The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Research Foundation has announced the 2011 Student Research Fellowship Award recipients. Funded by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, the awards are intended to stimulate interest in research careers in digestive diseases.
"At a time of unparalleled scientific and clinical opportunity, these gifted students are critical for the future of gastroenterology research, and essential to the development of new treatments and cures for digestive diseases," said Nicholas F. LaRusso, MD, AGAF, chair of the AGA Research Foundation. "Recognizing and awarding these outstanding high school students advances our vision to be the pre-eminent foundation that supports young researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology."
Ten awards of $2,500 each were given to support high school students interested in performing digestive disease or nutrition research for a minimum of 10 weeks. The 2011 grant recipients are:
- Mary Brown, Five Knolls Academy, Waxhaw, NC
- Sanders Chang, Lynbrook High School, San Jose, CA
- Marissa Cominelli, Hawken School, Shaker Heights, OH
- Christopher Griffiths, Upper Canada College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- David Liu, Eastside High School, Gainesville, FL
- Akanksha Mishra, Mount Notre Dame High School, Cincinnati, OH
- Kei Nakagawa, Lower Merion High School, Wynnewood, PA
- Christopher Owyang, Green Hills School, Ann Arbor, MI
- Benjamin Toll, Hendrick Hudson High School, Cortlandt Manor, NY
- Angela Wiley, Rudolf Steiner High School, Ann Arbor, MI
The Student Research Fellowship Awards program was created by the AGA more than a decade ago to stimulate interest in gastroenterological research careers in high school, college and medical school students. To date, the program has identified nearly 191 high school, undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the program. Selected through a rigorous national application process, the students have participated in research at such distinguished institutions as the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Mayo Clinic, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania and others.
Participants in the program have subsequently been admitted as undergraduates at prestigious universities nationwide, including the University of Southern California, Notre Dame University, Harvard University, University of Virginia, Rice University and others. Virtually all have indicated an intention to continue their studies in medically related fields.
About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to include 17,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org.
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About the AGA Research Foundation
The AGA Research Foundation, formerly known as the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition, is the cornerstone of AGA's effort to expand digestive disease research funding. Since 1984, the AGA, through its foundations, has provided more than $40 million in research grants to more than 600 scientists. The AGA Research Foundation serves as a bridge to the future of research in gastroenterology and hepatology by providing critical funding to advance the careers of young researchers between the end of training and the establishment of credentials that earn National Institutes of Health grants. Learn more about the AGA Research Foundation or make a contribution at www.gastro.org/aga-foundation.
About The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation is a national venture philanthropy established by entrepreneur Eli Broad to advance entrepreneurship for the public good in education, science and the arts. The Broad Foundation invests in scientific and medical research in the areas of human genomics, stem cell research and inflammatory bowel disease. www.broadfoundation.org.