(284) Developing the Pipeline: A Drug Discovery and Biomedical Research Training Program for Underserved Minority Youth

Objective : To develop and implement a hands-on laboratory experience and mentoring program for underserved minority high school students to increase their interest in the biomedical sciences.

Methods: Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and kinesiology faculty partnered with high school teachers to create a summer camp in a medically underserved community. The program consisted of exposing high school students to pharmaceutical drug discovery experiments, pharmacy operations, and health promotion topics including cancer, COVID-19, and opioids. An additional program designed to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was also implemented where students visited a COVID-19 vaccination site and produced vaccine hesitancy videos. Graduate student mentors facilitated the exercises by working with the students. Survey data from pre- and post-sessions in addition to a demographically matched comparison group from students who did not participate in program were analyzed.

Results: Over 4 years, 146 high school students and 4 teachers/year participated in program which was led by 14 faculty from the School of Pharmacy. Approximately 52-86% of students were Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino. Respondents reported statistically significant higher levels of agreement with the statements, “I would like to pursue a STEM career” (p=0.003), and “I would like to pursue a biomedical science career” (p=0.0265) compared with the comparison group. 83% of participants expressed interest in pursuing pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences careers. Responses reported statistically significant higher levels of career interest in becoming a “Pharmaceutical Scientist” (p=0.0468) and “Biomedical Scientist” (p=0.0002) compared to the comparison group.

Conclusions: This program supported STEM and pharmacy career exploration by minority underserved high school students. Similar pipeline programs can improve recruitment efforts at pharmacy schools and improve the public’s interest for the pharmacy/biomedical sciences profession.