Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program
Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Overview
The Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program is a laboratory-based, summer, career development program that supports research education for college students who are alumni from the Samuels Family LA-HIP high school internship program at CHLA. The goal of the program is to promote students’ academic careers to become competitive applicants for basic science PhD programs and/or medical school. Annually, up to 10 students who have completed at least their first year of college are selected from a pool of applicants to perform 10 weeks of hands-on research under the mentorship of a federally-funded principal investigator (PI). Interns choose an accredited research institution, the area of research, and the laboratory where they will perform research.
Program Specifics
Performing biomedical research during undergraduate years is considered an essential activity for competitive applicants to basic science PhD programs or medical schools. The Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program focuses exclusively on supporting students performing laboratory-based research. The program provides the financial means and personalized mentorship to advance the careers of LA-HIP alums interested in science and/or academic medicine.
LA-HIP alums who are interested in the program must be enrolled at an accredited university or college and have completed their freshman, sophomore, or junior years. Participants are selected based on their application, as well as academic standing, clearly articulated career plans in science/academic, medicine, and recommendations from a qualified science faculty.
The Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program provides a $5,500 stipend for 10 weeks of full-time (40 hrs/week) of research to be disbursed in two portions. Participants sign a contract clearly outlining the programmatic activities and expectations. If scientifically warranted, program graduates are financially supported to perform research (10 hrs/week) during their academic year. The program also supports attendance at a national research conference to present their scientific accomplishments.
The 2025 summer Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program will start on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Students on the quarter system may have a later start date.
Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Application
Applications must be submitted online. The application opens in early November each year and closes by the end of January/early February the following year. The following dates are for the 2025 program:
Application open: Monday, November 11, 2024
Application close: Sunday, February 2, 2025, by 11:59pm PST
Application Link
Applicants must provide their personal information, a professional resume, a complete undergraduate unofficial transcript, a personal statement (500 words) describing their accomplishments and future career plans, and letters of recommendation. First-year students may provide ONE letter from their LA-HIP mentor (PI). Sophomores and juniors are required to submit TWO letters.
Applicants who previously participated in the Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program are required to submit a 300-word abstract of their research and a letter of recommendation from their prior mentor.
A group of qualified faculty will review each application and score it based on the applicant’s academic standing, past scientific accomplishments, current career vision, personal statement, and professional recommendation. A final decision will be made by mid-March.
Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Staff
Director
Emil Bogenmann, PhD, EdD - is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He came to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as a postdoctoral fellow, received his first NIH RO1 grant in 1983, and, since then, has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health. His laboratory research focused on the biology of pediatric tumors, in particular neuroectoderm-derived malignancies such as retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma.
In 2016, he established the Samuels Family LA-HIP high school internship program and the LA-HIP 2.0 program, which has since evolved into the Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program. These programs provide biomedical research training and career development for students from underserved communities.
Outside the laboratory, Dr. Bogenmann is an accomplished ceramist with studios in Los Angeles and Japan. You can find him on Instagram at @ebogenmann.
Program Administrator
Emmanuel Obasohan, MHA, is Program Administrator for the Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program. He aims to create a supportive environment where students can realize their full potential and continue to thrive. He also oversees the program’s organization and coordination, ensuring it fosters both academic and personal growth.
Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Class of 2024
| Name | LA-HIP Cohort | University/Institution | Area of Research |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Egboh | 2022 | Children’s Hospital Los Angeles | Impact of Early-Life High-Fat Diets on Microglia Activation and Neuroinflammation in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS) of P21 Mice |
| Amerie Samuels | 2022 | University of California, Los Angeles | Investigating the effects that early life adversity has on developmental behaviors as well as neuron-microglia interactions within the nucleus accumbens |
| Julianna Barba | 2022 | University of California, Los Angeles | Investigation of the molecular mechanism of 25(OH)D3 for promoting the bone regeneration of MC-GAG |
| Tara Moore | 2022 | University of California, Los Angeles | Radiation Oncology |
| Alondra Carrillo | 2022 | University of California, Los Angeles | Oligodendrocyte SPON1 acts to promote remyelination after stroke by driving cell adhesion |
| Samantha Lopez | 2022 | University of Southern California | Cell types in lizard tail regeneration |
| Jason Perez | 2022 | Children’s Hospital Los Angeles | Effects of early life high-fat diets on dopaminergic circuitry development in P21 mice |
Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Class of 2023
| Name | LA-HIP Cohort | University/Institution | Area of Research |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lama Ahmed | 2022 | University of California, Los Angeles | CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing on Jak3 gene for SCID (Severe combined immunodeficiency) |
| Andrea Lanz | 2022 | University of Southern California | Cellular origin of lung adenocarcinoma, specifically verifying if it can emerge from alveolar epithelial type 1 cells. |
| Xochitl Morales | 2022 | Columbia University | Sex differences in tissue engineered cartilage with a focus in orthopedics and osteoarthritis. |
| Heidy Paniagua | 2022 | Children’s Hospital Los Angeles | Identification of MDM4-amplified retinoblastoma by aqueous humor liquid biopsy |
Student Testimonials
“This past summer, I had the opportunity to work in Dr. Anna Kamitakahara’s lab at CHLA, where I researched the effects of early-life high-fat diet exposure on microglial activation and neuroinflammation in the brainstem, specifically in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS). Using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, I analyzed microglial morphology and quantified markers like Iba1, CD68, and IB4 to explore the mechanisms underlying diet-induced neural changes. This experience was transformative, as it not only deepened my understanding of neuroscience but also reinforced my passion for research. The Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program provided a collaborative environment that helped me grow both technically and personally, solidifying my goal of becoming a physician-scientist dedicated to addressing neurological health disparities.”
— Samuel Egboh, Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Class of 2024, LA-HIP Class of 2022
“As a first generation, low-income student there is always a bit of hesitance surrounding conversations of a higher education. Not because I didn’t think I was capable, but more so because of the cost tied to a higher education. The Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program and LA-HIP program have been able to help me tackle that hesitation and live in a reality where I can pursue my love for science all while aiding me in paying for my tuition. Thank you for investing in my future!”
— Heidy Paniagua, Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Class of 2023, LA-HIP Class of 2022
“Starting with LA-HIP the summer before my senior year of high school, I genuinely feel that my life has been set on a new trajectory. Without having had the first LA-HIP experience, which set me up for success with the Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program I don’t think I’d be all that interested in research at all. I’m not even sure if I’d be at the university I’m at now had it not been for LA-HIP. I strongly feel that the Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program has also set me ahead of some of my peers in terms of gaining real research experience as well as mentorship and structure.”
— Samantha Lopez, Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Class of 2024, LA-HIP Class of 2022
“The Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program was an incredible experience, I am beyond grateful to have had the exposure of working in a professional lab setting. I gained experience in important techniques such as PCR gel electrophoresis, immunofluorescence staining, mouse handling, mouse dissection, and presenting lab work in a poster session. My mentor, Dr. Aaron Neely, helped me grow in confidence and inspired me to think critically in every aspect of my research projects.”
— Andrea Lanz, Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Class of 2023, LA-HIP Class of 2022
“Before LA-HIP, I had a strong passion for science, but during my time in the Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program, that general love for science turned into a love for research, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My major at UCLA was Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and I am now pursuing graduate studies in Cancer Biology and Genomics at USC. I was very fortunate to start my research career with LA-HIP, which laid the foundation for my undergraduate research at UCLA and my current work at USC. During my undergraduate studies, I presented a poster based on my research at a departmental retreat. The focus was on pancreatic cancer and the role of mutant KRAS in the progression and maintenance of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. I tested various mutant KRAS inhibitors to determine their effects on PDAC. My experiences with LA-HIP, the Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program, UCLA, and now USC have all been pivotal in shaping my research career.”
— Ulises Izquierdo, Chuck Lorre Research Scholars Program Class of 2021
