NIH Funds Seven Science Education Programs More than $8.5 Million Will Help Engage the Public in Medical Research
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) today announced it will grant $8.5
million in Science Education Partnership Awards (SEPA) for projects that will
engage the public in medical research, stimulate interest in science, and encourage
the next generation of health professionals.
By conducting experiments in online science laboratories, learning how genetics
is used to study health-related problems, or examining medical mysteries that
fuel scientific inquiry, students and families around the country will learn
about health issues through seven initiatives supported in the program’s second
round of FY 2006 funding. Administered by the National Center for Research Resources
(NCRR) — a part of the NIH — SEPA grants provide from two to five
years of support.
With an emphasis on reducing health disparities, the program’s K-12 projects
target minorities and students in rural and underserved communities. The awards
support enhanced training for science teachers; the development and distribution
of hands-on science curricula; and websites for students, teachers, and the general
public.
“By engaging the public in clinical research topics, we hope to increase their
awareness and understanding of medical advances so that they can make informed
decisions about health issues for their families and for themselves,” said Barbara
M. Alving, Acting Director of NCRR. “In addition, our SEPA projects provide high-quality
instruction to students throughout the country, creating opportunities for them
to perform science projects, improve their knowledge of biomedical research,
and consider their own futures as scientists or professionals in health-related
fields.
FY 2006 Science Education Partnership Awards:
Illinois State University (Normal, Ill.) Phase I+II
$1,348,002
The Mind Project’s Cutting Edge Health Science Initiative
University of Alabama (Birmingham, Ala.) Phase I+II
$1,350,000
Birmingham Science Education Partnership: Middle School Inquiry-Based Learning
University of Arizona (Tucson, Ariz.) Phase I+II
$1,350,000
K-12 Virtual Clinical Research Center & Medical Ignorance Exploratorium
University of Maryland (College Park , Md.) Phase II
$533,014
The Perfect Partnership: Science-enriched Physical Education
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Phase I+II
$1,341,329
Education for Community Genomic Awareness
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Phase I+II
$1,270,881
Partnership in Biomedical Discovery
University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis, Tenn.) Phase I+II
$1,342,000
Building Bridges to Health Science Literacy
Full Description of Projects
SEPA programs serve K-12 students and teachers, as well as science centers and
museums across the country. In the initial three-year phase, SEPA programs
form partnerships among biomedical and clinical researchers, educators, community
groups, and other interested organizations to create programs that provide
a better understanding of scientific research. In the second two-year phase
of the program, these SEPA-generated curricula are more broadly disseminated
to effectively leverage resources.
For more information about SEPA, visit http://www.ncrrsepa.org. Application
details are available at http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/clinical/cr_sepa.asp.
NCRR provides laboratory scientists and clinical researchers with the environments
and tools they need to understand, detect, treat, and prevent a wide range of
diseases. With this support, scientists make biomedical discoveries, translate
these findings to animal-based studies, and then apply them to patient-oriented
research. Ultimately, these advances result in cures and treatments for both
common and rare diseases. NCRR also connects researchers with one another, and
with patients and communities across the nation. These connections bring together
innovative research teams and the power of shared resources, multiplying the
opportunities to improve human health. For more information, visit www.ncrr.nih.gov.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research
Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal
agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical
research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common
and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. |