Pin-Lan Li's Lab

Program Announcement
Program Training
Spur Students
Presentation
Activity

SUMMER PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATES’ RESEARCH (SPUR)
IN PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at VCU started a research training program in 2005 for undergraduate students to participate in the research projects related to the cellular and molecular mechanisms of coronary heart diseases, high blood pressure and end-stage renal diseases.

The Goals of this program are:

To provide undergraduate students from health or biomedical sciences with experience of mentored research.
To provide exposure to the skills that are required for a career in biomedical sciences, including experimental designs, analysis of results, critical appreciation of literature and data presentation.
To provide the students with the first-hand information for them to determine if a career in biomedical sciences is an appropriate choice.

Term:	10 weeks (from June – August)
Stipend:	$9/hr
Eligibility:	3nd and 4th year undergraduate students from health or biomedical sciences
Requirements:	An application letter with resume, college academic transcripts, and contact information of two references.

Application should be submitted to:

Pin-Lan Li, MD, PhD,
Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology, VCU
410 North 12th Street, P.O. Box 980613
Richmond, Virginia 23219-0613
Or by e-mail to: pli@vcu.edu

Deadline for application will be May 10 of each year!

Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology

A. Orientation and Scientific ethics issues (5/26)

Department and lab orientation (introduction)
Orientation related to animal use, radioactivity, biohazards and laboratory safety (attend related training session of new employee)
Scientific ethic: Fabrication, falsification and plagiarism issues, note book, data files and sharing policies and collaboration in the lab.

B. Labortatory project and common technique workshops

Lab Projects:

Homocystein in glomerular injury
Gene Transcription by HIF-1a
NAADP-mediated Ca2+ signaling
Lipid raft-mediated trasmembrane signaling

Common Technique Workshops:

Real time-PCR
Western Blot analysis
Immunohistochemistry
HPLC analysis
Fluorescence imaging (Ca2+, O2.-, and NO)
In vivo molecular imaging
Confocal and TIRF microscopy
Transgenic and gene knockout animal models

C. Journal Club presentation by SPUR students

Sophie: Fan’s Hypertension paper
Krishna, Peter, Mark, Chris
Laura: Fan’s JCMM paper
Jessica: James’ ATVB paper
Dr. Bill (Wiliyam)
Shantè: Ningjun’s HIF-1alpha paper
Christopher Brimson
Jennifer

Students in SPUR Program

	2005	Molly Hilliker, Mark Brewster, Dustin Donley,
	2006	Emily C. Wright, Danny Muldoon, Molly Hilliker
	2007	Matthew L. Childrey, Justine M. Abais
	2008	Matthew L. Childrey, Justine M. Abais, Kathryn Studer, Mellisa Manson
	2009	Jessic Cardwell, Laura Laperle, Sophie Yuth, Shante Hinton

SPUR Student Presentations

	Mark Brewster's Presentation 2005
	Molly Hillike's presentation 2005
	Emily Wrigh's presentation 2006
	Daniel Muldoon's presentation 2006
	Justine Abais's Presentation 2007
	Kathryn Studer's Presentation 2008
	Matt Childrey's Journal Club Presentation 2008
	Matt Childrey's Presentation 2008
	Mellisa Manson's Presentation 2008
	Justin Abais's Journal Club Presentation 2008
	Jessica B. Cardwell Presentation 2009
	Laura Laperle Presentation 2009
	Sophie S. Yuth Presentation 2009