elizabeth Alvarez, Arleth Angeles, Isaiah Gilmore and Amina Malone (11th grade for Fall 2021). All were selected for the program through an application process that included teacher recommendations.

The six-week summer program gave the students an invaluable opportunity to learn from and collaborate with HMRI research scientists and staff, a STEM instructor and undergraduate teaching assistant (TA) mentors from three colleges and universities. While delving into such subjects as Research, Methods and Instrumentation; Anatomy (Brain, Heart, Lungs); Pathology and Imaging; Genetics; and Mental Health, students conducted many interactive (and fun!) laboratory exercises, including extracting DNA from strawberries; learning about brain function by watching Zombie film clips; conducting dissections; exploring the human anatomy using endoscopes with a laboratory “squishy human body” to simulate an endoscopy; touring HMRI’s labs – and more.

During their symposium presentations, students praised the program for casting the field of science in a whole new light and showing them that STEM research is serious and important but also can be exciting and fun. The students also expressed excitement about the possibility of one day pursuing a biomedical research and/or STEM-related career.

When asked what they especially liked about the program, one student remarked that “it was very hands on and a very good community of people, which I really enjoyed.”

Another said: “I really liked how everything was organized and planned, and that we did all our work in class as we learned and didn’t get loaded with homework. I also liked working with other students rather than the teacher talking the entire time. Group activities helped us engage more.”

“I really enjoyed finding the DNA of a strawberry,” another student said. “It was an activity I had never done, and it was really cool to see the DNA.”

One student commented: “I really liked learning about the different types of mental illnesses and how many types there are, like for eating disorders or personality disorders. The brain is a very complex and interesting organ to learn about in general.”

Another student particularly enjoyed the Socratic seminars. “I think they definitely helped me with creating my presentation because I was able to gather all of my information and practice on how to present it.”

Throughout the program, the students benefitted from the knowledge and oversight of HMRI Associate Professor Dr. Nicole Purcell, director of HMRI’s inaugural high school STEM program; instructor Jacqueline Fonseca; HMRI Education Program Manager Dr. Carlos Aguirre; and undergraduate TAs Ciannah Correa, Pomona College, B.S., Molecular Biology; Hunter McKenzie, Whitworth University, B.S., Health Science; and Sidhant Umbrajkar, University of California, Los Angeles, B.S., Biology.

“Everyone at HMRI and our supporters are delighted this inaugural program was so well received by the students,” said HMRI President and CEO Julia E. Bradsher, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S. “Our key mission for this program is to educate and encourage the next generation of outstanding physicians, scientists and researchers to follow their interests and continue to grow and develop toward science-related careers,” she elaborated. “Judging from the students’ enthusiastic responses, I believe time will prove we achieved that goal. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for them and what great things they will do because of the seeds we planted here.”

Dr. Bradsher added that HMRI’s inaugural biomedical research high school STEM program was made possible by start-up funds from Pasadena residents Drs. Sonia and Neil Singla, a three-year grant from The Confidence Foundation and funding from the Ann Peppers Foundation.

She further noted that over the past 40 years, HMRI has offered a Summer Research Program to some 515 undergraduate college students, many of whom have gone on to become physicians, scientists, engineers and researchers – some now holding prestigious faculty appointments at academic institutions around the world. “We are deeply grateful to Drs. Singla, The Confidence Foundation and the Ann Peppers Foundation for enabling HMRI to realize our goal of making a greater impact in the community by expanding our summer programming to include underserved high school students.

“We look forward to our high school STEM program’s continued growth in coming years to give more and more students who might not otherwise have access to top-tier interactive educational programs in these fields opportunities to explore new and uncharted solutions to some of healthcare’s biggest challenges, like heart disease, Alzheimer’s and mental illness – and have fun in the process – just as these students did,” Dr. Bradsher said.

The scientists and staff of HMRI are powered by passion and determination, working tirelessly to uncover new and uncharted solutions to some of humankind’s most daunting cardiovascular and neurological challenges, like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, migraine and mental illness. Established in 1952, HMRI’s history is steeped in game-changing research and developments, from the cerebrospinal fluid shunt system for hydrocephalus, to the MRI spectroscopy for use with brain tumors, dementia, stroke, MS, and cancers. Today, our campus in Pasadena, Calif., includes biomedical laboratories focused on the connections between the brain and heart, an MRI for clinical studies, and a Liver Center. Our mission is improving lives through biomedical research, and we invite those who share our passion to join us. Big impact, life changing solutions are happening today at HMRI. For more information, visit Hmri.org.

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