On April 24, the Indiana Center for Biomedical Research (ICBI) hosted 11 seniors from Carmel High School for its first Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Day. The students were accompanied by their teacher, Craig Harper.
Aaron Vigil-Martinez, Director of the ICBI, said it was exciting to see the students’ level of excitement and engagement in life science research and entrepreneurship. “I’m happy that we have the ability to welcome students, give them a peek inside top-tier research taking place, and provide access to biomedical companies in their own backyard,” he said.
Students pose during their visit for the first Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Day at the Indiana Center for Biomedical Innovation (ICBI).
The students, who are enrolled in biomedical science courses at their school, toured the facilities, conducted lab exercises, and learned about the specific areas of research being conducted by two ICBI-hosted companies. The day also included opportunities to speak with ICBI staff and listen to a roundtable discussion focused on the areas of life sciences research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Scioto Biosciences, one of the companies highlighted, works to understand and enhance the healthy functions of good bacteria in the body in order to treat and prevent disease. Representatives from the company spoke with the students about a range of ways that bacteria function in the body, including how bacteria form biofilms to protect themselves from antibiotics and the immune system. They also shared how Scioto grows biofilms on microparticles with good bacteria to be delivered to patients, and how automated pipette robots can help streamline assays with a multitude of samples.
The other company the students learned about was Anagin, Inc., which is developing therapies targeting abnormal neuroplasticity, inflammation, excitotoxicity, and neurodegeneration, which can result in neuropsychiatric disease. Students examined rat corticol neurons in culture and looked at fluorescent staining of neurons. They also practiced pipetting a protein quantification assay.
Vigil-Martinez said that all of the students who visited are planning to pursue careers in life sciences. Some were still deciding where they will attend school next year, but the majority planned to stay at schools within the state, such as Indiana University, Indiana University Indianapolis, and Purdue University. There were also a couple of students who were committed to Johns Hopkins University and Cornell University.
“It’s not just a pleasure, but a duty, of ours to engage with students at all levels and serve to foster the next generation of talent in life sciences, as many of these students will look to IU or other Indiana universities to continue their academic careers,” he said.
The ICBI has already been approached by another group in the Indianapolis area about planning something similar this summer for their students.
You can view photos from the day on the ICBI LinkedIn page.
