Summer Student Research Program

Accepting Applications for the Summer 2010

Our 10-week-long summer research program provides students with an opportunity to get hands-on experience working in biomedical research. Undergraduate and graduate students with some previous lab experience in biology/chemistry/biomedical engineering, admitted for the summer internship, will learn laboratory procedures and will work alongside their accomplished mentors, conducting research aimed at developing effective diagnostics and treatments for medical problems. Students will attend lectures by HMRI scientists about recent research developments and will present results of their own research projects at the end of the summer session.

NO STIPEND OR HOUSING ASSISTANCE is provided for the participation in the program (exceptions can be made on an individual basis and verification of financial need will be required). Many alumni of HMRI's Summer Student Program have gone on to distinguished careers. For 53 years HMRI has provided a summer research program for science students who are interested in careers in medical research. Several HMRI alumni have gone on to be chairmen of medical school departments and directors of research institutes, including the prestigious Salk Institute in San Diego, crediting their HMRI experience as a springboard to their future professions. The summer program strives to identify and encourage the intellectual development of new scientists.

Deadline for the applications is April 15th 2010. In order apply for admission, the following should be submitted to the program director (see address below):

1) a completed application form (download here),

2) 1-2 page-long essay expressing your motivation for doing biomedical research in the selected laboratory(ies),

3) an official transcript.

In addition to submitting the application, you are welcome to make direct contacts with the investigator(s) with whom you wish to explore the research opportunities.

Submit the application and essay to Dr. Victor Pikov by email only: PikovAtHMRIdotORG

Summer 2009

The Summer Student Research Program 2009 has brought 15 students from around California and other states to HMRI laboratories. The students are contributing 10 weeks of their time and efforts to various projects in biomedical research, working under the supervision and mentorship of Mike Harrington, Alfred Fonteh, Myron Tong, Marylou Ingram, Brian Ross, Martin Han, and Victor Pikov. At the end of the summer program, they are expected to present results of their research projects.

Meet the students of the Summer 2009 Research Program

View participants of prior years.

List of recent summer research projects

Asthma and Allergy Therapy (Dr. Glovsky):

Quantification of rye grass pollen allergens from air-sampling filters

Liver Research (Dr. Tong and Dr. Corey):

Hepatitis B treatment algorithm including screening for viral mutants

Hepatitis in Asian Americans

Demographics of Asian Americans with Hepatits B

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (Dr. Ross):

The effect of aging on hippocampal volume and cortical MRS signals

Diffusion Tensor Imaging in hydrocephalus patients

Development of polarizer for hyperpolarization of MR agents

Imaging of strain in carotid arteries using DENSE MRI

Measurement of atherosclerotic plaque using hyperpolarization technique

Right ventricular function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Cardiac MRI analysis of ejection fraction

Magnetoencephalography (Dr. Sutherling):

Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs on language organization revealed by MEG

Molecular Neurology (Dr. Harrington and Dr. Fonteh):

Apolipoprotein A-1 in Alzheimer's Disease

Carnonsine pathway in Alzheimer's Diseasea

CSF biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease

Bioinformatic analysis of lipids in CSF from healthy people and Alzheimer's patients

Detection of myeloperoxidase and cholesterol in cerebropsinal fluid in neurological diseases

The role endocannabinoids in migraine pain

Endogenous steroid glycosides in Na+/K+-ATPase activity in migraine

Detection of phospholipases in cerebrospinal fluid during migraine

Alpha and beta CGRP in CSF of migrainers

Circadian rhythms of cation concentrations in human saliva and urine

Endocannabinoid Metabolism in Migraine

Compositional Glycerophospholipid Changes in a Ketogenic SN1A KO Epilepsy Model

Needles in the migraine haystack: Cerebrospinal Fluid biomarkers

CSF and body fluids of migraineurs in Ojai Headache clinic

Composition of nanostructures in the cerebrospinal fluid of hydrocephalus patients

Primary cultures of rats' hippocampal astrocytes as part of construction for an artificial blood brain barrier for migraine studies

Effect of NKAT regulators on sodium concentration of the brain

Localization and Expression of NKAT in Cacna1a Knock-in Migraine Mice

Molecular Oncology (Dr. Eggerding):

Detection of rare mutations, microsatellite instability and DNA methylation in colorectal cancer

Molecular Pathology (Dr. Imam):

Jagged1, a potential marker for prostate and cervical cancers

GST Pi and prostate cancer

Cytoplasmic and nuclear PTEN as a prognostic marker for prostate cancer

Expression of Hepatocyte Growth Factor in human breast cancer

Expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand in breast cancer

Expression of fibroblast immunomarkers in breast cancer

Neural Engineering (Dr. McCreery, Dr. Pikov, Dr. Han):

Heating of cells during exposure to millimeter waves

Use of modulated laser pulses for actvation of light-sensitive proteins in cortex

Device for detection and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

Image analysis of electrode locations and analysis of neuronal activity in the spinal cord

Testing of longevity of the neuroprosthetic electrodes

Characterization of degradation of poly-lactide-co-glycolide probes in phosphate buffered saline

Measuring Neuronal Membrane Potentials With FRET

Finite element modeling of the insetion stress of polymer probes

Tissue Engineering (Dr. Ingram):

Effect of potent anti-cancer drugs in 3-dimensional cultures of cancer-derived cell lines

Effect of Xanthosine on differentiation of neural progenitor cells

Quantification of cancer cells in tumor-like histoids using a fluorescent marker

Transfection of Cultured Cancer Cells with Fluorescent Marker

For more information on the HMRI Summer Student Program, please contact:

Dr. Victor Pikov
Huntington Medical Research Institutes
734 Fairmount Ave.
Pasadena, California 91105
(626) 397-5850 or Email: PikovAtHMRIdotORG