Twelve high school students completed the 2024 Winship Summer Scholars Research Program.
Twelve high school students gained first-hand experience in cancer research at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University this summer. Their participation in Winship’s six-week Summer Scholars Research Program offered them the chance to conduct laboratory experiments and learn about diverse topics in clinical and basic science cancer research. Thirty additional students virtually attended the lecture series of the program. The program received an unprecedented number of applications in 2024, exceeding 250.
The 2024 Winship Summer Scholars Research Program wrapped up on July 19 with a final symposium in which each student presented a research talk and scientific poster. This year’s symposium for the first time featured a keynote speaker, Mel Mann, a retired U.S. Army major and chronic myeloid leukemia survivor. He spoke about his experiences and the importance of clinical trials like the one for the drug Gleevec that saved his life over 25 years ago, highlighting the impact of cancer research on the lives of patients and their families.
The program, which began in 2001, is currently co-directed by Winship members Cynthia Giver, PhD, and Nikolaos Papadantonakis, MD, PhD, MSc. Students selected for the program work with a Winship-affiliated research team and complete cancer-focused projects under the guidance and mentorship of a Winship principal investigator. In addition to working on their research projects, students take part in a variety of activities to enhance their scientific knowledge, learn about career paths and gain added exposure to the human side of cancer care. The 2024 curriculum included lab safety training; didactic lectures led by Winship faculty; panel discussions with cancer survivors, clinical fellows and previous summer scholars; field trips to the David J. Sencer CDC Museum, Emory Proton Therapy Center and Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown; and presentation skill-building sessions in preparation for the final symposium.
"Every year, I’m so impressed with our amazing students,” says Giver, associate professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. “They learn so much about the scientific area in their mentors’ labs and finish the six weeks by confidently presenting their research in a very professional way. It takes a special kind of student to dedicate six weeks of their summer to cancer research, and it’s our great privilege to work with them.” Giver adds, "We are grateful to our faculty mentors for providing outstanding research opportunities for the students and for guiding them through the projects."
“We are thrilled with the number of highly talented students who applied to the program this year,” shares Papadantonakis, assistant professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. “We hope that the immersive research experience will further solidify the research interest of the scholars, and one day, these scholars will contribute to new advancements in cancer research.”
Next year’s program dates and application details will be posted on the Summer Scholars Research Program web page in the fall. All eligible students interested in cancer research are encouraged to apply. Thanks to a generous gift from Lou Glenn, a long-time advocate for science education and cancer research, Winship now offers stipends to accepted students who complete the six-week program, making participation a viable option for interested students from a broader range of backgrounds than in previous years.
