Huntington Medical Research Institutes

12/15/2025

HMRI’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) and American Heart Association SURE programs give students the opportunity to spend the summer immersed in biomedical research.

Undergraduates work alongside HMRI scientists, gaining hands-on lab experience, mentorship, and exposure to real research questions in heart, brain, and data-driven health science. The program concludes with a student research symposium where fellows present their work.

Applications are due March 6, 2026.

Learn more and apply here:
https://hmriorg.wufoo.com/forms/m72p1xs04culnh/

Please share with students who may be exploring research or medical careers.

Nicole Purcell

12/08/2025

HMRI is now accepting applications for our 2026 summer education programs!

These programs offer students the chance to learn science by doing science—working alongside researchers in Pasadena on real biomedical projects.

Summer Undergraduate Fellowships — SURF + AHA-SURE
Full-time summer research experience.
Apply by March 6: https://hmriorg.wufoo.com/forms/m72p1xs04culnh/

High School STEM Program
For rising juniors/seniors in Pasadena Unified.
Apply by March 13: https://hmriorg.wufoo.com/forms/mcu56i41ghwgsv/

Paid TA Positions
Support teaching and mentoring in the STEM Program.
Apply by March 27: https://hmriorg.wufoo.com/forms/m16i87co0mbqorp/

Please share with students, families, and teachers who may be interested.

12/02/2025

🎥 Meet Nathan Tran, a third year
University of California, Irvine student and Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) student at HMRI.

🧪 This summer, Nathan joined Dr. Robert Kloner’s Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, working closely with James G. Boswell Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Rashid Alavi.

💻 Nathan is using his background in computer science to advance biomedical research by applying AI models to help uncover new insights in medicine. His work bridges technology and health, demonstrating how computational skills can accelerate scientific discovery and contribute to better patient outcomes.

💙 Today on Giving Tuesday, make your gift to support high school and college students like Nathan at HMRI: https://bit.ly/Give_2025

12/02/2025

🎥 Meet Miranda Le Claire, a Pasadena City College student and Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) student HMRI.

🧪 This summer, Miranda joined HMRI’s Cardiovascular Signaling Laboratory, led by Dr. Nicole Purcell.

🩺 Miranda is focused on understanding how scientific discoveries go from research to treatment to implementation in a patient community with the ultimate goal of developing a holistic view of how healthcare providers can provide the best care for their patients.

💙 Today on Giving Tuesday, make your gift today to support high school and college students like Miranda at HMRI: https://bit.ly/Give_2025

****ne

12/02/2025

Today, we’re opening the doors of discovery for the next generation of scientists 👉 https://bit.ly/Give_2025

Your Giving Tuesday gift to HMRI gives high school and college students the chance to gain hands-on research experience, mentorship, and the confidence to pursue STEM careers.

This year’s cohort told us just how transformative the experience was:

🔬 96% are “Very Likely” to pursue a STEM career
🧪 96% were Satisfied or Very Satisfied
👩‍🔬 87% feel Confident or Very Confident conducting research
🧬 79% are Very Likely to volunteer or work in a lab

Your support makes this possible and today, every gift is matched up to $2,500, doubling your impact.

🔗 Make your Giving Tuesday gift today: https://bit.ly/Give_2025

Together, we can launch the next generation of young scientists.

12/01/2025

🎥 Meet Astrid Ouolo a fourth year Mount Saint Mary's University student and American Heart Association SURE Program participant at HMRI.

🧠 This summer, Astrid joined HMRI’s Biomarker and Neuro-Disease Mechanism Laboratory, led by Dr. Alfred Fonteh.

🎓 Through hands-on research and mentorship, she strengthened her path toward pursuing a PhD in cancer research and development. Opportunities like this help students explore what’s possible in science and discover futures they’re excited to pursue.

💙 This Giving Tuesday, support high school and college students like Astrid at HMRI. Visit https://bit.ly/Give_2025 to give today through December 2nd.

❤️ We’re proud to partner with the AHA SURE program to support research experiences for emerging scientists.

12/01/2025

👩‍🔬 “Learning and having hands-on biomedical research experience made me realize that I now CAN see myself working in the medical field.” — Sherlyn, HMRI High School STEM Student

🧪 Sherlyn describes her time at HMRI - Huntington Medical Research Institutes as a true turning point. By stepping into a real research environment and seeing science up close, she gained the confidence to imagine herself in a medical career and discovered a new sense of direction for her future.

✨ When students are given space to explore, experiment, and ask questions, it can change the way they see their own potential.

💙 This Giving Tuesday, you can help more students have these defining moments and discover pathways they may never have considered before.

