Research Immersion in Brain, Spinal cord (RIBS), & Peripheral nerves for URM High School Students - PI: Neena Singh ABSTRACT This proposal seeks funding for ‘Research Immersion in Brain, Spinal cord (RIBS), and peripheral nerve disorders’ for under-represented minority (URM) high school students during their academic summer break. Through this program, we aim to excite, motivate, and increase awareness of common neurologic conditions, and provide hands-on research experience to the students in active laboratories on Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) campus. The proximity of CWRU campus to Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) responsible for educating socioeconomically and educationally challenged youth, and the availability of multiple (~40) NINDS-funded Faculty with active laboratories provides an optimal opportunity for this program. Two specific aims are proposed to achieve these goals. Aim 1 will lay the Foundation for Research Immersion by introducing the structure and function of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and common disorders associated with these structures in weekly educational sessions. A didactic session of 20 minutes will be followed by small group discussions aided by the HoloLens virtual image technology, YouTube videos, and 3D models. The group sessions will be led by 2nd and 3rd year URM medical students to boost the confidence of students through ‘Near Peer’ mentoring. In Aim 2, each student will be matched with a laboratory based on his/her interest for 8 weeks of hands-on Research Immersion. During this period, the student will be guided by the principal investigator (PI) and laboratory personnel, who will describe the overall research goal of the laboratory, and the specific project in which the student will be involved. They will help the student in formulating a hypothesis-driven research question based on the literature, assist in relevant research methods, collect and analyze data, and draw relevant and meaningful conclusions. Every week, the student will be instructed by the PI on various topics of Responsible Conduct of Research for 30 minutes. In addition, one laboratory personnel, in most cases a postdoctoral fellow, will work closely with the student on college admission test quizzes and college admission essay. Deliverables for the student will include an abstract of 1 page stating the hypothesis and experimental plan after 1 week, a full paper of 6 pages with all sections completed after 6 weeks, a college admissions essay after 7 weeks, and a poster complete with all sections for presentation to diverse audience after 8 weeks. The student will be expected to attend scientific talks hosted by the Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Engineering on CWRU campus, and seminars hosted by the Office of Inclusion and Equal Opportunity. After each talk, the invited speaker will be requested to spend 15 minutes of exclusive time with the students. We believe that the RIBS program will develop the skills, instill enthusiasm, and boost the confidence of URM students to pursue higher education and a career in neurologic research and healthcare.
