Research Opportunities
The searchable and sortable table below provides the current research projects from our BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine faculty/mentor members. Interested medical students are encouraged to directly contact the mentors listed for more information. Additional tips for finding and contacting mentors: How to find a mentor
Please type inside the search table below the disease, the specific project grant name, name of faculty/mentor or any other keywords to find more information about research projects available for medical students.
These are the current NIH research project grants: Boston Medical Center and BU School of Medicine.
Additional list of clinical department grants: Clinical department grants
Department | Research Project | Mentor | Month Posted |
---|---|---|---|
Anatomy & Neurobiology |
Project Title: The Role of X-chromosome-linked Genes in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease-related Pathology. Project Goals: The project will be focused on the contribution of X-chromosome-linked genes that are dysregulated in Down Syndrome to the pathological cellular phenotypes and Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology. The project’s main goal will be to perform gene editing to downregulate the X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in human Down Syndrome-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The work will involve cell culture techniques, molecular biology, confocal microscopy, and more. Time Commitment: Negotiable Funding Source: NIA |
Ella Zeldich BU Profile |
February |
Anatomy & Neurobiology |
Wisco Laboratory for Translational Anatomy of Degenerative Diseases and Developmental Disorders (TAD4)
Research Project Goals: Through participating in mentored research with Dr. Wisco, students will work together to:
Project Title: Each project has various titles Time Commitment: Dr. Wisco works with students to develop research topics, goals, and a timeline that reasonably accomplishes those goals. Dr. Wisco directly supervises teams of students who work together to accomplish their own research goals. Funding Sources: NIH, IAMSE, and the BU Shipley Center for Digital Learning & Innovation |
Jonathan Wisco BU Profile |
April |
Anatomy & Neurobiology
Roussarie Laboratory |
Project Title: Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease Project Goals and Description: Ideal for an MSSRP student or longitudinal research program. Two different projects:
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Jean Pierre Roussarie BU Profile |
December |
Anatomy & Neurobiology
Schon Laboratory |
General Research Focus of Laboratory: The lab’s research focuses on modulators of the medial temporal hippocampal system across the human lifespan, including aging, psychosocial and physiological stress, and lifestyle factors, such as exercise. Research Projects Goals: We are currently starting up two new 5-year projects that have the goal to understand the impact of racism burden on brain and mental health in Black/African American adults from a cognitive neuroscience perspective. The first study, funded by NIA, focuses on impact of racism burden on cardiovascular disease risk and neurocognitive health in cognitively healthy older adults aged 65+. The second study, funded by NIMH, focuses on impact of racism burden on function of the medial temporal hippocampal system using fMRI in emerging adults aged 18-25 years. Project Titles: Time Commitment: varies; negotiable. Opportunity Start Date: Spring semester 2023 or Summer 2023 Type of Research: Basic science, Clinical Research and Public Health |
Karin Schon BU Profile |
October |
Biochemistry & Cell Biology |
Project Title: Mechanisms of Prion Protein Toxicity & Alzheimer’s Disease Research Focus: My laboratory investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying two classes of human neurodegenerative disorders: prion diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. Research Grants:
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David Harris BU Profile |
April |
Medicine: Adult Primary Care |
Project Title: Group-based Mindfulness for Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain in the Primary Care Setting Research Project Title: Group-based Mindfulness for Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain in the Primary Care Setting, (Optimizing Pain Treatment in Medical settings Using Mindfulness; OPTIMUM) Research Description: To integrate a mindfulness-based pain management program (OPTIMUM) into the primary care setting by conducting a pragmatic clinical trial of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in three distinct health care systems. Additional Research Grants:
Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Natalia Morone BU Profile |
April |
Medicine: Computational Biomedicine
Kolachalama Laboratory |
Research Project: Our laboratory’s mission is to create methods to fit the science and not make science fit the methods, making us one of the most unique laboratories at BU. If you are a medical student who is interested to work at the interface of cutting-edge AI and application in healthcare, then you are welcome to reach out to us. Our lab has a healthy mix of individuals from computer science, medical school, electrical & computer engineering, bioinformatics and neuroscience. For more information about the Kolachalama Laboratory visit our website. We are broadly interested in biomedical machine vision, representation learning and domain generalization, with applications in neurology and cancer. We are currently working with various members of the industry and investment communities to identify ways to translate software technologies to the clinic. Research Grants: The American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health (NIA, NHLBI, NCI & NIDDK), the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust, Gates Ventures, Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratories at NIA, and Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation. |
