PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Timothy W Corson
AU  - Shannon M Hawkins
AU  - Elmer Sanders
AU  - Jessica Byram
AU  - Leigh-Ann Cruz
AU  - Jacob Olson
AU  - Emily Speidell
AU  - Rose Schnabel
AU  - Adhitya Balaji
AU  - Osas Ogbeide
AU  - Julie Dinh
AU  - Amy Hinshaw
AU  - Laura Cummings
AU  - Vicki Bonds
AU  - Harikrishna Nakshatri
TI  - Building a virtual summer research experience in cancer for high school and early undergraduate students: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic
AID  - 10.1101/2020.11.23.393967
DP  - 2020 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2020.11.23.393967
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/11/23/2020.11.23.393967.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/11/23/2020.11.23.393967.full
AB  - Background The COVID-19 pandemic posed a unique challenge for summer research programs in 2020, particularly for programs aimed at hands-on experience for younger trainees. The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center supports two pipeline programs, which traditionally immerse high school juniors, seniors, and early undergraduate students from underrepresented populations in science in hands-on projects in cancer biology labs. However, due to social distancing policies during the pandemic and reduction of research operations, these students were not physically allowed on campus. Thus, the authors set out to strategically pivot to a wholly virtual curriculum and evaluate the Virtual Summer Research Experience in Cancer outcomes.Methods The virtual program included four components: 1. a core science and professional development curriculum led by high school teachers and senior undergraduates; 2. faculty-delivered didactic sessions on cancer science; 3. mentored, virtual research projects with research faculty; and 4. online networking events to encourage vertical mentoring. Outcomes data were measured using an 11-item Research Preparation scale, daily electronic feedback, and structured evaluation and feedback via Zoom weekly.Results Outcome data suggested high self-reported satisfaction with the virtual program. Outcome data also revealed the importance of coordination between multiple entities for seamless program implementation. This includes the active recruitment and participation of high school teachers and further investment in information technology capabilities of institutions.Conclusions Findings reveal a path to educate and train high school and early undergraduate students in cancer research when hands-on, in-person training is not feasible. Virtual research experiences are not only useful to engage students during public health crises but can provide an avenue for cancer centers to expand their cancer education footprints to remotely located schools and universities with limited resources to provide such experiences to their students.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.AbbreviationsCOVID-19coronavirus disease 2019FSPFuture Scientist ProgramIUSCCCIndiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer CancerLMSlearning management systemNCINational Cancer InstituteREDCapResearch Electronic Data CaptureSRPSummer Research ProgramTRPTeacher Research ProgramvSRECVirtual Summer Research Experience in Cancer