BioStart: Clinical Research and Education Experiences for Students, Teachers, Par

描述（由申请人提供）：BioStart计划的主要目的是提高医学，生物技术和生命科学领域的区域毕业生的质量和数量，期望这些学生中的许多人将继续获得高级学位，并作为医疗专业人员，研究科学家，教师和技术人员参与区域劳动力。该计划的主要合作伙伴包括位于什里夫波特的路易斯安那州立大学健康科学中心（LSUHSC-S）、路易斯安那州西北部的生物医学研究基金会和路易斯安那州西北部教区卡多的公立学校Southwood高中。该计划将介绍来自Southwood生物技术学院的25名高中毕业生动手，密集和令人兴奋的实验室研究经验，并增加他们对临床试验过程的理解。参与的学生和教师将通过教育推广活动分享这些经验，预计每年将影响约250名学生、家长、教师和社区其他群体。具体而言，这一新的五年期I/II SEPA计划旨在： 1)增加临床试验的知识，包括医学和生命科学实验室实践，研究方法和主题通过实习计划，高中毕业生将在参与LSUHSC-S转化和临床研究的教师导师的指导下进行研究项目。学生将参加由以下机构提供的关于特定临床研究主题和职业的讲座 LSUHSC-S教师和全国知名的企业家和生物技术和制药公司的高级管理人员。此外，学生将通过参加至少一个海报会议来展示他们的研究，并将申请至少一个区域或国家科学竞赛。 2)通过参加LSUHSC-S研究教师和研究生举办的活动和研讨会，通过与教师的接触和互动，增加家长，教师，学生和社区感兴趣的成员对临床试验过程的了解 3)通过实施以下推广活动，提高中学生对临床试验、科学职业和研究领域的兴趣：a）BioStart实习生和教师向Sci-Port Louisiana科学中心的中学生群体介绍他们的转化和临床研究-一个当地的动手科学活动中心; B）参加当地中学的年度高中博览会，为生物技术学院和BioStart项目招收学生;以及c）创建和分发描述BioStart计划的附属材料，并创建具有计划信息的网站，学生的研究和活动，并链接到NIH SEPA网站。 公共卫生相关性（由申请人提供）：BioStart项目通过其教育活动与健康相关，以增加公众对什里夫波特路易斯安那州立大学健康科学中心进行的临床和转化研究的了解。通过提高对临床试验的认识和理解，预计更多的当地居民将参与这些研究。此外，来自LSUHSC-S' Feist-Weiller癌症中心的教职员工参加了实验癌症治疗中心（CECAT），将指导高中生开发与他们实验室中的药物发现研究相关的研究项目。教师和BioStart学生实习生也将在各种场所向社区，包括家长，教师和其他学生展示他们的研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The primary purpose of the BioStart program is to increase the quality and quantity of area graduates in the medical, biotechnology and life sciences fields with the expectation that many of these students will continue on to earn advanced degrees and participate in the regional workforce as medical professionals, research scientists, teachers and technicians. Major partners in this program include Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport (LSUHSC-S), the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, and Southwood High School, a public school in Caddo Parish in northwest Louisiana. The program will introduce 25 high school seniors from Southwood's Biotechnology Academy to hands-on, intensive and exciting laboratory research experiences and increase their understanding of the clinical trial process. The participating students and faculty will share these experiences through educational outreach activities that are expected to impact an estimated 250 students, parents, teachers and other segments of the community per year. Specifically, this new, five year Phase I/II SEPA program aims to: 1) Increase knowledge of clinical trials, including medical and life science laboratory practice, research methods, and topics through an internship program whereby high school seniors will conduct a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor involved in translational and clinical research at LSUHSC-S. Students will attend lectures on specific clinical research topics and careers given by LSUHSC-S faculty and nationally known entrepreneurs and senior management from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, students will present their research by participating in at least one poster session and will apply for at least one regional or national science competition. 2) Increase understanding among parents, teachers, students and interested members of the community of the clinical trial process through exposure and interaction with faculty by attending events and symposia given by LSUHSC-S research faculty and graduate students 3) Increase interest in clinical trials, scientific careers and fields of study among middle school students by implementing the following outreach activities: a) presentations by BioStart interns and faculty of their translational and clinical research to groups of middle school students at Sci-Port Louisiana's Science Center - a local hands-on science activity center; b) participating in annual high school fairs at local middle schools to recruit students to the Biotechnology Academy and BioStart programs; and c) creating and distributing collateral materials that describe the BioStart program, and creating a website with program information, student research and activities, and links to the NIH SEPA website. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE (provided by applicant): The BioStart project is relevant to health through its educational activities to increase the public's understanding of clinical and translational research taking place at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. By increasing awareness and understanding of clinical trials, there is the expectation that more local residents will participate in these studies. Furthermore, faculty members from LSUHSC-S' Feist-Weiller Cancer Center who participate in the Center for Experimental Cancer Therapeutics (CECAT), will mentor high school students by guiding them in developing research projects relevant to the drug discovery research occurring in their laboratories. Faculty and BioStart student interns will also present their research to the community, including parents, teachers and other students, in a variety of venues.