Sunshine Coast Clinical School (SCCS) Potential Student Research Projects Prof. Dario Sorrentino, SCCS and UQ, Nambour Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology. Since CD almost invariably manifests itself clinically at an advanced, complicated stage and the patient is treated with multiple medications, research data from human tissues are difficult to interpret. Likewise, animal models closely resembling human CD are not available as of today. CD has a strong polyfactorial genetic component and tends to be more frequent in families with one or more affected members. The availability of tissue samples from unaffected (but at high risk) individuals as well as patients in a very initial phase of disease without the influence of medications could shed major light on CD aetiology and pathogenesis. Hence this project aims at claryfing several potentially crucial steps of CD pathogenesis using already collected tissue from CD patients, controls and first degree relatives (FDR). Project 1 Metagenomic study of Crohn’s disease Microbial genome sequencing allows the unbiased identification of microbial communities without the need for prior culturing techniques. Next generation sequencing will be employed to identify differences in microbial communities from three patient groups (normal/healthy, Crohn’s disease and first degree relatives). Certain microbes have the ability to adhere to the gut epithelium and may contain genes related to the immune response observed in Crohn’s disease. DNA will be extracted from tissue biopsy samples of 5-10 patients from each group, outsourced for next generation sequencing and analysed to determine the microbiome of each group. Different gene sequences observed between groups may identify genes of interest to Crohn’s progression and can then be pursed in individual patients via other molecular biological techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Project 2 Genomic study of Crohn’s disease In addition to microbial profiling the next generation sequencing used to analyse the DNA extracted from patient biopsy samples of three different Crohn’s groups (normal/healthy, Crohn’s disease and first degree relatives) can be used to identify genetic differences between groups of patients. DNA will be extracted from tissue biopsy samples of 5-10 patients from each group, outsourced for next generation sequencing and analysed to determine the presence of different gene sequences between groups. The genes will be compared to publicly available databases to allow identification and annotation. Genes identified to be of interest to Crohn’s progression can then be pursed in individual patients via other molecular biological techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (QPCR), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, and promoter region differences (promoters initiate gene transcription, a slight variation in promoter sequence may affect gene expression/function) . Project 3 Differential gene expression profiling in Crohn’s disease progression In order to identify genes that may be involved in the progression of Crohn’s disease, gene expression profiling using microarrays has been employed in three patient groups (normal/healthy, Crohn’s disease and first degree relatives). The microarrays contain 28,000 human gene sequences and are used to examine gene expression levels via fluorescent markers. The genes that are identified as differentially expressed can then be further analysed via additional molecular biological techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (QPCR) and promoter region differences (promoters initiate gene transcription, a slight variation in promoter sequence may affect gene expression/function) in additional patients displaying varying stages of Crohn’s disease. These projects are best suited for Honours degree students and data collection can be completed in a few weeks time – to be spent in the lab. They will be conducted at the University of the Sunshine Coast in collaboration with Dr. Anna Kuballa. CONTACT: Prof. Dario Sorrentino Dario_Sorrentino@health.qld.gov.au Sunshine Coast Clinical School (SCCS) High Risk Aortic Stenosis Supervisor: Dr Alexander Willson Contact: Alexander_Willson@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644 Details: • Assist developing a database on patients with server AS in the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service District. • Assess predictors of death, myocardial infarction and hospital admissions. • Compare Medical Mx patients to surgical to transcatheter AVR. STEMI – Establishment of a primary PCI program: outcomes before and after Supervisor: Dr Alexander Willson Contact: Alexander_Willson@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644 Details: • Assist in the monitoring of outcomes following the implementation of a primary PCI service to the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service. • Measure mortality, myocardial infarction and door to balloon times in STEMI patients before and after implementation of the service (start date November 2012). Foecal transplantation in IBD Supervisor: Associate Professor Johan van den Bogaerde Contact: Johan_van_den_Bogaerde@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644 Cardiac function in cirrhotic patients Supervisor: Associate Professor Johan van den Bogaerde Contact: Johan_van_den_Bogaerde@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644 Modes of care in general medicine / MAPU and home ward systems Supervisor: Associate Professor Johan van den Bogaerde Contact: Johan_van_den_Bogaerde@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644 Neutropenic Sepsis Audit Supervisor: Dr Helen Weston Contact: Helen_Weston@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644 • Assessment of outcomes of patients treated by oncology and haematology at Nambour General Hospital with neutropenic sepsis. • Retrospective audit following update of protocol in January 2012. HIV medicine: implementing clinical pathways and key performance indicators into HIV clinical practice Supervisor: Dr Jennifer Broom Contact: Jennifer_Broom@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644 Antimicrobial stewardship: Evaluating the implementation of an AMS programme at Nambour Hospital Supervisor: Dr Jennifer Broom Contact: Jennifer_Broom@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644 Antimicrobial prescribing: What are the cultural factors in hospitals that determine antimicrobial prescribing by hospital doctors? How can we improve compliance with clinical guidelines for antibiotic prescribing Supervisor: Dr Jennifer Broom Contact: Jennifer_Broom@health.qld.gov.au or via the Sunshine Coast Clinical School on 5470 5644