Summer Assistantship Faculty Sponsor List Summer 2012 Below is a list of Brown faculty who have expressed an interest in working with medical students this summer. We urge you to contact them early in your application process to discuss potential collaborations. Please note that that you are not limited to faculty on this list – you may identify other faculty mentors independently. All Summer Assistantship application materials must be submitted electronically as email attachments to Laura_McDonald@brown.edu no later than February 23, 2012. Faculty Member Elizabeth McQuaid Elizabeth_McQuaid@brown.edu Brian Alverson, MD Director, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Brown University Rhode Island Hospital 593 Eddy St, Potter Bldg, Rm. 108 Providence, RI 02903 Phone: 401-444-7396 Fax: 401-444-5527 Ian C Michelow, MD Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Center for International Health Research Hasbro Children's Hospital Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases 55 Claverick Street Suite 101E Providence, RI 02903 Tel: 401-444-6548 Project Child & Adolescent Psychiatry researchers within the Department of Psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital are seeking postbaccalaureate research trainees to participate in NIMH-funded research activities related to recruitment and administration of grant activities. This opportunity will provide excellent research training and public health experience. Students may have the opportunity to participate in manuscript preparation and earn authorship status. We’re hoping to look at a national database to evaluate antimicrobial use among physicians managing pediatric pneumonia and pediatric bronchiolitis. Part of the work would be applying for the brown grant for summer work, and there’s also a $2000 grant from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) which would be very competitive. Respiratory Viral Infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit This pilot study will evaluate how often a viral pathogen is identified in infants who are >72 hours of age and are evaluated for possible sepsis, as well as the impact of viral infection on other co-morbidities. Infants will be enrolled in the NICU at Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, RI over a two-year period. It is expected that at least 100 infants will be enrolled. The clinical course of the infant will be followed, culture results and antibiotic therapy will be documented, and information will be collected to evaluate possible association with other comorbidities (e.g. bronchopulmonary Student Requirements/ Restrictions Temporary positions are full time (40 hours) for 13 weeks. Non SA Funding Students interested in doing clinical outcomes research in pediatrics. Additional funding may be available, but students should apply for SA. A medical student is wanted to do a chart review for the pilot study. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. Rebecca Allen, OB/GYN 2 Dudley St, Providence 401-274-1122 x2724 rhallen@wihri.org Steven Schechter, MD Dept Surgery, Division Colorectal Surgery 334 East Ave, Pawtucket,RI. 02860 401 725-4888 sschechter@lifespan.org Linda Tartell, MD Senior Partner, Swansea Pediatrics Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert School of Medicine 14 Lorson Lane Rehoboth, MA 02769 (508) 252-3219(h) (401) 524-4991(c) Linda_Tartell@brown.edu Katerina Tsiapali, MD, FACS The Breast Health Center, One Blackstone Place, Providence, RI 02905 Phone #: 4014130011 Etsiapali@wihri.org Tara L. White, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Behavioral and Social Sciences Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies dysplasia among preterm infants). Contraceptive Needs of NICU Mothers. This project will survey mothers of infants in the neonatal ICU regarding their postpartum contraceptive knowledge and needs especially in regards to prevention of repeat preterm birth. The summer project would involve setting up a data base for following patients with anal condyloma. Anal condyloma is due to the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) which is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the U.S.. This would allow a longitudinal study of a cohort of patients in terms of outpatient management of anal condyloma. Exposure to patients will be encouraged. A Bioethics Research Project, pending approval: The Effects and Practical Outcomes of Ethics Committee Consults; Specifically, End of Life Issues This is a study to evaluate the practical outcomes of the Ethics Committee consults at Rhode Island Hospital, mostly in the MICU and RICU. Consults are requested by medical staff when a case requires a discussion of ethical principles, due to conflicts among patients, surrogates, house staff, and attendings. The Ethics Committee is made up of a diverse group that includes physicians and representatives from risk management, clergy, legal department, nursing, and social services. The study is focusing on fertility preservation options for young women diagnosed with breast cancer and young BRCA (+) patients. It consists of questionnaires administered to the patients examining whether fertility preservation options were offered to these patients at the time of diagnosis and potential barriers in accessing the pertinent services. Demographic and disease specific data will also be extracted from the charts. Title: fMRI investigation of emotion and drug effects. Description: investigation of alcohol effects on functional brain response to emotional stimuli, in the context Highly organized friendly student to administer surveys, collect completed surveys, perform chart reviews, and enter data. Analysis can be learned on the job. Students will need to have computer skills. