Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2007

Mentor: Dr. I. Butovich
Department: Ophthalmology
Room number: E7.140
Mail Code: 9057
Phone number: 214-648-3523
E-mail: igor.butovich@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Docosahexaenoic acid and its derivatives: development of methods of analysis.

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Basic Research

Brief Description of Project:

The goal of this long-term project is to develop chromatographic and mass-spectrometric procedures suitable for detecting minor quantities of docosahexaenoic acid (an essential omega-3 fatty acid, DHA) and related compounds, in complex lipid mixtures.
DHA is an important precursor of novel anti-inflammatory compounds called "neuroprotectins" and "protectins" which are formed during the resolution phase of inflammation through a set of concerted enzymatic redox reactions. DHA is also a component of various complex lipids which play an important role in vision participating in development and functioning of retina. As DHA deficiency is linked to various diseases and pathological states, there is a need in developing robust and sensitive methods of its analysis.
The student will learn the essential laboratory techniques related to sample preparation and analyses, including weighing, dissolving, filtration, extraction, etc. He/she will learn the basics of spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and mass-spectrometric analyses of a range of lipids, primarily DHA and related compounds. In addition, he/she will participate in data analysis and interpretation. The results are to be presented at next ARVO conference with the student as co-author of the presentation.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
2006: Three summer students, all of which are coauthors of accepted poster presentations (ARVO 2007).

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