Neuroscience Education Program for Educational Activities

(BRAINYAC Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Paula L Croxson, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Columbia University

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

17 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the idea that Neuroscience Education Program for Educational Activities is an effective treatment?

The available research does not provide specific data supporting the effectiveness of the Neuroscience Education Program for Educational Activities as a treatment. The articles focus on educational programs and career development in neuroscience, but they do not directly address the effectiveness of this program as a treatment for any condition. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What safety data exists for the Neuroscience Education Program for Educational Activities?

The provided research does not contain specific safety data for the Neuroscience Education Program for Educational Activities, BRAINYAC, or Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia. The abstracts focus on neurotoxicology, piracetam, NIH review processes, and juvenile animal studies for CNS drugs, none of which directly address the safety of the mentioned educational programs. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Is the Education program (BRAINYAC) a promising treatment?

Yes, the BRAINYAC program is promising because it engages students in neuroscience, increases their interest in science, and helps them understand complex topics through hands-on activities. It also fosters partnerships between scientists and educators, enhancing the learning experience. ^{1 5 11 12 13}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The objective of the BRAINYAC program is to prepare high school students for, and deliver, the experience of working in a neuroscience research laboratory over a summer. Our program goals are to prepare local students from Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx with the skills necessary to enter a working research laboratory over a period of 8 months, and support them in learning key laboratory skills and communicating them to an audience.Our hypothesis is that students' self-reports of scientific effectiveness and science identity will improve over the course of the 8-month long program. Self-reported efficacy measures predict academic performance in science, so an improvement in these self-report measures may indicate a higher likelihood to succeed in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies or careers. Likewise, science identity has a positive impact on a student's likelihood of entering a science career, particularly in populations that are under-represented in science.Over a 4-year period we will track students' self-reports of (1) scientific efficacy, including their level of confidence in scientific writing, oral presentation, library and literature search, conducting research and general academic skills, and (2) science identity. We will adopt a mixed-methods approach combining survey data with focus groups and interviews to present a full picture of these changes. We also propose to track students after they leave the program, to measure whether the changes in scientific self-efficacy translate into STEM studies at the level of higher education or career choices. We will also obtain data from scientific mentors in the program to inform us whether we are adequately supporting them in providing the students with training.

Research Team

Daphna Shohamy, PhD

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Eligibility Criteria

The BRAINYAC program is designed for high school students from Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx who are interested in neuroscience research. It's an educational initiative aimed at equipping them with lab skills over 8 months, culminating in a summer lab experience. All students and mentors involved in the program are eligible to enroll without any exclusion criteria.

Inclusion Criteria

All students and mentors in the program will be invited to enroll

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Education Program

High school students participate in a neuroscience research laboratory program to develop STEM skills and identity

8 months

Regular sessions (in-person and virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in scientific self-efficacy and identity, and their academic and career decisions are tracked

4 years

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Education program

Trial Overview This study tests whether an education program can boost students' confidence and identity as scientists through hands-on laboratory work and training. The effectiveness of the BRAINYAC program will be measured by tracking improvements in scientific efficacy and science identity over four years using surveys, focus groups, and interviews.

Participant Groups

Group I: Students Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Education program

Education program is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as BRAINYAC for:

• Educational Research Experience
• Neuroscience Education

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Columbia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Collaborator

Trials

1,403

Recruited

655,000+

Findings from Research

The BRAINS Program enhances career development in neuroscience by focusing on community building and fostering critical conversations, which are essential for advancing diversity in the field.

This program emphasizes that career preparation should include more than just scientific skills, highlighting the importance of a supportive environment for trainees.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The BRAINS Program: Transforming Career Development to Advance Diversity and Equity in Neuroscience. Yen, JW., Horner-Devine, MC., Margherio, C., et al.[2017]

The Glioma Outcomes (GO) Project aims to improve patient care for those undergoing glioma surgery by conducting outcomes research and developing educational programs, guided by a board of experts since 1997.

This voluntary database allows physicians to assess the effectiveness of their clinical decisions and practices in a confidential and objective manner, ultimately enhancing treatment strategies for glioma patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Glioma Outcomes Project: a resource for measuring and improving glioma outcomes. Anderson, FA.[2013]

A survey of 119 medical students revealed that both those with home neurosurgery residency programs (HP) and those without (NHP) found the virtual neurosurgery training camps (VNTC) beneficial, although their perceived usefulness varied.

NHP students showed a greater increase in interest in peripheral nerve neurosurgery compared to HP students, indicating that virtual training may help engage students from diverse backgrounds in specialized fields.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Neurosurgery Education for Medical Students without Home Residency Programs: A Survey of 2020 Virtual Neurosurgery Training Camp Attendees. Kortz, MW., Shlobin, NA., Radwanski, RE., et al.[2022]

A scoping review of 29 studies on neurosurgery residency education revealed that various educational interventions, including didactics and nontechnical skills training, are supported by quantitative evidence, highlighting their effectiveness in improving resident performance.

Despite the positive findings, many studies exhibited methodological shortcomings, particularly in choosing meaningful outcome measures, indicating a need for improved research practices in evaluating educational interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Data-Driven Residency Training: A Scoping Review of Educational Interventions for Neurosurgery Residency Programs. Kelly, PD., Yengo-Kahn, AM., Roth, SG., et al.[2022]

The Bridge to Neuroscience Workshop (BNW) has successfully educated 624 students (200 high school and 424 undergraduate) in Puerto Rico about neuroscience, significantly improving their understanding and enthusiasm for the field.