Vijaya Kolachalama BU Profile |
September |
Medicine: Dermatology |
Project Title: Melanoma and Epigenetics
Research Project: The Alani & Collard Lab is focused on understanding epigenetic reprogramming in melanoma and how this contributes to melanoma progression and therapeutic resistance. We have two main ongoing projects. In the first project, we are specifically interested in unveiling the role of the CoREST repressor complex in melanoma using a small molecule inhibitor. Here, we are investigating protein interactions, splicing, and chromatin organization. In the second project, we are investigating the role of lipid uptake and metabolism in melanoma epigenetic reprogramming and disease progression. Here, we are using in vitro models to assess the impact of lipid depletion on melanoma transcription, proliferation, migration, and invasion. Mentors: Dr. Rhoda Alani, Dr. Marianne Collard, postdoctoral fellows, and PhD graduate students. |
Marianne Collard BU Profile |
September |
Medicine: Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Weight Management |
Project Title: The Role of Nuclear Corepressors NCoR1 and SMRT on Intestinal Metabolism in the Adult Mouse Project goals:
Project Background: Thyroid hormone (TH) plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis and regulating metabolism in all organ systems beginning with embryogenesis and continuing throughout life. TH action is mediated by the thyroid hormone receptor (TR), which is a nuclear receptor, and it’s coregulators. The nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCoR1) and the silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRT) are two critical corepressors of the TR that inhibit gene transcription in the absence of TH. Repression is mediated by complexing with histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), which is stabilized by NCoR1 and SMRT. NCoR1 and SMRT are critical for maintaining metabolic homeostasis and we have recently reported the post-natal knock-out (KO) of NCoR1 and SMRT in tandem is not survivable and rapidly leads to weight loss, hypoglycemia, and hypothermia. Additionally, thyroid function shows non-thyroidal like illness with low free thyroxine levels. Further analysis suggested intestinal abnormalities including increase fecal caloric density which required exploration. To further evaluate the intestinal findings, we used a tamoxifen-inducible villin Cre recombinase (VE-Cre-ERT2) to KO both NCoR1 and SMRT throughout the intestine. Mice were injected with tamoxifen at 8 weeks of age and metabolic parameters, including weight, glucose, and temperature were monitored. These mice then underwent both oral and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance testing (GTT) and metabolic phenotyping. Our preliminary data shows that intestinal KO of NCoR1 and SMRT leads to sustained weight loss up and hypoglycemia up to three weeks after tamoxifen injections. NCoR1 and SMRT double-KO is survivable in approximately 50% of mice. Oral GTT showed a blunted peak response to administration of glucose compared to intraperitoneal administration. Gene expression analysis showed alterations in intestinal carbohydrate transporters, including sodium-glucose transporters (SGLTs). Students will be mentored by myself and the other faculty and post-doctoral fellows in the lab including Dr. Sousa and Dr. Mendoza. We have lab meetings with Dr. Hollenberg. Type of Research: Basic Science |
Megan Jean Ritter BU Profile |
February |
Medicine: Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Weight Management |
Research Project: Continuous glucose monitoring: determinants and prediction of diabetes mellitus development in the Framingham Heart Study. The goal of this project is to collect continuous glucose monitoring data in a healthy community-based sample to determine whether patterns identified in the rise and fall of glucose levels throughout the day can help predict risk of developing diabetes mellitus. Through linking patterns of dynamic glucose levels with diet and physical activity (among other factors like genetics, bacteria in the gut, and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease), this project may also lead to new discoveries that will tailor and target prevention of diabetes mellitus. |
Nicole Spartano BU Profile |
June |
Medicine: Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Weight Management |
Project Title: Understanding how Vitamin D Enters and Exits Body Fat Research Project: The goal of this research project is to determine how vitamin D is stored in body fat and how it exits when needed. This will be accomplished using labeled vitamin D that is added to cultured murine and human adipocytes. Time commitment: Variable depending on what part the student would like to play in the project. |
Michael F. Holick BU Profile |
September |
Medicine: Epidemiology |
Project Title: Impact of Midlife and Late-life Intake of Flavonoid-rich Fruits on Dementia Risk in the Framingham Heart Study Research Project: This project aims to investigate whether intake of fruits high in flavonoids in midlife and late-life are associated with reduced risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Most studies to date focus on consumption of flavonoid-rich foods in older adults or during late-life, with findings to suggest that greater consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and fruits, such as blueberries, may reduce cognitive decline and dementia risk. Evidence from epidemiologic studies to support greater consumption of flavonoids earlier in life, such as midlife, in relation to dementia risk and cognitive decline is more limited, however. Despite the lack of epidemiologic studies looking at the impact of dietary intake of flavonoids earlier in life on the development of dementia, preclinical and animal studies provide evidence of the neurocognitive benefits of flavonoid-rich foods as early as childhood and adolescence. This suggests that greater consumption of fruits high in flavonoid content earlier in life may be as important or perhaps more important on lowering future dementia risk than later in life. To test this hypothesis, we will leverage data collected on dietary fruit consumption from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), which is a longitudinal, community-based cohort that has a rich collection of brain aging-related outcomes, including clinical diagnosis of dementia. An important aspect of FHS that is relevant to the objective of this project is that the age range of participants who enrolled in FHS generally spans from early adulthood (e.g., 20s-30s) to late-life (e.g., >65 years). This means that information on diet and specific foods, such as blueberries, is available to enable an analysis across different age periods. Coupled with dementia surveillance that has been ongoing since 1976, FHS is an ideal setting to study the impact of dietary fruit intake, especially fruits high in flavonoids, in midlife and late-life on the development of dementia. Findings from the project will advance understanding on whether the potential benefits of flavonoid-rich fruits on the brain and cognition are similar across different age periods, or whether greater dietary flavonoid intake from fruits at specific age periods, such as midlife or late-life, confers more benefits than compared to other age periods. This knowledge will help with promoting blueberries and other flavonoid-rich fruits as potential contributors to healthy brain aging. Research Grant:U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council Dept of Agriculture Type of Research: Public health, Epidemiology |
Phillip Hwang BU Profile |
June |
Medicine: Family Medicine |
Project Goals: The goal of the proposed project is to innovate a feasible and sustainable approach to improve the quality and experience of discharge teaching for patients with LEP. The TIDE trial (Tools for Improving Discharge Equity) is a randomized controlled trial to test the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and effectiveness of an enhanced discharge teaching strategy for patients with LEP. The enhanced discharge teaching strategy will create linguistically appropriate tools—including a medication calendar, pictographic, and audio recording of discharge teaching for patients for patients to replay at home after discharge—which nurses can use to improve the quality of discharge teaching.
I am looking for interested medical students to work during summer break full time as a research assistant on the trial. Strongly prefer someone who is fluent in one of the focus languages (Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean, or Vietnamese). No funding available at this time but would be co-author on manuscripts with future opportunities to work with PI who has a NIH funded 5-year career development award. Responsibilities Include but not limited to the following:
Those interested should apply with cover letter, CV, and letter of recommendation to kirsten.austad@bmc.org |
Kirsten Austad BU Profile |
September |
Medicine: General Medicine |
Project Title: Role of Peripheral Immune Cells in Cognitive Aging: The Framingham Offspring Study Research Project: Role of peripheral immune cells in cognitive aging: The Framingham Offspring Study The prevalence of dementia in the population is increasing and there are currently no effective therapies or blood-based biomarkers to detect people at high risk. We plan to investigate the role of circulating immune cells as risk factors for dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and cognitive decline and to test whether associations differ in men and women and by genetic risk. This work will yield insights into the relationship between circulating immune cell types and brain aging, identify new biomarkers for cognitive decline, and may reveal novel therapeutic targets aimed at immune cell alterations to prevent and treat dementia. |
Joanne Murabito BU Profile |
June |
Medicine: Global Health, BUSPH |
Project Title: Multiple projects related to Chagas disease
Research Project: There are multiple projects related to Chagas disease in migrants including a longitudinal cohort that we are following, a biobank, external collaborations with a laboratory that is developing a rapid test for serological diagnosis and a novel test of cure. We have funding from the CDC Parasitic Diseases branch and several SBIR grants with the external partner (Kephera) as well as two proposals under review at the NIH. Other individuals involved in mentoring include Drs. Dan Bourque and Natasha Hochberg. Research Grant:
Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Davidson Hamer BU Profile |
June 1 |
Medicine: Hematology Oncology |
Project Title: Neural Development & Craniofacial Disorders The Lowery Laboratory has several possible research projects for medical students. Two involve neural development:
Two involve craniofacial disorders
Time commitment: Dependent upon goals of the student, but we can work with 10 hours to 40 hours/week. Type of Research: Basic Science and Translational Research |
Laura Lowery BU Profile |
June 1 |
Medicine: Hematology Oncology |
Project Title: Plasma Cell Disorders: MGUS, Multiple Myeloma, AL amyloidosis Research Interest: Plasma cell disorders – monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, multiple myeloma, systemic immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis. Major focus – translational research collaboration with the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) and BU Amyloidosis Center which focuses on using novel disease models for hematologic malignancies to study the earliest signs of disease, test treatments and develop the most promising therapeutic agents for clinical trials. Research Grant: Myeloma SPORE Career Development Award, International Myeloma Foundation Brian D. Novis Grant. Type of Research: Basic Science, Translational, and Clinical Research |
Camille Edwards BU Profile |
June 1 |
