Events

Bridge- Beginning Researchers Involved in Discovery through Guidance and Exploration

Questar III New Visions is a highly selective, college level academic experience offered to accelerated high school seniors living throughout the Capital District.   This program involves hands-on laboratory research in the emerging biotechnologies, scientific literacy and global health.  Students interested in future careers in the any of the biological sciences, including medicine, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmacy, biomedical research, genetics, forensics, health fields, biomedical engineering, environmental science, toxicology, biophysics, infectious and chronic disease, Nano biotechnology, etc.  Students examine emerging biological research efforts and global health issues.  They support their studies by reading some of the literary works that changed the world and by studying current scientific and medical journals.  Students work independently and collaboratively to explore solutions to real life issues.

Students learn fundamental research methods in our laboratory.  They become skilled at appropriate experimental design and capable of thinking on their own, finding solutions to problems using their intelligence, not just by following established protocols. The technologies learned in the student lab include DNA and protein gel electrophoresis, Western blot, PCR technologies, tissue culture, microbiological techniques, immunology and plasmid gene mapping. Students master the basic protocols necessary to succeed in today’s biotechnology lab.  The Albany College of Pharmacy’s Pharmaceutical Research Institute and the New York Neuronal Stem Cell Institute conduct human embryonic stem cell and cancer research studies and are resident at East Campus, providing students with the opportunity to observe and sometimes even participate in cutting-edge scientific discoveries as they occur!

Many world-renowned researchers and business entities reside at SUNY Albany’s Health Sciences Campus, and regularly work with our young scientists. These include Albany School of Public Health, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Taconic, Inc., Regeneron, Inc., and Pharmaceutical Research Institute, New York Neural Stem Cell Institute, Institute for Health and the Environment, Cancer Research Institute, Vascular Endothelial Cell Technologies, Inc., SyntheZyme, Inc., Intidyne, Inc., Ultradian, Inc., Albany Molecular Research, Inc., and many others. Additional individuals and entities working with our students include the RNA Institute at SUNY-Albany, Albany Medical Center physicians, RPI scientists, the Albany College of Pharmacy, the Albany County Department of Health, the New York State Cancer Registry, New York State Museum scientists, and many more.   We are deeply grateful for their continued support of our program and its future scientists. 

 Global Thrombosis Forum (GTF)

Dr. Atul Laddu’s grandson, Rajan, had back surgery in 2011, after which he was diagnosed with two large blood clots in both his lungs (a condition called Pulmonary Embolism, or PE), which can be a fatal, if not treated immediately. Luckily, Rajan received prompt medical attention and recovered. During this experience, while talking with his many friends at North American Thrombosis Forum (NATF), Dr. Laddu realized how little did the general public know about 2 deadly thrombotic conditions called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). This is when he decided to work with NATF, an organization that conducts research on and spreads awareness about thrombotic conditions nationwide.

Global Thrombosis Forum (GTF, www.gtfonline.net) is an affiliate of North American Thrombosis Forum (NATF, www.natfonline.org), a community-based organization. GTF had its first meeting held on December 12, 2012. The mission of GTF is to spread awareness about a deadly condition, Thrombosis, in the community. Dr. Atul Laddu, a retired Cardiologist, envisaged the mission, structure and function of GTF with the help and guidance from Dr. Jawed Fareed, Director of the Hemostasis & Thrombosis Research Laboratories at Loyola University Medical Center and Vice-President of NATF and Dr. Samuel Goldhaber, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and President of NATF.

The primary goal and the mission is to work and increase the awareness of thrombosis in Georgia. In addition, GTF works to network with various groups involved in thrombosis, coaches’ young volunteers in skills such as communication, presentation, research, and encourages the youth volunteers to organize, plan, and conduct the activities of GTF.

The forum involves middle school and high school young volunteers and are coached by a team of adult volunteers. Together, they reach to the masses, primarily in the state of Georgia, and educate them about various aspects of the condition of thrombosis.

GTF has now reached out to several thousands of citizens in the state of GA through its various projects on thrombosis. To date, in just a period of six years, GTF has received several proclamations, including by the Georgia State Senate, 9 cities and 5 counties, for its genuine work. In 2013, the Governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, signed a proclamation for GTF and September as Thrombosis Awareness month in the State of Georgia.

There are basically seven different major categories of GTF activities, namely booths, posters, presentations, interviews, research and publications, internships, and Thrombosis Club, all planned, organized and managed by the young volunteers with guidance from the members of the GTF Working Group, Board of Directors and some physicians.

Dr. Jawed Fareed, Director of the Hemostasis & Thrombosis Research Laboratories at Loyola University Medical Center, honored the excellent research work by the GTF interns by proclaiming an annual High School Scholar’s Day at Loyola.

 

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