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Explore cancer biology concepts and laboratory techniques.

Cancer biologists study the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells at a cellular and molecular level to understand what cellular changes lead to cancer and to find ways to prevent, defeat, or stop cancer cells from forming, growing, and spreading.  Phytochemicals, biologically active compounds found in plants, have exciting properties that can affect human health.  Some phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables have been reported to stop the growth and spread of cancer cells or even induce them to die via apoptosis (programmed cell death).

In this program, you will conduct hands-on experiments to create extracts containing phytochemicals and learn what happens when  these extracts are used to treat cancer cells.  You will implement the same techniques used by cancer biology researchers to study cancer cells including inverted light microscopy to examine cell morphology and health, fluorescence microscopy to detect apoptosis, and luminescence to measure cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels.

2025 Pre-College Summer

DATES
Session One:  July 6 - 11
Session Two:  July 13 - 18
Session Three:  July 20 - 25
Session Four:  July 27 - August 1

COSTS
Program fee: $2,250 
Application fee: $45

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Early action:*  March 7, 2025
Application closes: May 30, 2025

*Apply by the early action deadline and receive a $100 discount on the program fee.

APPLY NOW

 

Experiential Learning

During this week-long program, you will be introduced to a  cancer biology concepts and laboratory techniques through lectures and hands-on laboratory activities.  You will:

  • Learn about cellular changes that give rise to cancer
  • Grow, maintain, and treat cancer cells in vitro (grown in dishes)
  • Prepare extracts containing phytochemicals that may fight cancer
  • Examine cells using light microscopy
  • Measure ATP levels using a luminometer
  • Analyze cells for apoptosis using fluorescence microscopy
Daniel Moloney, PhD

Instructor

Daniel Moloney, PhD

Dan Moloney is a Research Professor of Biochemistry & Cell Biology and Co-Director of the Biotechnology Teaching Laboratories (BTL) at the Institute for STEM Education at Stony Brook University.  He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry from Stony Brook University.  Dan mentors, advises and educates students at all levels to promote science knowledge, interest, and awareness.  Thousands of middle school and high school students visit the BTL each year to learn how to conduct laboratory experiments.  Dan is the Program Director of BioPREP and the Co-Director of INDUCER.  These two NIH-funded programs encourage undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in biomedical sciences and cancer-related research.  Dan teaches Cancer Biology and Laboratory Techniques in Cancer Biology to undergraduates and graduate students at SBU.  He also mentors and instructs graduate students in the Masters in the Art of Teaching (MAT) Biology program.

 

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Join us for SBU Pre-College Summer!

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