Pre-Med Students Spend Summer Immersed in Biomedical Research

For undergraduate students considering medical school, what’s better than spending a summer in Southern California, conducting biomedical research and gaining clinical exposure?

That’s how 25 undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina, Alabama, and Washington, D.C., spent eight weeks as participants of two programs offered through the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

Twenty students joined the HBCU Summer Research and Clinical Experience Program, while five joined the Translational Research in Vision Summer (TRAVIS) Program.

All 25 presented their work at the Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium on Aug. 14, 2026, as the normally quiet lobby of the UC Irvine Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences building transformed into a poster-filled conference space with 50 sharply dressed students confidently sharing complex research findings.

“Over the past several weeks, eight to be exact, these students have immersed themselves in research, asking big questions, grappling with complex ideas, and figuring out knowledge in meaningful ways,” said Ursula Worsham, EdD, assistant dean of the Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment, welcoming attendees. “Today’s symposium is a real-world example of the power of collaboration, community and strength with interdisciplinary practice.”

HBCU Summer Research and Clinical Experience Program

Launched in 2024, the HBCU Summer Research and Clinical Experience Program is an intensive summer initiative designed to prepare undergraduate students for medical school admissions.

The 20 participants currently attend North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), Tuskegee University, Oakwood University and Howard University. They were placed at UC Irvine across 19 clinical departments as well as Rady Children’s Health, spending six weeks conducting hands-on laboratory research and two weeks receiving clinical exposure across a variety of care environments. They also learned about medical school application strategies, health equity and personal wellness.

“This unique and transformative program provides WSSU students with a holistic experience through hands-on research, clinical exposure, mentorship, professional development and meaningful connections that prepare them for medical school and careers in biomedical research and healthcare,” says Sarah Adjei-Fremah, PhD, an assistant professor of biological sciences at WSSU. “I especially appreciate the leadership of Dr. Ursula Worsham and her team, whose dedication, hospitality and commitment ensure that every student feels supported, valued and invested throughout the experience.”

Adjei-Fremah refers to the program’s ability to “uplift, connect and inspire” students as the “UCI” impact. “The program goes beyond a traditional summer research experience,” she says. “It uplifts students, connects them with mentors and opportunities, and inspires them to pursue their goals in medicine and biomedical research.”

Raymond E. Samuel, MD, PhD, a biology professor at North Carolina A&T State University, echoes that sentiment. “The program is a highly effective strategy for engaging aspiring healthcare professionals in clinical and translational research training,” he says. “It is the most sought-after summer internship for premedical students at NC A&T, attracting high-achieving undergraduates who are particularly drawn to the two-week full-time clinical immersion in a UCI Health clinical setting.”

Leon Seard, MD, a clinical professor in the Department of Urology at UC Irvine and an alumnus of Oakwood University, was particularly impressed by the students’ high-quality poster presentations.

The research covered a wide variety of topics — from characterizing rete ridge distribution in human skin samples and predicting propofol requirements during Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) endoscopy, to investigating how nocturnal glucose disruption affects declarative memory in children with Type 1 diabetes.

“The preparation and professionalism with which they approached the task was remarkable, and the research was amazing,” says Seard. “It was clear to me that they enjoyed their projects and their time here, which no doubt sparked further determination to pursue careers in medicine or medical research.”

Seard adds that he was excited to host students from his alma mater. “This is the first year Oakwood students have participated,” he says, “and I know they enjoyed their experience.”

Translational Research in Vision Summer Program

Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhD, an associate professor of physiology & biophysics and ophthalmology, launched TRAVIS in 2022 as a single summer internship. The program, which served as the model for the HBCU Summer Research and Clinical Experience Program, offers research opportunities through the UC Irvine Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research and Gavin Herbert Eye Institute.

“What I love most about the UC-HBCU programs is seeing how students grow through the experience,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk, who was honored with UC Irvine’s 2026-27 Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentorship, recognizing in part her involvement in these esteemed programs. “Watching the students become more confident, more independent and more comfortable in the lab is incredibly rewarding.”

This year, five students from NC A&T and WSSU received a TRAVIS internship to conduct hands-on vision science research related to retinal disease models, gene editing and therapeutic approaches, neuroprotection, and the molecular basis of inherited eye disorders.

Furthermore, one TRAVIS student from last year, Kennedy Royal of NC A&T, returned this year for the HBCU Summer Research and Clinical Experience Program.

“My first time doing a dissection was during the TRAVIS program, which sparked my curiosity further into medicine,” says Royal, whose TRAVIS project involved studying light-induced damage in the retina. This summer, she enjoyed learning new research methods, such as cell culturing, while exploring the effects of lipopolysaccharide on mitochondrial thiamin pyrophosphate uptake in pancreatic acinar cells.

“What I liked most about participating in these two UC Irvine programs is the exposure I got to research as well as the medical field,” says Royal. “Both opened me to new interests I hadn’t thought to explore.”

Royal now plans to attend medical school to become a psychiatrist.

“I was able to go into the hospital and shadow in internal medicine for the first time, and it solidified my interest in medicine,” she says. “Both programs made me feel supported and gave me a better understanding of what I want to do in the future.”

Students interested in gaining hands-on research and clinical experience can learn more about UC Irvine’s Medical Education Programming for Pre-Med Students.

— Shani Murray