Dean of Postgraduate Research
Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Extension: 7285
Email:
lucy.johnston@canterbury.ac.nz
Summer Research Scholarship Scheme
2014-2015
Project Application Form
Please complete and submit the application form as a WORD document and send to
summerscholarships@canterbury.ac.nz
The Project
Title of Project (max 30 words):
Development of a new urinary myoglobin assay for trauma patients
Project Leader(s):
A/Prof Steven Gieseg, School of Biological Sciences.
Dr Geoff Shaw, Department of Intensive Care, Christchurch Hospital.
Host Department/Organization:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury
Other persons involved in this topic/activity:
(List other significant members involved along with their affiliation to the research project.)
Name
Affiliation to project
Angus Lindsay
PhD student working on trauma in Rugby Players
Dr John Lewis
Advisory, Canterbury Health Laboratories
Brief outline of project
Describe the proposed research project – maximum of 400 words (box will expand as you type).
The measurement of myoglobin in urine and serum is a crucial indicator of muscle damage due to physical
trauma. High levels of plasma myoglobin can cause serious kidney damage. Using a new developed
antibody method (ELISA) we just completed an extensive study on trauma in professional rugby players.
Though effective the assay was extremely costly and time dependent. It also had a very narrow detection
range. This project will develop a reverse phase high performance chromatography (RP-HPLC) assay to
measure urinary myoglobin. The assay will be developed to measure myoglobin in the clinically relevant 0.1
and 10 mg/ml range as observed in our previous studies. HPLC is relatively less expensive than commercial
ELISA assays and has the advantage of not being affected by changes in the stability of the antibody binding
sites.
The initial research will involve developing the RP-HPLC method using urine samples spiked with a known
concentration of human myoglobin. The method will be optimised for myoglobin retention and separation
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from the complex matrix of urine. Myoglobin values will be quantified against the creatinine and specific
gravity of the urine. The procedure will then be applied to samples taken previously from professional rugby
players before and after games. The refined procedure will then be trialed with selected samples taken from
patients at Christchurch Hospital. This will require additional ethics permission which the student will be
involved in applying for through the Canterbury University Ethics Committee.
This research project will develop a new chromatography method that is fast, reliable and provides a more
cost effective myoglobin assay that can be used to measure the extent of muscle damage from trauma.
If the project involves work away from the University campus (e.g., at fieldwork sites) please detail all locations.
The research will be conducted within the Free Radical Biochemistry Laboratory in the School of Biological
Sciences. Samples may be collected from the hospital ICU.
If the student be required to work outside of normal university hours (8am-5pm) please provide details
It is possible that the analytic equipment will need to be serviced in the evening depending on the number of
samples. The student would be given afterhours access to the laboratory.
Benefits student will gain from involvement in the project
Describe the research experience and skills that the student will acquire through involvement in this research project –
maximum of 100 words.
The student will learn how to operate an analytical chromatography machine and handle clinical samples.
They will be part of a large multidiscipline group of eight postgraduates and researchers. They will have the
opportunity to interact with medical staff and learn how to carry out clinical research and development. The
laboratory has extensive experience in the development of HPLC methods with links to industry.
Specific student requirements
Please provide details of all requirements you have for the student to work on this project – for example, if specific
courses/experience are necessary.
The student should have experience in either physiology, biochemistry or organic chemistry to a third year
level.
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