Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2009

Mentor: Ildiko Lingvay, MD, MPH, MSCS
Department: IM/Endo
Room number: U9.134E
Mail Code: 8857
Phone number: 214-648-2779
E-mail: Ildiko.lingvay@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Role of pancreatic triglyceride content in beta-cell function

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 042007-021

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

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) patient-based

Brief Description of Project:
Through a series of experiments, we are evaluating the relationship between pancreatic fat content (measured noninvasively with an MRI/MRSpectroscopy based method) and beta-cell function in human volunteers. We are ultimately trying to establish (1) if accumulation of fat in the pancreas is harmful in humans, representing a pathophysiologic pathway for development of beta-cell failure and ultimately diabetes; (2) if measurement of pancreatic fat content in humans is a useful clinical tool to identify patients who will develop diabetes. During a short 4 week rotation a resident would learn how to perform metabolic testing, how the pancreatic fat content is being quantified, how to collect and organize research data, how to recruit and enroll human volunteers in research studies. Though completing a project over such a short period of time is unlikely, I encourage continuous participation in the project with input into data analysis and abstract/manuscript writing.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students: