First Session of CVPath’s 2026 Summer Internship Program Concludes

The CVPath Institute Summer Internship Program offers a structured research experience for high school and undergraduate students interested in biomedical science, research, and medicine. Designed to foster an understanding of the scientific process and cardiovascular research, the program offers interns the opportunity to participate in ongoing studies within the CVPath research laboratory under the direction of Dr. Alyssa Grogan and a collaborative team of postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, and staff scientists.

The first session of CVPath’s 2026 Summer Internship Program concluded on Friday, July 17. This session, we were pleased to welcome three high school students to our research laboratory. Each intern was paired with a research mentor and contributed to one of their ongoing research projects.

First photo (from left to right): Nadia Lall worked with Dr. Tomoyo Hamana studying the pathology and mechanisms of peripheral artery calcification. Isabel Finn worked with Dr. Takamasa Tanaka and Dr. Nori Nakamura investigating the role of macrophages in spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Diya Nair worked with Dr. Kazu Fujiyoshi characterizing the histopathological features of stented vein grafts.

Throughout their four-week internship, the students gained exposure to a broad range of experimental techniques in both the molecular and animal laboratories. They assisted with microscopy, data analysis, histological slide review, and morphometry, and learned proper pipetting techniques while gaining hands-on experience at the bench.

Beyond technical training, the interns participated in didactic lectures on histological and molecular biology techniques presented by our research lab staff Desiree Williams and Keisha Diaz. They also attended a research ethics seminar series on the Responsible Conduct of Research led by Dr. Jacques Augenstreich and Dr. Alyssa Grogan, providing an introduction to research integrity and ethical research practices. 

The program concluded with each intern presenting their research experience and findings during our weekly laboratory meeting. We congratulate all three interns on their outstanding presentations and thank them for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and contributions throughout the program.