Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2010

Mentor: Connie C.W. Hsia, M.D.
Department: Internal Medicine / Pulmonary
Room number: H8.122A
Mail Code: 9034
Phone number: (214) 648-3426
E-mail: Connie.Hsia@utsouthwestern.edu

Project 1

Project title: Vitamin D Homeostasis in Sarcoidosis

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 062008-018
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A
Project Type: Patient-based research

Brief Description of Project 1:
Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease with multi-organ involvement. The disease is typically more severe in African American patients who are also more likely to suffer from deficiency of vitamin D, an essential hormone with potent anti-inflammatory properties. This project explores the possible link between vitamin D deficiency and the severity as well as natural progression of sarcoidosis.

Project 2

Project title: Pulmonary Oxygen Transport in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0502-233
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A
Project Type: Patient-based research

Brief Description of Project 2:
Diabetes mellitus affects all organs including the lung. The degree of pulmonary physiological impairment can be measured non-invasively. This study will determine if the decrement in lung function in diabetic patients parallels other indices of microangiopathy, whether established impairment in lung function could be reversed. We measure lung function at rest and during graded exercise in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and relate the results to glycemia, metabolic syndrome, and extrapulmonary complications.

Project 3

Project title: Hypoxia Challenge as a Stimulus for Lung Growth in a Model of Restrictive Lung Disease

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 2008-0431
Project Type: Animal-based research, Basic research

Brief Description of Project 3:
Oxidative stress is a universal phenomenon that all organisms experience from conception to death. Exposure to altered oxygen tension, either hyperoxia or hypoxia, exerts complex effects on lung growth, adaptation and aging. We study genetically modified rodent models to examine the effects of oxygen tension on cellular signaling and tissue adaptation during developmental and compensatory lung growth.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

- 1999, Samson Leung. Summer Medical Student project, "Effect of Retinoic Acid on Regenerative Lung Growth."
- 2002, Geoff Elmore. Summer Medical Student project, "Exogenous Retinoic Acid Enhances Strain-induced Lung Growth Following Pneumonectomy." Selected for presentation at the 41st Annual Medical Student Research Forum.
- 2005, Andrew Crabbe. Summer Medical Student project, "Pulmonary Oxygen Transport in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus." Selected for presentation at the 44th Annual Medical Student Research Forum.
- Yan X, DJ Bellotto, DM Dane, RG Elmore, RL Johnson Jr, AS Estrera, and CCW Hsia. Lack of response to all-trans retinoic acid supplementation in adult dogs following left pneumonectomy. J Appl Physiol 99:1681-1688, 2005.