On January 23, 2019 National Institute of Health – National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIHNIDDK) officials visited the campus and met with PCC President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei. They also had the opportunity to visit local high schools in Palau and provided information about NIH-NIDDK Short-Term Research Experience for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-Up) program which is hosted by the college. The STEP-Up program is designed to provide opportunities for individual high school students in biomedical and behavioral research as well as hands-on clinical laboratory and social/behavioral research during summer session. The main purpose is to ignite and foster students’ interest in scientific research and investigation leading up to careers in medical and/ or science field. Since 2014, STEP-Up has had students from various high schools in Palau participating in an eight (8) week summer program. Students also had the opportunity to present their research abstract/projects at the end of summer at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.