Minority Research Enhancement Through Intl. Exchange

描述(由申请人提供)：来自代表性不足人群的优秀本科生、博士前、医学生和教职员工有机会在埃塞俄比亚、加纳、尼日利亚和意大利的研究密集型实验室进行有意义的生物医学研究。这些地点的MHIRT研究项目在疟疾和血吸虫病领域尤其强大，这两种疾病是热带国家最重要的寄生虫病之一。因此，本研究的目的是对用于治疗疟疾和蠕虫寄生虫的传统药用植物进行调查，并评价它们在体内和体外对疟疾和血吸虫病的抗疟疾和抗血吸虫效果。这些地点还提供了大量接触原始热带雨林的机会，并有能力进行环境微生物学、民族植物学和药理学方面的相关研究。意大利的网站提供细胞生物学、分子生物学和遗传学方面的专业知识。通过本科生研究增强计划(UREP)，具有强大学术背景和动力的本科生将在一名忠诚的教师导师的带领下，在2-4名学生组成的基于学科的研究团队中工作。根据博士前国际浓缩计划(PIE)，在前沿领域工作的候选人-细胞、分子、发育生物学、免疫学、纳米技术-将从事独立或指导性研究。从这项研究中得出的数据可以作为候选人论文的一部分。与此同时，预计美国教师导师和他们的学生将与国际科学家开发强有力的合作项目。每名MHIRT学员将以海报/平台演示、研讨会形式或出版物的形式介绍他/她的研究数据和发现。拟议中的项目对学生和教师来说都是一个成功的公式，应该促进从本科生到毕业生的过渡，并为更多代表不足的群体在生物医学科学中扮演领导角色做好准备。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Outstanding undergraduates, pre-doctoral, medical students and faculty from underrepresented populations have the opportunity to conduct meaningful biomedical research in research-intensive laboratories in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Italy. MHIRT research programs at these sites are particularly strong in areas of malaria and schistosomiasis, which are among the most important parasitic diseases in tropical countries. Therefore, the aim of the research is to carry out surveys on traditional medicinal plants used to treat malaria and helminthic parasites and to evaluate their antimalarial and antischistosomal efficacy both in vivo and in vitro against malaria and schistosomiasis. These sites also provide vast exposure to virgin rain forests and the ability to conduct relevant research in environmental microbiology, ethnobotany and pharmacology. Sites in Italy provide expertise in cell biology, molecular biology and genetics. Through the Undergraduate Research Enhancement Program (UREP), undergraduates with strong academic background and motivation will work in discipline-based research teams of two-four students, led by a committed faculty mentor. Under the Pre-doctoral International Enrichment Program (PIE), candidates working in cutting-edge fields - cell, molecular, developmental biology, immunology, nanotechnology- will pursue independent or guided research. Data derived from this research may be utilized as part of the candidate's dissertation. Simultaneously, U.S. faculty mentors and their students are expected to develop strong collaborative programs with international scientists. Each MHIRT trainee will present his/her research data and findings in poster/platform presentations, workshop format or as publications. The proposed program is a formula for success for both the student and faculty, and should enhance the undergraduate-to-graduate transition and prepare more underrepresented groups for leadership roles in the biomedical sciences.