Pictured: The INBRE IV Core Directors and Staff (L to R): Jessica Paje, Dr. Jon-Paul Bingham, Dr. David Easa, Dr. Peter Hoffmann, Dr. Robert Nichols, Dr. Helen Turner, Dr. Youping Deng, Dr. David Horgen and Kari Kim. Deborah Manog Dimaya Photo.
The five year grant, based at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, will enrich the college science experience statewide for students at universities and community colleges
By Deborah Manog Dimaya, UH Med Now
The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) medical school has been awarded a multimillion dollar grant to expose undergraduate-level college students to unique research opportunities.
The nearly $19 million award will continue to fund the IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). The program offers college students who are interested in science hands-on laboratory experience, where they can also learn valuable problem-solving skills and get mentored in biomedical research.
INBRE offers college students statewide “eye-opening” experiences, according to Dr. Robert Nichols, Principal Investigator and Director.
“It’s often transformative for their careers, with many continuing on to graduate school, medical school or other professional schools, or to science-related employment,” said Dr. Nichols.
Over the past 17 years, the Hawai’i INBRE program has received continuous funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). It has allowed the creation of a “Hawai’i Statewide Research and Education Partnership.”
“The fundamental idea is to really build up research at a grassroots level,” said Dr. Nichols.
In addition to inspiring high quality scientific research by undergraduate students at Hawaiʻi community colleges and universities, INBRE also aims to support junior faculty scientists at those institutions. Hawai’i INBRE has partnerships with UH Mānoa (UHM), UH Hilo, UH West Oʻahu, UH Maui College, Chaminade University and Hawaiʻi Pacific University. Participating community colleges include Kapiʻolani CC, Windward CC, Leeward CC, Kauaʻi CC and Hawaiʻi CC (in collaboration with UH Hilo).
“The students get so enthused,” said Dr. Jon-Paul Bingham, Director of the Student PATHway to Biomedical Careers and UH Mānoa Campus Coordinator. “You plant a seed where before the students were not really exposed to doing laboratory research. When they start getting a ‘bite of that cherry,’ they want more and more.”
#SuperScience happens inside of the laboratory at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Deborah Manog Dimaya photo.
This success aligns with INBRE’s primary mission: to promote the expansion of Hawaiʻi’s biomedical workforce.
The program has also received substantial institutional support from JABSOM Dean Dr. Jerris Hedges, Dr. Michael Bruno, UHM Vice Chancellor of Research and UH Vice President for Research and Innovation, Dr. Vassilis Syrmos. That support underscores the commitment of the entire UH system to cultivate life science education, research and innovation statewide.
For more information, see: http://inbre.jabsom.hawaii.edu
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