Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2008

Mentor: Mamta K. Jain, MD, MPH
Department: Internal Medicine
Room number: Y7.312
Mail Code: 9113`
Phone number: 214-648-9914
E-mail: mamta.jain@utsouthwestern.edu

Project 1

Project title: Comparison of HCV quasi-species of NS5A between African Americans and Caucasians

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):102005-009

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:
This is part of on-going study which will examine HCV viral kinetics among HIV/HCV coinfected versus HCV mono-infected patients. We have found that the viral kinetic parameters are different between African Americans and Caucasians and wanted to examine if this translates into differences in the HCV sequences. The student will perform PCR, extract RNA, isolate clones, and sequence the clonal product. Then the student will use Vector NTI to align and analyze the clones and compare group differences.

Project 2

Project title: Examination of Liver Biopsies Among HIV/HCV compared to HCV patients

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 052006-035

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)

clinical research

Brief Description of Project:
A large database of HCV patients who have had liver biopsies in the last 5 years has been developed. The role of the student will be to complete data collection of those in the database and enter new patients. The student will learn to use Access Database. They will be involved in "cleaning the raw data". That means deleting duplicates or patients who do not meet criteria. Making sure the data is correct by spot checks with electronic records. The student will do a descriptive analysis, using queries through Access, to compare those with HIV/HCV and HCV alone. From the preliminary analysis, further refinement of the database may be needed including review of medical records.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students: