The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Research Foundation has announced the 2012 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.
"These gifted students will help guide the promising future of the gastroenterology field through their ground-breaking research," said Nicholas F. LaRusso, MD, AGAF, chair of the AGA Research Foundation. "We are honored to recognize and award these outstanding high school students, and strive to be the pre-eminent foundation that supports young researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology."
A total of 11 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. This year's grant recipients are:
- Yiyun Cao, Illinois Math and Science Academy, Aurora, IL
- Alexander R. Cohen, Newton South High School, Newton, MA
- Peter G. Delaney, University School, Hunting Valley, OH
- Andrea R. Hughes, Centennial High School, Ellicott City, MD
- Aileen M. Martin, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, Miami, FL
- Kei Nakagawa, Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA
- Jordan M. Poles, Horace Greeley High School, Chappaqua, NY
- Pooja N. Prasad, Bellaire High School, Houston, TX
- Sidharth K. Sengupta, Westview High School, Portland, OR
- Katherine K. Wu, Episcopal Academy, Newton Square, PA
- William Yao, Walton High School, Marietta, GA
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 223 high school, undergraduate, graduate and medical students to participate in the program. Selected through a rigorous national application process, the students have participated in research at such distinguished institutions as Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Chicago, Case Western Reserve University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and others.
Participants in the program have subsequently been admitted as undergraduates at prestigious universities nationwide, including Harvard University, Notre Dame University, Rice University the University of Southern California, the University of Virginia 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 670 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.