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The Brain Explorer Academy (BEA): An Informal Science Education Partnership

Award Number: R25GM146300
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/20/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2027

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The Brain Explorer Academy (BEA): An Informal Science Education Partnership - A strong and well-prepared STEM workforce is essential for continued progress in biomedical research and for addressing major health challenges facing society. However, many high schools have limited access to advanced laboratory experiences, research environments, and sustained mentorship in scientific fields. As a result, many students complete their secondary education with little exposure to how modern science is conducted or how they might pursue careers in biomedical research. Research shows that authentic science experiences during high school can significantly strengthen student engagement with STEM disciplines and help students envision pathways into scientific careers. Programs that connect students with university research environments provide opportunities to develop critical scientific skills, build confidence in quantitative reasoning, and gain exposure to modern research technologies that are rarely available in traditional classroom settings. To address this need, we propose the Brain Explorer Academy (BEA), an immersive neuroscience education program that introduces high school students to modern brain science through hands-on learning experiences at the University of California, Irvine. The program will operate as a two-semester after-school academy meeting twice weekly on the UCI campus and will serve students from multiple public high schools across Orange County. Through laboratory demonstrations, interactive experiments, and collaborative learning activities, students will explore how the brain supports learning, memory, and behavior while developing practical scientific skills. The program will emphasize experiential learning, mentorship from university scientists, and exposure to modern neuroscience technologies. Students will receive training in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, scientific communication, and collaborative problem solving. Program outcomes will be evaluated using pre- and post-program assessments that measure changes in student competencies, knowledge of neuroscience concepts, and attitudes toward STEM education and biomedical careers. In parallel with program implementation, we will develop a set of digital educational resources—including instructional modules, videos, and classroom materials—to support the creation of a scalable “program-in-a-box” that can be implemented by other universities and science education programs. By expanding access to authentic neuroscience learning experiences and evaluating a scalable model for science education, the Brain Explorer Academy aims to strengthen student engagement in STEM and help prepare the next generation of students for participation in the biomedical and health research workforce.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $250,638 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	5	4/8/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$250,638
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	4	3/30/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2026	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	3/30/2026	OTHER REVISION	$0
														Subtotal = $250,638

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $253,790 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	4	7/16/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$253,790
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	7/11/2025	OTHER REVISION	$0
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	5/30/2025	TERMINATION	$0
														Subtotal = $253,790

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $256,243 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	4/11/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$230,620
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	3	6/19/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$25,623
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	3/27/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $256,243

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $261,539 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	3/10/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$261,539
														Subtotal = $261,539

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $268,392 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE	141 INNOVATION DR STE 250	IRVINE	CA	92617	ORANGE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	5/20/2022	NEW	$268,392
														Subtotal = $268,392

Grand Total All Awards = $1,290,602

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The Brain Explorer Academy (BEA): An Informal Science Education Partnership

Award Number: R25GM146300

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/20/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2027

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