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Extended Research Program

Learn scientific thinking, systematic literature review & writing.

Now accepting applications for 2025 extended research program (ERP) for high school & exceptional middle school students.
ERP is a 12 week online research program for academically-motivated students interested in biomedical sciences. It places a strong emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills, empowering students to undertake independent projects and contribute to ongoing scientific inquiries. ERP fellows will conduct research under guidance of an established scientist research track record.

We strive to provide early exposure to motivated and driven students to the exciting world of cutting-edge scientific research. Students learn skills such as systematic literature review, scientific writing, rational thinking, overcoming bias, differentiating between causation and correlation , statistical considerations etc.
Gain expertise in a topic: We teach and research the latest discoveries and breakthroughs in various fields of biomedicine. Advance your knowledge about cutting-edge research in the field of your interest.
Stand out for admissions: Get a head start on college-level research and writing.

Research Tracks

Molecular Medicine and Genomics
Neuroscience
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Our students have an early start and are much better prepared to pursue their research in their colleges, institutions, or over the years in high school.

Once an Elio student - you always have access to our mentors, vast set of resources, and alumni students who have gone over to have successful careers.

Elio Support for Students

Topic Selection & Research
  • Students form a research group or team with their instructors and assume responsibility for a project. They learn techniques, applications, hypothesis-driven research, and scientific writing.

  • Learn scientific principles of research, writing and presentation.

Logical Deductions
  • Rational thinking and systematic review of the research topic.

  • Learning to differentiate knowledge from perception bias.

  • Statistical considerations in generalizing concepts comprehensive understanding.

Assistance and Insights
  • Guided conduct of research.

  • Learning about technologies and methodologies in biomed field.

  • Identifying relevant data sets and tools for specific study.

  • Insight into topic prioritization.

Achievements
  • ERP Fellows conclude their apprenticeship by producing a publication, research poster, and featured website.

  • Outperforming students are presented with an award at the closing symposium and recommendation letters for forthcoming applications.

How does Program work?

For the duration of the course, the students form research groups amongst themselves or carry out an individual study, under the mentorship of dedicated expert. ERP fellows learn techniques, applications, hypothesis-driven research, and scientific writing.
Research is conducted in small focused-group setting for a deeper dive.
The ERP focuses on some recent breakthroughs and enables deeper understanding of the topic and field. Our tool gallery that enables students toexplore topics individually and collaboratively.
Advance your knowledge about cutting-edge research in the field of your interest.

Student Benefits

Mentorship from Subject Experts

Mentoring from established scientists in the field of biomedical research. Small group allows students to develop rapport with instructors and opportunity for in-depth research

Polished Manuscript & Posters

A review/ publication to showcase the learnings and aptitude of the student for prospective admissions and other opportunities

Early Exposure to Research

ERP provides guidance tailored to your unique academic aspirations. Most of our ERP fellows are ready to conduct part-time research in their college laboratories in their freshman year.

Build Profile to Support College Applications

Colleges value students who think forward and thereby invest time and effort into building a knowledge base. Ivy league colleges look for that spark and passion that can set the students apart from their peers.

Our several past ERP fellows are part of research laboratories in their home colleges and are doing very well at UCB, MIT, Yale etc. Our fellows identify their own aptitude for their future education.
By the ERP course completion, the students develop a good understanding of biomedical science. The exposure gained equip them with better foresight for the educational journey ahead.
Lastly, as a part of this nurturing community our students will have access to all our instructors, alumni, and fellow students to discuss and ask questions long after the course completion.

Recent ERP Student Projects

Novel Therapies for Spinal Cord Injury

https://elioacademy.org/student/24/emma-chang

🇺🇸
Emma Chang
(Lynbrook High School)

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), a debilitating condition that disrupts communication between the brain and body, often resulting in paralysis, sensory loss, and chronic health complications. SCI can arise from traumatic events (e.g., accidents) or non-traumatic causes (e.g., degenerative diseases). Diagnosis relies on imaging tools like CT scans, MRIs, and myelograms to assess damage and guide treatment plans.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease Progression

https://elioacademy.org/student/24/kayla-roh-and-tarun-chethan

🇺🇸
Kayla Roh and Tarun Chethan
.

ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, leads to the degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, loss of motor control, and eventual respiratory failure. The study focuses on the interactions between the SOD1 gene and proteins CCS (Copper Chaperone for Superoxide Dismutase) and Superoxide Dismutase 2

A Comparative Study on HPV-negative Vs. HPV-positive OPSCC

https://elioacademy.org/student/24/siddharth-mitra

🇮🇳
Siddharth Mitra
(10X International School, India)

HPV-positive OPSCC is primarily caused by persistent infection with HPV16, leading to oncogenesis via viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, which disrupt tumor suppressor proteins p53 and Rb1. In contrast, HPV-negative OPSCC is associated with lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and betel quid chewing, leading to mutations in tumor suppressor genes.

TERT Shelterin Complex

https://elioacademy.org/student/23/neerja-bathla

🇺🇸
Neerja Bathla
(Keystone School)

Melanoma accounts for 1.7% of global cancer diagnoses and is the fifth most common cancer in the USIt has risen in developed countries with a majorly fair-skinned population.This project studies the hypothesis that telomerase rever transcriptase (TERT) and shelterin complex (TERF1/2) gene mutations will be present in Melanoma patients, and that the presence of these mutations will lead to a poorer prognosis in melanoma patients.

Science Fair Winner
Human Immunodeficiency Virus

https://elioacademy.org/student/jaein-kho

🇵🇭
Jaein Kho
(Chinese International School)

The progressive loss of CD4+ T-cells within a host due to an outside pathogen leads to a severe immunodeficiency disease called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As a result, HIV patients are more likely to acquire pathogens from an oncological or infectious nature, and pose lethal threats to the body

Triple Negative Breast Cancer

https://elioacademy.org/student/23/sadhika-pendyala

🇺🇸
Sadhika Pendyala
(The Quarry Lane School)

Triple Negative Breast Cancer is unique because of its lack of HER2, estrogen, and progesterone receptors present in tumors. This limitation greatly reduces treatment options because conventional therapeutic strategies, such as hormone-based treatments and inhibitors, are inefficient and lack efficacy. The identification of distinct TNBC subtypes, such as those associated with BRCA mutations or dysregulated PI3K/AKT pathways, opens avenues for personalized treatments.

Muscular Dystrophy and Genetics of Inheritance

https://elioacademy.org/student/24/adrit-saha

🇺🇸
Adrit Saha
(Hillsborough High School)

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) are conditions that arise from mutations in the dystrophin gene, a critical protein responsible for muscle stability and function. DMD, the more severe form, results from a complete absence of dystrophin, while BMD stems from reduced or partially functional dystrophin protein.

HFrEF: Stem Cell Treatment and Impacts

https://elioacademy.org/student/24/irene-batta-and-alisha-joseph

🇺🇸
Irene Batta and Alisha Joseph

Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) results from conditions like coronary artery disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, and genetic mutations affecting heart muscle structure and function. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) plays a significant role in HFrEF progression by causing vasoconstriction and fluid retention

Multiple Sclerosis

https://elioacademy.org/student/abhisri-3p5x

🇺🇸
Abhisri Korrapati
(Allen D. Nease High School)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease resulting from demyelination, dangerous areas of the central nervous system (CNS) such as the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. MS is characterized by the destruction of myelin, the sheath that insulates the axon of a nerve, interrupting communication signals in the brain.

Pancreatic Cancer and Therapeutics

https://elioacademy.org/student/katelyn-gelle

🇺🇸
Katelyn Gelle
(Del Norte High School)

In familial pancreatic cancer, there exists a kindred which contains at least a pair of first-degree relatives who were affected with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Roughly 5 to 10 percent of patients suffering from pancreatic adenocarcinoma have this aspect. Half of these with familial pancreatic cancer are male, and the average age at diagnosis of affected members is younger than the usual.

Brain Tumor

https://elioacademy.org/student/mounami-p7uw

🇺🇸
Mounami Reddy Kayitha
(Aragon High School)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant of brain tumors, classified as a grade IV glioma that originates in glial tissue. GBMs have a low median survival rate of 15 months, despite surgery and treatment with a chemotherapy drug. The reasons for this low overall survival rate is because of GBM heterogeneity and differing mutational profiles within the tumor itself.

WANT TO WORK ON YOUR OWN PROJECT ?
Apply to ELIO mentored projects in Genetics, Neuroscience, Medical Data Science, Biochemistry (Click Here)

Application Process

Applications are open now. To apply, please complete the online form along with recommendation letter.
Limited scholarship available for financially deserving students.

Activities & Credits

Poster Making
Students learn to make high quality science posters & hone their presentation skills.
Report/Paper
Learn to draft scientific write-ups with clear and convincing narratives.
Certificates
Outstanding students also get opportunities for long-term projects with mentors.

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Behind lies wonder & perhaps Unbound Interest!

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Be curious. Knowledge can change your world.

We at ELIO believe in setting you on your career path by planting that seed of knowledge and curiosity.

Past Experiences

What Our Students Say

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ELIO Academy offers an excellent blend of collaborative research opportunities with a chosen partner, complemented by cohort-wide lectures, all guided by an experienced mentor. This early introduction to the fundamentals of biomedical research has provided me with a strong foundation that I can continue to build upon in high school and college. I highly recommend this program to anyone with a deep interest in biomedical sciences and a desire to pursue a future in the field.

Marissa Miller

International High School, SFO, (Project Page)

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