2016 FoM SSRP PROJECT REGISTRATION AND DESCRIPTION FORM
Suggested Deadline to post projects: January 26, 2016
Applications will be accepted from:
Both MD & non-MD Undergraduates
MD undergraduate students only
non-MD undergraduate students only
Project Duration:
Suitable for either a 4 or 8 week project (Only MD 2017 students are eligible to apply for 4-week projects)
Only suitable for an 8-week project
Only suitable for a 4-week project
Additional notes to potential applicants:
Some experience performing basic statistical analysis on Excel is preferred
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Title:
The Relationship Between Serum Bilirubin and Pulmonary Disease Severity and Progression in Cystic
Fibrosis
Hypothesis or Research Question being addressed:
This retrospective chart review will examine the association between serum bilirubin level and lung disease
severity (i.e. FEV1) and progression (i.e. frequency of future exacerbations and rate of FEV1 % predicted
decline over time) in adults with CF.
Hypotheses: 1) serum bilirubin inversely correlates with disease severity (i.e. FEV1) at baseline; and 2)
routine bilirubin measurement collected when a patient is clinically stable predict future lung disease
progression (frequency of future exacerbations and rate of FEV1 % predicted decline).
Keywords: Provide approximately 5 key words that describe the proposed research project.
Cystic fibrosis, biomarkers, oxidative stress, antioxidant, lung function
PROJECT ATTRIBUTES AND BENEFIT TO THE STUDENT
Please review the online adjudication criteria carefully prior to completing the next two sections to ensure your
application is addressing the adjudication criteria outlined in “Project Attributes and Benefits to the Student”.
A) Background and Summary of Proposed Research. In the space available, summarize the proposed
project including the rationale for the project, the context within the relevant field of research, the
proposed research approach and the expected project outcomes: (please write in lay terms for a nonspecialist audience)
If this is an ongoing project of >8 weeks duration (or 4 weeks for MD 2017 students) clearly distinguish the expected
project outcomes at the end of the FoM SSRP funding period from the overall project objectives.
450 Word Limit
Background and Rationale: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited fatal genetic disease.
Most individuals have a shortened life span due to progressive pulmonary disease from chronic
infection, inflammation, and oxidative damage. Oxidative damage (resulting from a misbalance
between oxidants and antioxidants) plays an integral role in the pathogenesis of CF lung disease.
Oxidants are generated and released by airway neutrophils in response to infection in CF. Studies
have shown that bilirubin has potent antioxidant actions and that higher levels can mitigate oxidative
damage by clearing free radicals in vitro.
Simple, inexpensive and easily obtainable biomarkers that reflect lung disease activity in CF are
urgently required to facilitate disease monitoring. Serum bilirubin is a potential biomarker of oxidative
2016 FoM SUMMER STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM
stress and thus disease activity in CF. In a recent study performed in chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), a related airways disease characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidative
damage, an inverse association was observed between serum bilirubin level and both lung disease
severity and progression.
In this retrospective chart review, we propose examining the association between serum bilirubin and
disease severity (i.e. forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]) and rate of lung disease
progression (i.e. rate of FEV1 decline over time) in adults with CF. We hypothesize that: 1) serum
bilirubin correlates with disease severity (i.e. FEV1) at baseline; and 2) routine bilirubin
measurement collected when a patient is clinically stable will predict lung disease progression (i.e.
rate of FEV1 decline).
Expected Project Outcomes: By the end of the 8-week term the student will have formulated a
testable hypothesis, completed data collection, performed appropriate statistical analyses, and
prepared a scientific abstract for submission to the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI) Summer
Student Research Day.
B) Outline the student’s role in the project and describe how they will benefit from their involvement.
This section must address how involvement in this project will help the student gain an understanding of how
high quality research is conducted. This includes addressing the opportunities to learn new skills in the context
of the relevant learning objectives listed in the online adjudication criteria; their anticipated interactions with
other researchers and the available resources that will contribute to a beneficial experience.
Clearly indicate which items will be completed during the FoM SSRP funding period and which (if applicable) will be
completed before or after the funding period if the student and supervisor have chosen to also work together outside of the
funding period. Project feasibility is considered during the adjudication process; 4-week and 8-week projects will be
adjudicated separately, with appropriate consideration given to each.
550 Word Limit
Student's role in the project: To ensure project feasibility, ethics will be completed by the project
supervisor prior to study initiation. TS will be involved in the study design, chart review, data
organization, and data analysis. Study design will involve formulating a testable hypothesis and
choosing inclusion/exclusion criteria. Chart review will involve extracting data (demographics, comorbidities, medications, serum bilirubin measurements, lung function measurements) from paper
charts and electronic medical records and data will be entered into spreadsheets organized by the
TS to facilitate statistical analysis. TS will present preliminary study findings to the CF clinical care
team and submit an abstract of findings to the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation Summer Student
Research Day near the end of the 8-week term.
Anticipated interactions with the research team: The St. Paul's Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Research
Program is an active clinical research program with two graduate students, six investigator-led
studies, and five pharma-sponsored clinical trials allowing the student to interact with other
researchers. We currently have one full-time research manager and three full-time research
assistants. Meetings with the research supervisors will occur weekly and daily interactions will take
place with other members of the clinical research team.
Available resources: Research assistant(s) will help train the student on chart and electronic medical
data extraction. A computer will be available to the student for the collection and storage of data.
The student will have access to all seminars and training sessions (ethics, presentation skills, etc)
2016 FoM SUMMER STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM
offered to other summer students through the Centre for Heart and Lung Innovation.
New skills: the student will become familiar with chart extraction, clinical care in cystic fibrosis, and
analyzing/presenting research data.
Please indicate if your project requires the following and indicate their status as appropriate. This will
help clarify the scope of the project for potential student partners.
This project requires ethics approval (human or animal):
Yes
No
If yes please indicate if you:
Already have approval
Will obtain approval before the SSRP funding period
Intend for ethics application to be a focus over the funding period
*Please note that as ethics approval can be a lengthy process it is recommended that this be obtained well in advance of the funding period unless the
intention is for this activity to form a major part of the FoM SSRP-funded portion of the project.
This project requires access to electronic medical records:
Yes
No
If yes please indicate if you:
Already have approval
Will obtain approval before the SSRP funding period
Plan to obtain approval during the SSRP funding period
Research Location (As applicable, indicate where the project will be conducted.)
City or Region: Vancouver
Research Centre: Pacific Lung Research Centre and Centre for Heart Lung Innovation
Hospital: St. Paul's Hospital
Program or Unit: Cystic Fibrosis (Respiratory)
Additional information (building, lab etc.): 8B Providence Wing
Supervisor’s Information
Supervisor Last Name:
Quon
Supervisor First Name:
Bradley
FoM Department/School (Main FoM Appointment):
Medicine/Medicine
UBC FoM Division (if applicable):
Respirology
Preferred contact method (for students)
Phone supervisor
Email supervisor
Phone alternate contact
Email alternate contact
2016 FoM SUMMER STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM
Preferred Phone:
N/A
Secondary Phone:
E-mail Address:
bradley.quon@hli.ubc.ca
Optional Alternate Contact (e.g. co-supervisor, research/lab coordinator, assistant etc.)
Contact’s Name:
Contact’s Role:
Contact’s Phone Number:
Contact’s E-mail Address: