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 Since 1994 the UCSC-MIRT (Minority Biomedical Research
Training Program at University of California, Santa Cruz) sponsored by
the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health has
provided training to underrepresented minority students and women whose
aspire to professional
research careers in the biomedical sciences. The long term objective of
UCSC-
MIRT is to actively engage underrepresented minority students in
on-going,
long term international, biomedically relevant research projects
conducted
in environment in collaboration with students and faculty from the host
country.
With a long tradition of both graduate and undergraduate research
training,
UCSC offers challenging and unique biological field research
opportunities
that combine rich and stimulating cultural experience with productive
and
creative scientific research training. These experiences have provided
UCSC-MIRT
students with broader international scientific and educational
perspectives,
increased self confidence and independence, plus substantial
improvements
in technical expertise. This has resulted in a satisfying increase in
the
number of UCSC underrepresented minority students choosing advanced
scientific
training and consequently the leadership of the next generation of
biomedical
scientists and academic faculty. The research will focus on the biology
of
the several vertebrate species along the Patagonian coast of Argentina
and
the Gulf of California in Sonora, Mexico. |
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In Argentina , studies will focus on physiological studies of the Southern elephant seal which serves as a unexpected and unique model of mammalian obesity, the physiology long term food and water abstinence. Recently, results of these investigations have been shown to have clinical implications in the management of several severe human pathologies that disproportionately impact domestic minority populations as well as populations in several emerging countries in the Americas and the Pacific Rim. These include: 1) morbid obesity and related conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and renal insufficiency and 2) early childhood developmental pathologies resulting from malnutrition and starvation.
In Mexico , MIRT students will be involved in a long term, multidimensional investigation of the effects runoff pollutants on the food web of the Gulf of California (Sea Of Cortez) especially the impact on top predator index species of marine mammals, birds and humans. The health of the food chain and fisheries of the Gulf of California has enormous health and economic consequences for the citizens of Mexico.
The UCSC-MIRT program not only makes direct
scientific contributions to these vital studies but will do so while
providing MIRT
students with unique scientific training in a field of immediate
biomedical
relevance.
