CURE and Yale University Launch Connecticut’s BioBus Honors Program
at Yale University
New Haven, Conn., March 2, 2004—Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE) and Yale University announce the launch of an extension of CURE’s highly successful BioBus program, entitled Connecticut’s BioBus Honors Program at Yale University. The first Honors Program will run from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm on Wednesday, March 3.
Connecticut’s BioBus Honors Program at Yale University will introduce high school students interested in science to research applications of bioscience as they tour a range of Yale research laboratories. The one day program will extend the experiment-based curriculum students participate in when Connecticut’s BioBus visited their schools.
“The Connecticut BioBus Honors Program at Yale University will provide students who have already expressed an interest in bioscience the opportunity to learn more about the cutting edge research happening here in Connecticut,” said Paul R. Pescatello, President and CEO of CURE, which runs Connecticut’ BioBus. “The BioBus was designed to bring a hands-on introduction to advanced laboratory techniques to Connecticut’s schools, and the Honors Program extension brings the program a step further. The Honors Program builds community interest in the future of Connecticut’s growing bioscience industry.”
Medical students from the Yale University School of Medicine will lead up to 20 high school students through a tour of the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library, and students will participate in activities in a variety of research laboratories at the Anlyan Research Center, including research areas such as analyzing magnetic resonance images (MRI), the physiology of taste and the role of genetics in taste, the role of radiology in medicine, neurological research, immunology research, and other current topics in bioscience research.
“Yale medical students have always had a deep interest in teaching young people in New Haven and the surrounding communities, and through the BioBus Honors Program they are able to do so,” said Nancy Angoff, M.D., associate dean of student affairs at Yale School of Medicine, assistant professor internal medicine and associate clinical professor at Yale School of Nursing.
“During the BioBus visit to The Sound School in February sponsored by Fisher Scientific, our students were very excited to perform experiments using advanced techniques such as gel electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting. They were also interested in learning about career paths in bioscience and how scientists use the technology they were doing on the BioBus,” said Jack Walsh, science instructor at The Sound School in New Haven. “I am pleased to be able to offer students who are interested in bioscience careers this additional exposure to the advanced applications of the ideas we are discussing in the classroom.”
High school students participating in the Connecticut’s BioBus Honors Program at Yale University have completed a two-hour hands-on experiment session during the 2003-2004 school year. The Honors Program will be offered every other month during the school year, depending on the availability of participating Yale University researchers. Students are selected by the BioBus Staff Scientists, with final approval of the students’ teachers, based upon participation, performance and interest in pursuing a career in bioscience.
Students participating in this first Honors Program hail from Bristol Eastern High School, Bristol; The Gilbert School, Winsted; Lyman Hall High School, Wallingford; New Milford High School, New Milford; Norwich Free Academy, Norwich; The Sound School, New Haven; and Vinal Regional Technical High School, Middletown. BioBus corporate sponsors Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer-Ingelheim Corporation and Fisher Scientific sponsored the BioBus visits to a number of the participating high schools.
Connecticut’s BioBus represents a five-year, $3.6 million partnership between 27 members of Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc. (CURE) – Connecticut’s BioScience Cluster – and Connecticut Innovations, the state’s leading investor in high technology. Comprised of a 40-foot-long mobile science learning center outfitted with the latest in bioscience equipment and state-of-the-art computers, Connecticut’s BioBus has provided over 16,000 students throughout Connecticut with laboratory experience in the life sciences, fostering the excitement of scientific discovery among students and igniting interest in pursuing scientific careers.
Founded in 1990, CURE is a trade group and educational entity for Connecticut’s biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector. CURE’s membership of over 100 companies includes pharmaceutical and biotech companies headquartered in or having substantial research or business interests in Connecticut, colleges and universities, firms and groups that are related to or support bioscience. CURE is dedicated to promoting the growth and increasing public understanding of biomedical research and science in Connecticut.
Editor’s note: Please contact Karen Peart at 203-432-1326 if you wish to take photographs of students participating in the Connecticut BioBus Honors Program at Yale University.
Contact:
Amy Enders, CURE
203-777-8516
