A three-year, National Institutes of Health-funded residential project at a southeastern research university immersed 83 secondary science teachers in a summer institute called "Bench to Bedside." Teachers were provided with knowledge, skills, experiences, and incentives to improve their science teaching skills and increase their awareness of scientific processes, technologies, and careers through examination of the translational medicine continuum of basic to clinical research. This was done with the help of medical school researchers, clinical personnel, biotechnology entrepreneurs, program mentors, and participants from the previous year. A critical component of the institute was the preparation and implementation of an action research project that reflected teachers' newly acquired knowledge and skills. Action research proposals were critiqued by project team members and feedback was provided prior to action research implementation in schools during the following year. Teachers shared their action research with colleagues and the project team at a symposium and online as a critical step in networking the teachers. Results of a mixed methods program evaluation strategy, including data derived from open and closed survey items as well as program observations, indicate that the program produced significant gains in teachers' confidence to explain advanced biosciences topics, development of action research skills, and formation of a statewide biosciences network of key stakeholders.