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. The ideal student would have an interest in bioethics, preferably some undergraduate philosophy background, an interest in research and writing. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. No specific previous experience/qualificati ons are required. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. prior research experience with human subjects unix, data processing No external funding. Student should apply for SA. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. Brown University Box G-S121-4 121 S. Main St. Providence, RI 02912 of concurrent HIV infection and drinking history Tel: +1 401 863-6625 Fax: +1 401 863-6647 E-mail: Tara_White@Brown.edu Andrew Green, MD Associate Professor Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Warren Alpert Medical School Brown University Chief of Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Administrative tel # 401-457-1515 Appointments and Patient tel# 401457-1533 Fax# 401-831-8637 Josiah D. Rich, MD, MPH Professor of Medicine and Community Health, Alpert School of Medicine Director, The Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights, The Miriam Hospital 164 Summit Avenue Providence, RI 02906 tel (401) 793-4770 fax (401) 793-4779 jrich@lifespan.org Interested students should contact Linda Rogers, Executive Assistant to Dr. Rich at lrogers@lifespan.org. Daniel M. Weinreich, Asst Prof Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Center for Computational Molecular Biology Office: 300 Walter Hall, 80 Waterman Street Lab: Sydney Frank Hall/LSB 157, 60 Olive Street Brown University, Providence, RI 02912 Outcomes assessment of total shoulder arthroplasty. The student would work with a data base of patients who have undergone shoulder replacements from 1999 to present collaborating with Dr Green, orthopaedic residents and fellows, and research assistants to study various aspects of outcome evaluation and assessments. In addition, there will be exposure to Dr Green's orthopaedic surgical practice. Description of project: we are working on a variety of potential research and advocacy projects that focus on incarcerated and other criminal justice involved populations that a student intern could work on. These include, for example, (i) screening, testing and treating strategies for infectious and other diseases in correctional settings; (ii) post-release linkages to care for incarcerated populations with HIV, HCV, and/or other diseases and illnesses; (iii) HCV screening, testing and treatment policies in prisons and large jails across the country; and (iv) developing a HCV education and prevention policy for the state. Characterizing Drug Resistance of Nonsense Mutants Recently an unexpectedly high level of functional green fluorescent protein was observed in Bacillus subtilis transformed with a mutant of the gene carrying missense or nonsense mutations (PNAS 107:11543-11548). We now seek to replicate and extend these results using the beta-lactamase gene in E coli. The incumbent will perform the necessary site-directed The ideal student candidate has an interest in orthopaedic surgery in general with a specific interest in learning more about outcome assessment. The student should be very conscientious, thoughtful, and careful in their work and must be able to interact with a variety of staff members and patients in a friendly and professional manner. The ideal student for this project will have an interest in working with vulnerable populations, as well as correctional health, infectious disease, public health, and/or substance abuse and addiction. Strong research and writing skills are definitely a plus. The student will need to be selfdirected as the project will in part be geared to the student’s specific interests and creativity The ideal student will have confidence in the lab, be able to work alone and in small groups, be curious and good company. Funding will be available through the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. Student should apply for SA. Office phone: 401/863-3937 lab 32749 fax 3-2166 http://research.brown.edu/myresear ch/Daniel_Weinreich Susan M. Kiene, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences Brown Program in Public Health Mailing address:University of