Brigham Young University
Grant: $76,409 - National Institutes of Health - Jun. 3, 2009
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Award Description: This was an Administrative Supplement Providing Research Experiences for Students and Science Educators (NOT-OD-09-060). Funds were awarded to support high school students, college undergrads, and a high school science teacher working full time during the summer (June-August 2009) in the Christensen laboratory on the PI's currently funded NIH grant/project (R0102029). Funds were also provided to purchase supplies used in the students' and teacher's experiments. Upon inquiring, the PI was informed that the funds could not be spent to support students beyond the end of the summer. Hence, the 'project status' must be considered fully completed, even though the termination date of the award is officially October 31, 2009.
Project Description: Two high school students, three college undergraduates, and a high school biotechnology teacher were hired full time (40 hrs/wk) to work on the PI's previously funded project examining the combined effects of selenium and soy on the progression or inhibition of prostate cancer. Each student was assigned a piece of the project. The two high school students were responsible for assaying in all mice the activity of two enzymes involved in cancer protection and/or progression to determine the effects of diet on those activities. One of the college undergrads was also assigned to assist with enzyme assays. A second college undergrad was responsible for dissection of mice, assay of hormone levels in their blood, and assisted with gene expression measurements. The third college undergrad was responsible for developing and refining the methodology to measure total selenium in blood, diet, and tissues. The high school science teacher had primary responsibility for examining the expression of cancer-related genes in the prostate of experimental mice, and determining the effects of the different diets on that expression. Since 'NIH encourages the participation of individuals from racial and ethnice groups underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research, individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds', a special effort was made in recruiting students who met these criteria. Both high school students were female, and one was Native American. One of the undergrads was Hispanic (male) and another was Asian (female). All summer employees were successful in obtaining data that will be used in presentations at scientific meetings, in publications, and to support future grant applications.
Jobs Summary: Jobs were created for two high school research assistants, three college undergraduate research assistants, and a summer research associate. All positions were hired full time for the summer. (Total jobs reported: 6)
Project Status: Completed
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