Indiana undergrads researching diseases with Cuban school

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana undergraduate students are partnering with the University of Havana on a program researching treatments for neglected diseases.

Such diseases are those that have little or no financial incentive to research because they affect small or poverty-stricken populations. Students and researchers with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis recently traveled to Cuba to begin a partnership with the University of Havana on the topic.

IUPUI says its program is more affordable because it breaks down research into small components that can be distributed to multiple low-cost sites. Many of the sites are in classrooms where students in organic chemistry lab courses study molecules that have drug potential. School officials say the program also gives university student good learning experiences.