Howard Hughes Medical Institute awards $1.5 million for science programs

A nonprofit medical research organization and the nation’s largest private supporter of science education, HHMI was established in 1953 and is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Md. The institute is dedicated to discovering and disseminating new knowledge in the basic life sciences.

“We believe it is vital to bring fresh perspectives to the teaching of established scientific disciplines and to develop novel courses in emerging areas, such as computational biology, genomics, and bio-imaging,” said HHMI President Thomas R. Cech. “Our grantee universities are providing hands-on research experiences to help prepare undergraduates, including women and minorities underrepresented in the sciences, for graduate studies and for careers in biomedical research, medicine, and science education.”

HHMI has supported undergraduate science education at the nation’s colleges and universities since 1988. Through its undergraduate grants, the institute has provided 247 institutions of higher learning with nearly $700 million for programs that include undergraduate research opportunities; new faculty, courses, and labs; teaching and mentoring training; and work with precollege students and teachers.