🥼 Gifts through Dec 2 expand access to hands-on STEM learning for students who might not otherwise have the chance to engage in biomedical research.

🔗 Donate now and help shape the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals. With a $2,500 match available, your gift can make twice the impact! 👉 https://bit.ly/Give_2025

11/29/2025

🧠 “This program strengthened my problem-solving skills, helped me connect knowledge with real-world applications, and prepared me for future studies and a career in science and healthcare.” — David, HMRI High School STEM Student

👨‍🔬 For David, HMRI's STEM Program offered something he couldn’t get in a traditional classroom. He didn’t just learn new laboratory techniques — he saw how science comes alive through experimentation, collaboration, and real research challenges.

🧪 David’s experience shows how access to experiences in research environments and laboratories can change a student’s trajectory. Programs like this give young scholars the opportunity to explore their interests, gain meaningful guidance, and build the foundation for future academic and professional success.

💙 This Giving Tuesday, you can help more students discover their passion for science and take meaningful steps toward STEM careers.

✨ Gifts through Dec 2 will directly support hands-on STEM learning for students who may not otherwise have opportunities to explore biomedical research laboratories.

🔗 Donate now and help inspire tomorrow’s scientists. With a $2,500 match available, your gift can make twice the impact! 👉 https://bit.ly/Give_2025

11/28/2025

🔬 “Not only have I learned more about science, but I've made connections that can give me opportunities in the future. If I could come back next year I would.”” — Makena, HMRI High School STEM Student

🧬 Makena’s experience shows how transformative HMRI's STEM Program can be. Students step into real research environments, strengthen their scientific curiosity, and build relationships that can shape their future paths in STEM.

✨ Opportunities and experiences like these are only possible because of the generosity and support of our donors.

💙 This Giving Tuesday, you can help open doors for the next generation of scientists.

🧪 Gifts through Dec 2 directly support hands-on STEM learning for students who may not otherwise have access to experiences in biomedical research laboratories.

🔗 Donate now and help spark a lifelong passion for science, and with a $2,500 match available, your gift can make twice the impact! 👉https://bit.ly/Give_2025

11/26/2025

✨ “This program is the best thing I could have done with my summer!” — Willow, HMRI High School STEM Student

🧪 During her 6-week experience in HMRI - Huntington Medical Research Institutes' High School STEM Program, Willow practiced real lab techniques like pipetting using gels, worked closely with our instructors and mentors, and discovered just how excited she is about a future career in science.

🔬 Stories like Willow’s are why our STEM education programs matter. When students step into our labs, they gain knowledge, skills, and the confidence that they belong in science.

💙 Your Giving Tuesday gift helps make this possible.

🥼 Donations through Dec 2 directly support hands-on STEM learning for students who may not otherwise have access to experiences in biomedical research laboratories.

🔗 Donate now and help spark a lifelong passion for science, and with a $2,500 match available, your gift can make twice the impact! 👉 https://bit.ly/Give_2025

11/25/2025

💙 Giving Tuesday is next week!

🥼 At HMRI, our STEM education programs give high school and college students the chance to step into real research labs, build hands-on skills, and discover a future for themselves in science.

🧪 This year, 96% of students said they’re “very likely” to pursue a STEM career after their experience at HMRI — a result made possible by supporters who believe in them.

🔬 You can help spark the next young scientist’s journey. Gifts made now through December 2 support HMRI’s STEM education programs and fuel opportunities that change lives! All gifts to this campaign are also being matched up to $2,500!

🔗 Donate today at: https://bit.ly/Give_2025

11/13/2025

Scientific progress now depends as much on financial imagination as on intellectual vision. With research costs rising and federal budgets flat, panelists debated how to sustain discovery through philanthropy, institutional risk-taking, and new public-private models.

“The successful medical institutions today are those who nurture and invest in their own discoveries before going to industry.” — Dr. Shlomo Melmed

“Six-hundred-thousand donors across the country—check by check, person by person—make it possible to get early investigators over the hump to independent funding.” — Dr. Scott Kaiser

“Industry will fund only once the science is de-risked. That’s why sustaining fundamental research—often decades before translation—matters so much.” — Dr. Angelika Niemz

Can new funding models keep discovery moving forward when traditional ones stall?

🎥 Watch The Future of American Science: https://youtu.be/Gg5o4AnfzxU

Cedars-Sinai BrightFocus Foundation Keck Graduate Institute Pacific Neuroscience Institute

On November 6, 2025, Dr. Julia Bradsher convened a panel of distinguished speakers to discuss the Future of American Science. From left to right, the panel i...