Connecticut School of Medicine 263 Farmington Avenue, MC 6325 Farmington, CT 06030 Email: susan_kiene@brown.edu Office phone: 860-679-2729 Paul P. Christopher, MD Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior 345 Blackstone Blvd., Butler Hospital Ph: (401) 455-6356, paul_christopher@brown.edu James Padbury, MD Professor of Pediatrics and Perinatal Biology Vice Chair for Research, Department of Pediatrics The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Pediatrician-In-Chief Women & Infant's Hospital of Rhode Island Program Director, COBRE for Perinatal Biology Director, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences mutagenesis and assay the resulting mutants. This work is part of a larger research program aimed at dissecting the mechanistic basis of adaptive mutations in microbes, and complements a more mature project exploring antibiotic resistance evolution. should apply for SA. Alcohol and HIV-Risk among Fishermen and Commercial Sex Workers in Uganda In this project we are conducting formative research with the highestrisk groups (fishermen, fishmongers, alcohol-sellers, and SCWs) in fishing villages in Wakiso District, Uganda to understand the dynamics and social situations that facilitate alcohol and sexual risk behavior and facilitate community participation in the dissemination of health messages. We are also pilot testing methods for tracking and retaining participants who migrate to different fishing areas with the changing fishing seasons. “ U.S. legal statutes on the involuntary treatment of substance use disorders.” This project will examine how different states approach the issue of involuntary treatment for substance abuse in their legal statutes. During the elective, the student will have the opportunity to participate in the following aspects of the projects, depending on his/her interest: collection and analysis of data, conference presentation, and manuscript writing. “A Novel Bioinformatics and Genomics Approach to Perinatal Diseases.” Preterm delivery and preeclampsia are the leading causes of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. We are employing a Pathway Analysis based approach whereby we are curating the medical literature, public data bases and archives of expression and genetic data for genes with demonstrated relationship to preterm labor and preeclampsia. Curation teams will meet weekly at the Kilguss Research Institute. Students will also be trained in patient enrollment. Experience working on social/behavioral science research, and qualitative research. Familiarity with behavior change interventions, experience writing scientific manuscripts. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. Student should be interested in understanding the legal and ethical issues around mandatory treatment of addictions. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. Familiarity with the lexicon of Perinatal Medicine will be crucial in understanding the medical literature and enhance the students understanding of the implications of the research project. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. 101 Dudley St. Providence, RI 02905 Ofc: 401 274-1122,x7405 or x7407 Email: jpadbury@wihri.org Zoltan Derdak M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research) Liver Research Center of Rhode Island Hospital 55 Claverick St, 4th Floor Providence, RI, 02903 tel.: 401-444-2536 cell:401-497-5530 email: Zoltan_Derdak@brown.edu Martin A Weinstock Professor of Dermatology and Epidemiology Office located at the V A Medical Center Ph:401-457-3333 maw@brown.edu Joseph Rabatin, MD Assistant Professor (Clinical) of “ The role of p53 in the pathogenesis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease” Recent observations from our laboratory suggest that the transcriptional factor p53 has an important role in the pathogenesis of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Based on new data from our group, it seems that p53 orchestrates not only apoptosis and oxidative stress but also metabolic changes in these diseases. In the context of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) we demonstrated that p53 activates downstream targets that are directly involved in the regulation of hepatic insulin signaling and glucose metabolism. These metabolically active downstream targets may promote hepatic insulin resistance in ALD. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), p53 seems to contribute to hepatic triglyceride accumulation (steatosis) by suppressing SIRT1, which is a master regulator of hepatic fatty acid metabolism. Chemical inhibition of the transcriptional activity of p53 improved insulin resistance and steatosis in ALD and NAFLD, respectively. Summer students who are interested in this research topic would perform in vitro experiments to characterize changes in glucose and fatty acid metabolism in hepatocytes that have been treated with ethanol or various fatty acids in the presence or absence of a p53 inhibitor (or inhibitors against p53 downstream targets) to further elucidate those molecular pathways that link p53 to cellular metabolism. The Dermatoepidemiology Unit focuses on research involving cutaneous malignancies and dysplasias and teledermatology from an epidemiology/public health perspective. Summer projects typically involve analyses of datasets using software such as STATA, or sometimes collection of new data from the field relevant to the issues mentioned above. Primary Care research for motivational interviewing Interest in molecular biology and biochemistry. Longterm plans with research is an advantage. