North Idaho College 2020-21 INBRE students, pictured from left to right: Elizabeth Garrett, William Auten, Patrick Hayes, Tristan Whiting, Dylan Eisenbrandt, Molly Murphy, Krystal Saunoa, Dale LeMetterey, Hannah Griffin, and Cody Perez.

INBRE- A Springboard for Aspiring Scientists

Research. Education. Opportunity.

The IDeA (Institutional Development Award) Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, better known as INBRE, offers all that and more for students training to be the next generation of biomedical scientists. Funded by a federal grant from the National Institutes of Health, the goal of INBRE is to increase the health of Idahoans by strengthening and sustaining biomedical research and education. Idaho is one of twenty-three INBRE states and has the strongest undergraduate student program in the nation. 

North Idaho College Microbiology Professor Rhena Cooper helped establish INBRE at NIC in 2003 with a variety of programs to encourage students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields. Rhena also serves as INBRE Coordinator for the state.

“NIC is unique in that it was the first to use INBRE funds to develop an industry internship program,” Rhena explains. “This partnership provides ‘learn and earn’ opportunities for students within our local community and connects them with laboratories throughout North Idaho.” 

Ten undergraduates participated in the NIC INBRE program this summer. Four NIC students took home high honors at the 2021 state-wide INBRE conference held in Moscow in July where they presented their research. Hannah Griffin captured first place in the Fast-Pitch competition with her three-minute presentation on “Retinal Martial

Arts.” In the industry intern division, Cody Perez placed first presenting his work, “Inhibiting biogenic amine precursors in wine” and Elizabeth Garrett was awarded third place for her presentation, “Determination of major allergen composition in house dust mites for immunotherapy.” The highest honor of the conference went to Molly Murphy who won faculty choice in the undergraduate research division for “Quantifying dopaminergic amacrine cells making stray dendritic synapses in the retina.”  

A total of 243 students have participated in the INBRE program since it began at NIC. “INBRE funds unique, innovative, state-of-the-art biomedical research that contributes to improving human health,” Rhena says. “The student program provides a broad continuum of research opportunities to generate and enhance a skilled, diverse workforce for Idaho and the nation.”