The Arizona-based Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation will fund a $45,000 pilot internship program this summer and fall at the Translational Genomics Research Foundation (TGen).
The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation and TGen developed the Ivy Neurological Sciences Internship Program to inspire high school and undergraduate college students to pursue careers in bioscience, particularly in the areas of brain tumor research, and neuroscience.
The program will provide hands-on biomedical research under the mentorship of TGen investigators.
"Mentor-intern relationships play a pivotal role in developing and driving a student's career choice," said Catherine Ivy, President of The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation.
"It is my hope that the Ivy Neurological Sciences Internship Program will inspire additional research into the neurosciences and that these students will become the next generation of leaders in the field."
TGen will select five students for the pilot program, which starts in June. Three high-school students will participate in a 10-week summer program, and two undergraduate students will be selected for extended 20-week internships that will continue into the fall, enabling a more in-depth research experience.
TGen understands that the development of a local, knowledge-based workforce depends on educating and training talented students today.
"To fully achieve our mission, we must make a significant investment in our area schools and local communities," said TGen President, Dr. Jeffrey Trent. "The Ivy Program provides the access to help educate students on the impact genomics has on their lives in terms of a career in the biomedical sciences."
By design, the program immerses interns in the translational process, which marries the discovery process with clinical care to more rapidly transform research into new treatments for patients.
"Students in the program gain a greater understanding of the connection between laboratory research results and their application toward patient care. In doing so, they view first-hand the continuum from the lab bench to the patient bedside and clinical implementation," said Dr. Candice Nulsen, Director of TGen's Office of Science Education and Outreach.
Additional components of the internship program include medical rounds, drug development, lectures, and opportunities for students to present their scientific findings.
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