The workshop has been effective in identifying promising students for further neuroscience education, but current evaluations only measure short-term comprehension, prompting a need for methods to assess long-term impacts on academic and career choices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bridge to neuroscience workshop: An effective educational tool to introduce principles of neuroscience to Hispanics students. Colón-Rodríguez, A., Tiernan, CT., Rodriguez-Tapia, ES., et al.[2021]

The Ninth Triennial International Symposium on neurotoxicology suggests shifting focus from merely identifying neurotoxic problems to also emphasizing prevention strategies, which could enhance participant outcomes and institutional support for research.

The cTRAIN software program exemplifies a successful prevention tool developed by neurotoxicologists, demonstrating that effective training can be adapted for diverse populations, thereby integrating prevention into neurotoxicology studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hänninen lecture: problems and prevention: research in developing countries and immigrant populations from developing countries. Anger, WK.[2018]

Piracetam has a strong safety profile with no significant organ toxicity, even at high doses (up to 24 g/day), as confirmed by 25 years of clinical use and recent studies, including a randomized trial with 927 patients.

In a study of patients with acute ischemic stroke, piracetam did not significantly increase adverse events or mortality compared to placebo, suggesting it can be safely administered without major risks, even in high doses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The clinical safety of high-dose piracetam--its use in the treatment of acute stroke. De Reuck, J., Van Vleymen, B.[2013]

In a double-blind study involving 66 brain-injured children aged 8 to 12, piracetam did not lead to any lasting improvements in learning ability, concentration, or behavior over a 13-week period.

Interestingly, children receiving placebos showed a nonsignificant tendency toward improved physical well-being, suggesting that the effects of piracetam may have been negative rather than beneficial.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Trial of piracetam in children with cerebral organic mental deficiency]. Rösler, HD., Kleinpeter, U., Gehrke, R., et al.[2013]

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has merged study sections for toxicology and alcohol, now reviewing neurotoxicology grant applications under the ALTX-3 section, which primarily focuses on alcohol's effects rather than other neurotoxicants.

New review criteria require applicants to clearly address significance, approach, innovation, investigator expertise, and research environment, which may impact the competitiveness of neurotoxicology research proposals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Understanding the NIH review process: a brief guide to writing grant proposals in neurotoxicology. Audesirk, G., Burbacher, T., Guilarte, TR., et al.[2000]

A survey of 44 juvenile animal studies for drug applications revealed that 78% of these studies provided safety information relevant to drug use in children, particularly regarding neurobehavioral effects.

The majority of studies indicated persistent neurobehavioral effects, with 54% showing evidence of developmental neurotoxicity, highlighting the importance of assessing cognitive impacts in juvenile animal models for CNS-active compounds.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CDER Experience With Juvenile Animal Studies for CNS Drugs. Fisher, JE., Ravindran, A., Elayan, I.[2020]

The 'Brain Science on the Move' program successfully enhanced neuroscience education for middle school teachers and students, particularly in underserved schools, leading to increased teacher knowledge and confidence in teaching neuroscience.

Teachers reported spending more time on inquiry-based learning rather than traditional lectures, which resulted in heightened student interest in science and the brain, fostering a community of local neuroscience experts among educators.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neuroscience in middle schools: a professional development and resource program that models inquiry-based strategies and engages teachers in classroom implementation. MacNabb, C., Schmitt, L., Michlin, M., et al.[2018]

The UCNeuro intervention, which included hands-on neuroscience workshops for 77 sixth-grade students, significantly improved students' knowledge of neuroscience and their confidence in academic goals.

While the workshops increased students' confidence and college aspirations, they did not change excitement about learning science, suggesting that while knowledge can be enhanced, engagement may require different strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interactive Student-Centered Neuroscience Workshops for Sixth Graders Enhance Science Knowledge and Education Attitudes. Toledo, MA., Koochak, N., Gupta, A., et al.[2020]

The Making Connections, Making Choices program effectively enhances middle-school students' science knowledge and interest in health science careers, reaching over 1,000 students and 80 teachers annually across 30-35 schools.

Evaluations indicate that students participating in the program score higher on neuroscience knowledge tests and show greater interest in science careers compared to those not exposed to the program, highlighting its positive impact on education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

University of Washington and partners' program to teach middle school students about neuroscience and science careers. Cunningham, SL., Kunselman, MM.[2019]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The BRAINS Program: Transforming Career Development to Advance Diversity and Equity in Neuroscience. [2017]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Glioma Outcomes Project: a resource for measuring and improving glioma outcomes. [2013]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Neurosurgery Education for Medical Students without Home Residency Programs: A Survey of 2020 Virtual Neurosurgery Training Camp Attendees. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Data-Driven Residency Training: A Scoping Review of Educational Interventions for Neurosurgery Residency Programs. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bridge to neuroscience workshop: An effective educational tool to introduce principles of neuroscience to Hispanics students. [2021]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hänninen lecture: problems and prevention: research in developing countries and immigrant populations from developing countries. [2018]

7. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The clinical safety of high-dose piracetam--its use in the treatment of acute stroke. [2013]

8. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Trial of piracetam in children with cerebral organic mental deficiency]. [2013]

9. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Understanding the NIH review process: a brief guide to writing grant proposals in neurotoxicology. [2000]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CDER Experience With Juvenile Animal Studies for CNS Drugs. [2020]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neuroscience in middle schools: a professional development and resource program that models inquiry-based strategies and engages teachers in classroom implementation. [2018]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interactive Student-Centered Neuroscience Workshops for Sixth Graders Enhance Science Knowledge and Education Attitudes. [2020]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

University of Washington and partners' program to teach middle school students about neuroscience and science careers. [2019]