# Authentic Bioinformatics in the Classroom (ABC) Project

> **NIH NIH R25** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $260,797

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 There is an urgent need to increase the numbers and diversity of bioinformatics-trained scientists
joining the biomedical and clinical workforce. For bioinformatics to be considered a career choice by
students from underrepresented groups, it is critical to develop awareness of bioinformatics in high school.
A strength of bioinformatics is that it can be integrated into existing biological content and can strengthen
connections between biological topics in a typical high school biology curriculum. The Authentic
Bioinformatics in the Classroom (ABC) Project utilizes the power of bioinformatics to bring context to
biology and integrate bioinformatics in high school biology classes. By developing bioinformatics
discovery and research-centered investigations for high school students (as modules throughout the school
year), bioinformatics and scientific research become a natural part of biology. Here, evidence-based
bioinformatics curricular materials for high school biology will be developed in collaboration with high
school biology teachers, to promote mastery of biological sciences while stimulating interest and awareness
of bioinformatics among high school students from underrepresented backgrounds - thus, enabling them to
pursue biomedical and clinical research careers including bioinformatics. To prepare teachers for
developing bioinformatics curricular materials, they will participate in a research-oriented bioinformatics
lab where they will learn the bioinformatics concepts and skills necessary to refine a bioinformatics draft
curriculum (developed by the project team and approved by an External Advisory Committee) so that it can
be authentically implemented in their high school classrooms. The curriculum will follow successful
Modeling Instruction practices for which the project team has extensive experience. The curriculum will
develop NGSS practices and be aligned to several NGSS topics and cross-cutting concepts, while engaging
students through basic bioinformatics, data science, and research. To disseminate the curriculum, the project
will provide professional development workshops for high school teachers to develop teachers’
bioinformatics knowledge and skills, engage them in the curriculum through experiential learning
opportunities, and provide opportunities for practice and reflection. Teachers will be supported through
their implementation of the curriculum by providing structured support from the project team, prepared
undergraduate students (Bioinformatics Ambassadors (BAs)), district curriculum support specialists, as
well as a developing teacher learning community. The BAs will also serve as near-peer mentors and role
models in the teachers’ classrooms based on an adaption of the successful Learning Assistant model.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10796860
- **Project number:** 5R25GM146301-03
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Laird Kramer
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $260,797
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-20 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10796860

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10796860, Authentic Bioinformatics in the Classroom (ABC) Project (5R25GM146301-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10796860. Licensed CC0.

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