Twenty public school teachers spent today's "furlough Friday" in a classroom of sorts.

They received training in the latest scientific techniques inside laboratories at the University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine.

The professional development program, made possible by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, is running on seven furloughed school days and began on Feb. 12. The program by the medical school's Center for Cardiovascular Research is aimed at building the skills of teachers and helping them interest their students in biomedical science careers.

Medical school dean Jerris Hedges said the teachers were selected from schools across the state.

Sessions are focused on pressing health concerns that disproportionately affect Hawaii's community.