Cedars-Sinai Medical Center hosted 21 high school students from Los Angeles this week to participate in hands-on stem cell research and receive a jump-start on potential careers in scientific research.

Students get hands-on stem cell research training with scientists at Cedars-Sinai’s Research Week program. (photo courtesy of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

The students are participating in the 4th annual Research Week program at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute. The program is an enriched learning opportunity that provides students with a basic understanding of stem cell research.

“The students never cease to amaze,” said research scientist Virginia Mattis, Ph.D., co-coordinator of the program. “The mission of the program is to inform young scholars of the future of medicine and to make a contribution to science education.”

Students will work in the lab with scientific mentors and attend lectures with scientists and physicians. They will receive hands-on experience using lab equipments as they try to solve a stem cell-based question. At the end of the week, the students will share their findings in a special closing presentation.

The students were chosen through Cedars-Sinai Volunteer Services and the Youth Employment and Development Program.

“For the students, it is an unprecedented opportunity to see and learn up-close from leaders in the field of regenerative medicine,” said Alysia Caldwell, co-coordinator of Research Week. “We expect the exposure to scientific research at a young age to be invaluable as these students move forward with their education, and we look forward to their return as the scientific researchers of the future.”

For information, visit www.cshs.org.