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