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. No specific requirements, ability to use the STATA program is necessary if the project will involve data analysis. No specific requirements No external funding. Student Medicine Memorial Hospital of RI joseph_rabatin@mhri.org Michelle Forcier MD MPH Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine Adolescent Health Center Suite 355 Coro West Providence RI 02903 Cell phone 401-256-0920 Clinic 401-444-5980 mforcier@lifespan.org Barbara S. Stonestreet, M.D. Department of Pediatrics Women & Infants Hospital of RI 101 Dudley Street Providence, RI 02905 Phone: (401) 274-1122 x7429 smoking interventions at Memorial Hospital of RI. A pilot study to see if doctors in training can be more effective in helping their patients quit smoking. Qualitative analysis of doctorpatient interactions to determine the extent to which a doctor is “patient centered” using validated interviews for patients after the visit. Difficult patient research to consider how difficult encounters are measurable different from non-difficult encounters from a National research group led by Dr. Mark Linzer called MEMO. Volunteering experiences as predictors of primary care careers: a national survey “Transgender Health: Improving Patient Outcomes by Improving Health Education & Opportunities for Care” The medical student will work in the clinic setting to develop patient, parent, and provider education materials designed to improve the health and well being of pediatric patients who are gender variant. The student will interact with patients, families, residents, and transgender advocates in order to craft materials such as: a “road map for care,” for the assessment and medical management of transgender youth ages 2-25; patient information and consent for initiating and maintaining cross gender hormones; patient materials regarding cross gender prosthetics and body care; and a referral list for medical, surgical, and mental health providers with gender expertise. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is the single most important neurologic problem in the perinatal period. In utero hemodynamic abnormalities possibly in association with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (cytokines) such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α predispose to brain injury, particularly in premature neonates… Our specific aims test the hypothesis that specific cytokines cross both the intact and injured BBB in the fetus to damage the brain. A consequence of this hypothesis is that blockade of these should apply for SA. The qualifications and previous experience of the ideal student for the project would include some experience with printing and graphics programs in order to design teen friendly education materials; some experience or interest in patient education and communication; and an open minded perspective and interest in sexual health and gender variance for youth in RI. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. We prefer the students that are at least in their second year with biology or neuroscience courses. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. Laura Levine, MD Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior VA Medical Center 830 Chalkstone Ave Providence, RI 02908 Laura_Levine@brown.edu Ph: 401-273-7100 ext 3878 Sheryl Kopel, MSc Project Director, Childhood Asthma Research Program | RIH Research Associate, DPHB | Brown Medical School 1 Hoppin Street, Suite 204 Providence, RI 02903 Sheryl_Kopel@brown.edu (401)444-7217 (401)793-8749 (fax) Cesario Bianchi Associate Prof of Surgery (Research) Department of Surgery 1 Hoppin Street Coro west room 5-229 Providence RI 02903 Tel: 401-7938221 Cbianchi1@lifespan.org or Cesario_bianchi@brown.edu cytokines would attenuate the ischemia related damage to the neurovascular unit (BBB) and possibly the brain. A multidisciplinary approach will be used to address our hypothesis and will include physiological, biochemical, pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular method…These studies will provide the first direct evidence whether systemic cytokines cross the intact or injured fetal BBB and whether blocking the effects of cytokines with neutralizing antibodies protect the fetal neurovascular unit (BBB) and brain. This project may provide new insights into novel strategies to prevent brain injury in the human fetus and/or premature infant. *Contact Laura McDonald for a more detailed