Biological Sciences awarded US money for minority student research training

Lancaster University's Biological Sciences department together with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) have received a grant of $337,335 from the American National Institute for Health, to fund up to 10 American students per year to come to Lancaster, for periods of 3 months during the next 3 years.

This is an extension of a joint project with UMBC, which has run successfully for 5 years. The UMBC run a very prestigious and competitive programme that is aimed at the advancement of minorities in the sciences and attracts students who want to earn a PhD or MD/PhD. Each year they accept approximately 50 students from over 2000 applicants.

The funded link has sent undergraduate students, each summer, to Lancaster University to do a 3 month research project in one of the biomedical or psychology research labs. Past projects have included chemical protection against the effects of UV light and drug induced changes in expression of molecules involved in the spread of cancer.

Professor Trevor McMillan, who co-ordinates the programme at Lancaster, said, 'This is a great success for Lancaster University. As the programme is very high quality and intensive, these are extremely bright students. We benefit greatly from their presence in the laboratories and they have an enjoyable and highly productive time getting to grips with the science and Lancaster culture'.