Research Bursary Program
Supervisor Project Proposal for Summer 2015
Supervisor Last Name: Filion
Supervisor First Name: Kristian
McGill Dept/School: Medicine
Faculty Professor (Full, Associate or Assistant): Assistant
Email: kristian.filion@mcgill.ca
Phone No. (optional): (514) 340-8222 x8394
Research Field: Clinical Epidemiology/Cardiology
Proposal No. (1 or 2): 2
Research Location (McGill or affiliated institution): Jewish General Hospital/Lady Davis Institute
Ethics approval will be required for proposed project (Yes/No): No
Proposed project will involve chart reviews (Yes/No): No
Project Title (maximum 1 line):
The efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Hypothesis/Question to be Addressed (maximum 4 lines):
To examine the efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors among patients with elevated low density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Specific Aims (maximum 10 lines):
PCSK9 inhibitors are a class of medications recently approved for the treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol,
particularly among patients who are intolerant to statins. With the recent publication of RCTs examining the
efficacy and safety of this class of medications, it is an opportune time to synthesize the available evidence
through a systematic review and meta-analysis to help inform treatment decisions. In this systematic review, the
student will systematically search PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Register of Randomized Controlled Trials for
all placebo-controlled RCTs examining PCSK9 inhibitors. Inclusion will be restricted to RCTs that randomized at
least 50 patients and had at least 3 months of follow-up. Outcomes of interest will include change in LDL level,
cardiovascular events, and other adverse events. Study quality will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias
tool. Data will be statistically pooled across trials using random-effects models. In sensitivity analyses, inclusion
will be restricted to patients who are intolerant to statins.
Role of Student (maximum 15 lines):
The student will be responsible for all aspects of the research project, including designing and conducting the
literature search, assessing inclusion/exclusion of potentially relevant articles, performing data extraction,
assessing the quality of included studies, conducting descriptive statistical analyses, and writing the manuscript.
Statistical support will be available for the conduct of the meta-analyses. The student will also have the
opportunity to participate in summer seminars, shadow clinical colleagues, and engage in other research team
activities.