Seventy high school students worked virtually alongside clinical and research faculty from Wayne State University to explore clinical, health policy or basic science research as part of the Biomedical Career Advancement Program.

The four-week paid research program is a collaborative effort between the Wayne State University School of Medicine, the Michigan Area Health Education Center, the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network and the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

The program was established in 2014 by Jennell White, Ph.D., to address the underrepresentation of minorities in science, technology, engineering and medicine.  Dr. White, an assistant professor of Pharmacology, is dedicated to exposing minority youth to health science careers and opportunities.

“We are very proud our BCAP students,” she said. “Despite the challenges of the remote learning environment this year, they worked hard and gave excellent presentations with the assistance of our dedicated faculty mentors.”

Throughout the summer the students engaged in research, participated in virtual laboratory training and attended remote informational sessions with a focus on the college admission process, careers in health science and opportunities to build professional networks with peers and Wayne State University faculty and staff. In August, students showcased their research findings during BCAP's virtual closing ceremony. The presentations allowed students to communicate the importance of their research, analyze and articulate their findings and prompt others to ask questions and provide feedback.

Mehmet Tascioglu found his BCAP experience a challenging and valuable experience. “Every day I spent working hard made me learn more about the way scientists think and act, and the nature of developing treatments for diseases. Wait a couple decades to see the result of the investment that BCAP is putting into its future medical professionals.”

View student testimonials about their BCAP experience and a photo gallery here.