Sanford PROMISE
Sanford PROMISE is the outreach arm of Sanford Research. We connect the communities in our region with cutting-edge biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. Sanford PROMISE is the premiere medical research outreach program in the Great Plains region. Through community engagement and rural outreach, we promote science literacy and contribute to STEM workforce development by building awareness of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research.
Our mission is to build awareness of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research and its connection to the standards of care, through community outreach and engagement. We are dedicated to creating a science outreach program that stimulates learners to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and the innovators of tomorrow.
Get the full picture of the Sanford PROMISE impact through this data dashboard.
Resources for educators:
- Lesson plans aligned with national standards, complete with educational slideshows, videos, and hands on activities that are tied to the cutting-edge science done at Sanford Research.
- Professional Development for educators. Registration for summer 2026 is open.
- Classroom visits: Bring the PROMISE team to your classroom or bring your class to our state-of-the-art facility at Sanford Research.
- Borrow equipment from our Equipment Lending Library to use for free in your classroom.
- PROMISE Community Lectures are community events that highlight the work done at Sanford Research.
Opportunities for high school students:
- Biomedical Research Investigation Days are day-long immersive experiences in the PROMISE lab. Dive deep into a subject that is studied at Sanford Research on a no-school day.
- Teen Science Café is a group run by teens for teens. This group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at features a different speaker each time. Come to one or come to them all. Open to students in 7th-12th grade.
- PROMISE Community Lectures are community events that highlight the work done at Sanford Research.
- The Research Shadowing Program provides shadow opportunities to students 16 years or older and will give you a chance to check out the daily life of a research scientist.
- PROMISE Scholar Program- This 10 week program is open to students during the summer after their junior year. Applications open every November and close by the end of January.
Opportunities for middle school students:
- Teen Science Café is a group run by teens for teens. This group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at features a different speaker each time. Come to one or come to them all. Open to students in 7th-12th grade.
- Sanford PROMISE offers summer programs for middle school students including one day programs and multiple day programs.
Elementary
We spark curiosity and instill problem-solving skills in younger kids – while making science fun.
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Middle School
Students will dive into the basics of scientific learning and examine the “whys” of our world.
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High School
At advanced levels, we help students apply scientific concepts and take charge of their learning.
Start HereAbout PROMISE
The Sanford Program for the Midwest Initiative in Science Exploration (PROMISE) was developed to connect communities in our region with cutting edge science and research. In 2010, Sanford Research created an outreach program to provide science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experiences for K-12 students across South Dakota and neighboring states...
Learn More About PROMISEBlog
Meet The Scientists Kyle Roux
Dr. Kyle Roux is not only a leading scientist at Sanford Research, but is also the innovator of BioID, a revolutionary lab tool used to isolate and identify specific protein interactions. From Emory University and the University of Florida, Dr. Roux brought his expertise in BioID and the nuclear envelope to Sanford Research in 2011. From there, he built his lab on the fundamentals of compassion and joint success; “...if the other people in your department aren’t doing well, then you’re not going to do well” (Roux). These principles are what make Dr. Roux a highly respected leader in the scientific community at Sanford Research.
Meet The Scientists Lance Lee
At Sanford Research, Dr. Lance Lee exists as a mentor, educator, and a respected leader whose dedication to discovery has helped shape his field and the next generation of scientists through his immense passion, scientific curiosity and positive character. Lee has built a career at Sanford defined not only by his contributions to the pediatric ciliary field, but also as a figure standing firm for the purpose of advancing humanity and shepherding graduates towards the future.
Medical Ethics Help Set Research Standards
When you hear about research studies and clinical trials at Sanford Research, you can be sure that it was reviewed by an ethical committee. But what does that mean? And why does it matter?
Resources
Mitosis and Cell Cycle Printables
PrintableUnderstanding mitosis and the cell cycle is an integral part of the biology curriculum as well as the every day functions of a research scientist. This set of activity pages was designed to help reinforce vocabulary and essential concepts relating to mitosis and the cell cycle. Use one page or use them all.
Probabilities of Inheritance
PrintableThere are over 10,000 rare diseases that affect over 30 million Americans. Many rare diseases follow a Mendelian pattern of inheritance. This activity allows students to apply their knowledge of Mendelian genetics patterns and encourages them to research what is known about the diseases. The National Organization for Rare Disorders has information that can be used by students.
Teen Science Cafe Delta Dental
VideoTeen Science Cafe is a student-led group held at Sanford Research once a month. Students invite speakers to teach them about a science topic and do hands-on activities. In this Teen Science Cafe, educators from Delta Dental teach students about tooth decay and how prevention is a much better strategy than treatment.