Summer Student Research Program

Accepting Applications for the Summer 2008

Our 10-week-long summer research program gives students 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 summer internships, have an opportunity to learn laboratory procedures and work alongside their accomplished mentors. They experience medical research aimed at developing effective diagnosis and treatment of medical problems. Students attend lectures by HMRI scientists about recent research developments and present results of their own research projects at the end of the summer session. At the end of the program, students may obtain a letter of recommendation from their mentors. Students, who successfully completed the program, will receive a certificate of completion.

While the program has limited funding from the Altadena Guild and the Howe Foundation, 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 more than 50 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. HMRI is committed to striving to identify and encourage the intellectual development of new scientists, and that process will continue this year.

Deadline for the applications is April 15th 2008 (extended to April 30th). In order to 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,

3) an official transcript from your college or university.

You are welcome to make direct contacts with the investigator(s) with whom you wish to explore the research opportunities, or we can help you find a match for your interests and experience.

Students, who are accepted for the summer program, will receive confirmation on a rolling basis.

Submit the application form and essay to Dr. Victor Pikov.

By email (preferred): PikovAtHMRIdotORG

By mail

Huntington Medical Research Institutes
734 Fairmount Avenue
Pasadena, California 91105

List of recent summer research projects

Asthma and Allergy Therapy: "Quantification of rye grass pollen allergens from air-sampling filters"

Tissue Engineering: "Effect of potent anti-cancer drugs in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional cultures of cancer-derived cell lines"

Tissue Engineering: "Effect of Xanthosine on differentiation of neural progenitor cells"

Liver Research: "Hepatitis B treatment algorithm including screening for viral mutants"

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: "The effect of aging on hippocampal volume and cortical MRS signals"

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: "Development of polarizer for hyperpolarization of MR agents"

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: "Carotid artery imaging with 1.5T and 3T MR scanners"

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: "Right ventricular function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy"

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: "Measurement of atherosclerotic plaque using hyperpolarization technique"

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Molecular Neurology: "Apolipoprotein A-I in Alzheimer's Disease"

Molecular Neurology: "Carnonsine pathway in Alzheimer's Disease"

Molecular Neurology: "Detection of myeloperoxidase and cholesterol in cerebrospinal fluid in neurological diseases"

Molecular Neurology: "The role of endocannabinoids in migraine pain"

Molecular Neurology: "Endogenous Steroid Glycosides in Na+/K+-ATPase activity in migraine"

Molecular Neurology: "Detection of phospholipases in cerebrospinal fluid during migraine"

Molecular Neurology: "Detection of rare mutations, microsatellite instability and DNA methylation in colorectal cancer"

Molecular Pathology: "Jagged1 - a potential marker for prostate and cervical cancers"

Molecular Pathology: "GST Pi and prostate cancer"

Molecular Pathology: "Cytoplasmic and nuclear PTEN as a prognostic marker for prostate cancer"

Neural Engineering: "Use of modulated laser pulses for activation of light-sensitive proteins in cortex"

Neural Engineering: "Device for detection and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea"

Neural Engineering: "Image analysis of electrode locations and analysis of neuronal activity in the spinal cord"

Summer 2007

The Summer Student Research Program brought 10 students from around the United States to HMRI laboratories. These students were involved in biomedical research and worked under the mentorship of HMRI researchers. At the end of the summer program, they presented results of their research projects.

Here is a group photo taken during one of the lunch-time seminars: Front row, left to right: (mentored by, attending college/university)

Christine Yu (Brian Ross, Boston U)
Vignesh Raghunath (Ashraf Imam, CWRU)
Mary Ann Gallup (Ashraf Imam, Boston U)
Ajay Ullal (Brian Ross, UCLA)
Leyen Hsu (Myron Tong, UC Berkeley)

Back row, left to right:

Eulanca Lu (Alfred Fonteh, UC Berkeley)
A. Zoe Reidinger (Marylou Ingram, Virginia Commonwealth U)
Katherine Trawick (Alfred Fonteh, USC)
Tara Sharma (Alfred Fonteh, Claremont McKenna College)
Hailey Foster (Mike Harrington, Scripps College)

Summer 2006

The Summer Student Research Program brought 14 students from around the United States to HMRI laboratories. In addition to these students, we hosted 4 students selected through Caltech SURF Program sponsored by the American Heart Association and 2 students selected through USC Summer Research Program.

Here is a group photo taken during one of the lunch-time seminars:

Front row, left to right: (attending college/university, mentored by)

Min Kang (Cornell U, Ashraf Imam)
Patrick Lu (La Canada HS, Mike Harrington)
Rainbow Chung (Pitzer C, Alfred Fonteh)
Susette Cheng (Pitzer C, Alfred Fonteh)
Joo Lee Song (Columbia U, Michael Glovsky)

Middle row, left to right:

Vishnu Sharma (Louisiana Tech U, Douglas McCreery)
Raymond Weitekamp (Princeton U, Brian Ross)
Derek Leong (Johns Hopkins U, Marylou Ingram)
Bryant Khoo (Arcadia HS, Victor Pikov)
Nerissa Alday (Valencia CC, James Riggins)

Back row, left to right:

Lynn Nuccio (Villanova U, Brian Ross)
Elise McKenna (Utah State U, Brian Ross)
Lauren Wisk (UCLA, Brian Ross)
Neil Okey (Occidental C, Mike Harrington)
Shuai Xu (Rice U, Faye Eggerding)

Not in Photo:

Ara Rostima (Berkeley, Brian Ross)
Siu Kei Chow (UCSD, Brian Ross)
VuAuh Truong (Pomona C, Ashraf Imam)
Eric Kuo (Berkeley, Ashraf Imam)
Albert Tran ( U Illinois-Chicago, Mike Harrington)

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