Teaching kids about biomedical engineering and health through a superhero theme
Official title: BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SUPERHEROES: Health Science, Engineering, and Data Science Elementary Curriculum Development & Outreach Program
Funded at University of Texas San Antonio · NIH-10888842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This fun program is designed for elementary school kids, especially those from different backgrounds, to get excited about careers in biomedical engineering and health sciences by learning about important health issues like obesity and diabetes through hands-on activities and a superhero theme.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas San Antonio NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $267,759 |
| NIH project number | 1R25EB036584-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10888842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this program are elementary school students, particularly those in 5th grade, who are interested in science and engineering.
✕Less likely to help
Students outside of the 5th grade or those not interested in science and engineering may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
This program aims to inspire elementary school students, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, to explore careers in biomedical engineering and health sciences. Using a superhero theme, the curriculum will engage students in active learning about important health issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. The program includes 18 hours of educational content delivered over five Saturdays, along with a community health fair to promote public health awareness. Students will learn through hands-on activities that integrate engineering design, data science, and health science.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could empower young students to pursue careers in health and engineering fields, ultimately improving community health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Similar educational outreach programs have shown success in engaging students in STEM fields and improving health literacy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas San Antonio
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez Ortiz, Araceli — University of Texas San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Martinez Ortiz, Araceli
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.