Program Registration

Students in grades 6-12 will become biomedical researchers, conducting experiments to combat cancer and diabetes in the eCLOSE lab or right in their own homes. The program focuses on uncovering the creativity and health-related viewpoints of the students themselves, and integrates them into a growing community of scientists focused on reducing the burden of disease through diet.

eCLOSE Institute works with an amazing model organism: The Fruit Fly! Session participants will learn why this small insect is important in biomedical research and how it can be used to address questions about diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Participants will examine how diet impacts fruit fly development and analyze their very own data! Presentation Day is a highlight, where campers present their exciting results and conclusions to family friends and community at an end-of-week Zoom event.

Virtual Programs:

Participants will receive fully equipped lab kits in the mail and login to instruction each day via Zoom. Participants from all over the USA are welcome, providing an exciting opportunity to meet new scientists from other places and learn from their experiences. During the program, participants will learn important laboratory techniques, while strengthening problem-solving skills. Campers will work in collaborative break-out rooms and interact with scientist-science teacher instructors to learn more about how diets and foods affect the signals inside cells that cause disease like cancer and diabetes. The program uses The Fruit Fly, a model organism that has been explored for over a century to uncover the secrets inside cells that support healthy growth and development and combat disease. Included in this Lab@Home kit: micropipettors, digital balance, tube racks, USB microscope, beaker, graduated cylinder and all of the materials needed to complete the experiments.

**Participants will need to provide their own internet capable device for this program. All other materials will be supplied.

In-lab Programs:

Students with daily access to the lab in Glenside, PA (19095) will conduct experimentation in a professional research laboratory. Equipment and supplies will be provided, and students will work in collaborative teams to address how diet impacts fruit fly models of disease. Students who complete the entire program will receive a lab kit to take home for continued research opportunities.”

eCLOSE RESEARCH PLUS camps are full-time summer programs that combine eCLOSE Intro with Advanced Programs focused on Sports Nutrition, Biochemistry, and Behavior Research, all in one week. After learning core lab skills and completing a nutrient-genetic screen, participants will dig into the changes in physical activity, macronutrients (sugar, protein, fats), and behavioral changes that occur due to the diet treatment. Skills in chemistry, math, biology, biochemistry, and social-behavioral research will provide a broad research experience that prepares participants for every college major in STEM.

Summer student scientists will be working with The Fruit Fly to examine the impact of nutrition on behavior and body chemistry as they relate to sports! Techniques and protocols will still be used to examine the effects that nutritional supplements have on fruit flies, and mini lectures will explore topics like calories and metabolic pathways that promote energy!

The saying goes “You are what you eat!”. This program will test that idea, advancing discovery to measure diet effects on macromolecules or behaviors.

**Participants will need to provide their own internet capable device for this program. All other materials will be supplied.

Biochemistry: Have you wondered where biology and chemistry intersect? This is the lab for you! Participants will measure how diet treatments change macronutrients—like sugar, protein, or fat—in the whole body. Your mission is to find diets that improve health—at least the health of a Fruit Fly! Supplies needed to complete biochemistry experiments will be provided.

Behavior: Do you ever feel hyper after eating a pile of candy? What about a healthy salad? In this camp, we will explore how diet changes behavior and connect those changes to our biochemistry results for a deeper understanding of the effects of nutrients on the Fruit Fly’s response to different foods.

Bring your biggest ideas and curiosity! We can’t wait to see all that you discover.

Early research experiences promote success in STEM—in college and careers!  eCLOSE UG Bridge helps students excel as college STEM majors and prepares them for work in research labs at universities and companies. All research conducted during eCLOSE UG Bridge is original and celebrates the many cultures and backgrounds of participants to begin to uncover new approaches to prevent and treat diseases that affect students’ families and communities.

eCLOSE UG Bridge immerses undergraduates in laboratory-based research, providing the technical and conceptual skills to attack these important questions head on.  As an eCLOSE UG Bridge participant, you will conduct a genetic screen to identify nutrients or antiviral compounds that affect signals important for cancer, diabetes, or chronic pain.  Using the results of the screen, you will develop hypotheses for WHY the nutrient or drug has an effect and design an experimental plan for determining the answers.

Don’t panic—expert eCLOSE UG Bridge instructors will be with you the whole way, guiding you through the decision tree and supporting your development as a research scientist!

eCLOSE UG Bridge is particularly interested in YOUR ideas, including the dietary interventions used in your family for disease prevention or treatment and the diseases that matter most to you.  Projects will be conducted in collaboration with professional scientists, with the data you collect included in their ongoing cancer and disease research efforts.