Arash Kheradvar, UC Irvine professor of biomedical engineering, is co-principal investigator on a project to study congenital heart defects. As part of the National Science Foundation-funded initiative, Dr. Kheradvar invited local area high school students into his laboratory on the UCI campus. The students got first-hand exposure to cardiovascular research activities, experts in the field and the latest medical research technologies. The outcome was a group of students well-prepared to pursue further education in biomedical engineering.