project description. I am seeking a medical student to work with me in the opiate treatment program at the VA Hospital. The position involves creating and implementing a creative health education curriculum for a traditionally underserved and high risk population. The medical student would observe and assist with data collection for an ongoing study of health and school outcomes in urban children with asthma and healthy controls. With the mentorship of the principal investigator and project director, the student would develop a research topic to be examined with data from the study. Previous summer fellows have presented the results of their fellowship work at scientific conferences. Title: Dietary effects on pharmacogenomics. - The long-term objective is to determine to which extent dietary regimens occurring in the general population can affect the cardiac actions (as measured primarily by cardiac gene expression profiling) of common prescribed/over-thecounter drugs. -The project will be divided into two components: 1- Systemic review of the literature on the effect of diets on drug actions ( expected to have very few publications in this category) 2- Cardiac gene profiling analyses The student should have an interest in harm reduction, methadone maintenance, as well as infectious disease. No experience is necessary. Previous experience working with children and parents; familiarity with asthma; English and Spanish fluency (Spanish fluency is an advantage, not a requirement); research experience or completion of research methods class No previous qualifications required but some wet bench and/or bibliographic search and bioinformatic training desirable. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. Not able to provide full funding but willing to apply for short-term studentship at private foundations like AHA. Katherine M. Sharkey, MD, PhD Assistant Professor Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry & Human Behavior EP Bradley Hospital Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory 300 Duncan Drive Providence, RI 02906 tel: 401-421-9440 fax: 401-453-3578 Katherine_sharkey@brown.edu Peter D. Kramer, MD Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior 196 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02906 401-421-1250 pdk@brown.edu Brian Chow, MD (Fellow) Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hasbro Children’s Hospital 593 Eddy St. Building 018 (401) 444-8360 bchow@lifespan.org Joseph Bliss, MD, PhD of two experimental models to determine the interactions between chronic low and high fat diets on the pharma-cogenomic of two completely distinct drugs. -The result of this project will determine the feasibility of more comprehensive projects addressing the impact of common diet regimen adopted by the general population on the cardiac effect of widely prescribed drugs and/or over-thecounter medications. We are conducting a prospective study of the effects of sleep and genetics on mood during the perinatal period. Participants are women with a history of a mood disorder (major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder) who are studied during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Sleep is recorded for one week using wrist actigraphy at several time points during the perinatal period. Participants provide DNA samples for genotyping and saliva samples for circadian phase assessment with melatonin. The student would participate in home visits with participants, recruiting participants, and scoring sleep data. The student would do research analyzing data from trials testing the efficacy antidepressants in the treatment of depression. I have a special interest in early studies of the oldest medications, data from the 1950s-1970s. Much of the later evidence is weighed in contrast to the early evidence. How reliable is that data? How complete is it? The project would involve both locating and assembling the data (which will take time) and analyzing it (the lesser task). If the student wants more complexity, there is also ample data for more recently introduced medications and ample attendant controversy. There are also interesting theoretical issues— how much effect constitutes effectiveness? Title: Colonization of neonates with Candida parapsilosis This is a prospective study examining rates of colonization of neonates with Candida parapsilosis, a major cause of lateonset sepsis in neonates. We are exploring known risk factors for Previous experience in sleep research or women's health would be ideal. Funding through the lab may be available but student should still apply for SA funding. The student would need basic skills in statistics and in running statistics packages -- although, the more advanced the skills, the better. Good interpersonal skills, for interacting by phone and email with other researchers around the country, would also be useful. There may be opportunities for the student to learn more statistical techniques from other colleagues. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. There are no specific qualifications or experience needed for this project. The student should feel comfortable approaching parents of infants for enrollment in a At this time, funding is not available for this project. Grants have been submitted, so this may change. It is recommended that interested Department of Pediatrics Women & Infants Hospital 101 Plain St, 7th Floor (401) 272-1122 x 7484 invasive candidiasis in neonates, as well as novel risk factors, including breast milk exposure and blood product transfusions. The student may be involved in recruiting patients and/or labwork. Edward S. Sternick, PhD Implementing Mobile Platform Technology to Support Radiation Oncology Performance Excellence: The objective of this project is the design and clinical implementation of an innovative approach to minimize the incidence of radiotherapy adverse events that could potentially have negative impacts on patient safety. Error prevention applications are being developed for a mobile smartphone and tablet to provide legally compliant “anytime-anywhere” transmission of checklists, anatomical images and rapid information exchange to validate CT-simulator scans, computerbased treatment planning data and treatment delivery setups. By employing comprehensive quality management tools potential errors can be detected by the mobile platform and prevented before treatments are initiated. Little is known about the amount of student publications generated as a result of participation in the Brown Summer Assistantship (SA) or Summer Research Assistantship (SRA) programs (before 2008) from 2001-2010. Given the amount of funding spent in student summer research programs, it would be important to determine the return--in terms of publications--from the investment into these programs. This project aims to determine the frequency of success, defined as student authorship or co-authorship in the publication of an article reporting the results of the SA/SRA sponsored project in an indexed Medical Physicist-in-Chief Department of Radiation Oncology Rhode Island Hospital 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903 Tel: 401-444-3198 Cell: 401-2652537 Email: esternick@lifespan.org Paul Greenberg, MD Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery (Ophthalmology) Paul_Greenberg@brown.edu (401)273-7100 ext 1500 (561)789-7723 Wen-Chih (Hank) Wu Bio Med Administration Wen-Chih_Wu@brown.edu (401)273-7100 (401)826-1784 respectful and professional manner. If the student desires to work in the laboratory, there should be an understanding of lab safety, and be willing to learn basic microbiologic techniques for culturing and identification of organisms. After a period of training, the student will be expected to work relatively independently. The student should be comfortable with and knowledgeable about the creation and utilization of mobile platform apps in general and preferably will have gained some understanding of radiation oncology practice by enrollment in Radiation Oncology Elective (Rad Onc640). students also apply for a Summer Assistantship Students interested in medical education. No external funding. Student should apply for SA. SUMMER ASSISTANTSHIP FUNDING ($3500): May be available for a qualified applicant. Wentian Yang, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Orthopaedics and COBRE Center for Stem Cell Biology 1 Hoppin Street, Providence, RI Tel: 401-4445956 Email: wentian_yang@brown.edu Jennifer G. Clarke, MD MPH Director of Health Disparities Research Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island Associate Professor of Medicine and OB/GYN Brown University 111 Brewster Street, CPCP 2nd floor Pawtucket, RI 02860 jennifer_clarke@mhri.org peer-reviewed journal, and also to determine the predictors of medical student publication following participation in a funded summer research program. The project will be a retrospective review of medical student, faculty mentor, and project characteristics from the Brown SA/SRA programs. Descriptive analyses and cross-tablulations will be performed quantifying the primary outcome per covariate and overall. Characterizing the tissue stem cells for cartilage development: A subproject is available to study the biology of tissue stem cells residing in perichondrium. We recently identified a unique stem cell population residing in epiphyseal cartilage and perichondrium. Therefore , biochemical and transgenic approaches will be taken to further understand how the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of these cells are regulated during joint development and cartilage repair, Three possible projects conducted in the women’s prison focusing on 1) STD prevention, 2) smoking cessation and 3) teaching moment Previous experiences for tissue culture and transgenic animal handling are preferred. All applicants are encouraged to apply for Summer Assistantship (SA). I would be happy to help on the proposal preparation. A strong drive to help the poor and underserved. No external funding. Student should apply for SA.