Medicine: Hematology Oncology, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology |
Project Title: Novel Plasma Exosome Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer Progression in Co-morbid Metabolic Disease Research Project: Novel plasma exosome biomarkers for prostate cancer progression in co-morbid metabolic disease. Comorbid Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a metabolic complication of obesity, is prevalent among BMC cancer patients and associates with worse cancer outcomes for prostate, breast, head and neck, colorectal and several other solid tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms that explain these associations remain poorly understood. Emerging evidence shows that exosomes carry miRNAs in blood that encode the metabolic status of originating tissues and deliver their cargo to target tissues to modulate expression of critical genes. Exosomal communication potentially connects abnormal metabolism to cancer progression. New data support the hypothesis that T2D plasma exosomes induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in prostate cancer cells and drive disease progression. We recently showed that plasma exosomes from BMC subjects with T2D induce EMT features in prostate cancer cells. We demonstrated that specific exosomal miRNAs that are differentially abundant in plasma of T2D adults compared to nondiabetic controls (e.g., miR374a-5p, miR-93-5p and let-7b-3p) are delivered to cancer cells, thereby regulating critical target genes. Our previous reports show BRD4 controls migration and dissemination of castration-resistant prostate cancer, and transcription of key EMT genes; T2D exosomes require BRD4 to drive EMT. We validated our findings with gene set enrichment analysis of human genomic data from prostate tumor tissue. These results suggest novel, non-invasive biomarkers, and new approaches to evaluate and potentially block progression of prostate and other cancers, will benefit prostate cancer patients with comorbid T2D and refine clinical decision making. This NCI-supported project will investigate patient plasma exosomes, considering clinical variables like diabetes duration, metabolic medications, glucose control and demographic variables like age and race, to understand exosomal miRNA composition and how it relates to prostate cancer progression in patients with comorbid obesity and diabetes. Time Commitment: Per week, 2 – 3 days of commitment to bench research (10 hours) will be minimally required to make acceptable progress. Type of Research: Translational Research |
Gerald Denis BU Profile |
June 1 |
Medicine: Infectious Diseases |
Project Title: Developing Antibody-based Multipurpose Prevention Technologies for Contraception and Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections For the past 40 years I have directed a research laboratory that studies reproductive health, mucosal immunology and HIV sexual transmission. Our current goal is to develop multipurpose prevention technology (MPT) products that control the sexual transmission of viruses and provide contraception. My laboratory was among the first to develop quantitative culture and PCR methods for monitoring HIV levels in genital secretions, and established a number of human cervical and vaginal cell lines and reconstructed 3-D tissue models for studies on female reproductive health. Our recent research is focused on the topical use of monoclonal antibodies to prevent the transmission of HIV and HSV-2, and for contraception. Research Grant: Antibody-based Contraceptive MPTs: Advancing the Human Contraceptive Antibody (HCA) through Clinical Trials. P50 HD096957 |
Deborah Anderson BU Profile |
April |
Medicine: Nephrology |
Project Title: Kidney Precision Medicine. We have a number of R01 and U01 funded projects related to: kidney precision medicine; interventional trials of diabetic kidney disease; novel biomarkers of kidney disease; chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology. Our approaches span epidemiology through transcriptomics. Students interested in translational research on chronic diseases like CKD can learn more Waikar Laboratory website. Type of Research: Translational Research |
Sushrut Waikar BU Profile |
June |
Medicine: Nephrology – Center of Cross-Organ Vascular Pathology |
Project Title: cardiovascular disease at the Intersection of another Organ Pathology Research project description: I am a physician-scientist, and the director of Center of Cross-Organ Vascular Pathology. Our lab focuses on the cardiovascular disease at the intersection of other organ pathology. We use a range of models including cell-based models, animal models (mice, rats, zebrafish, rabbits and pigs) and strive to confirm our hypothesis in humans. Also, there are on-going clinical studies using novel devices to address key bottlenecks in the area of cardiovascular disease. Prospective students can choose projects under these three domains:
Type of Research: Translational Research |
Vipul Chitalia BU Profile |
June |
Medicine: Nephrology |
Project title: Study the efficacy and safety of a novel therapeutics lead in pre-clinical animal models of protein uric kidney diseases.
Project Goals and Description: The primary goal of this project is to test the efficacy and safety of a novel therapeutic lead in pre-clinical animal models of protein uric kidney disease. Protein uric kidney diseases such as nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are significant causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure worldwide. CKD affects an estimated 13% of the population (~37 million) in the US and over 850 million people worldwide and costs the US at least $50 billion each year. Protein uric kidney diseases are mainly caused by injury to podocytes that regulate glomerular filtration and prevent serum albumin from leaking into the urine (also called podocytopathies). Proteinuria/albuminuria is an early biomarker, risk factor, and surrogate outcome of CKD progression in patients. Injury to podocytes can cause podocyte foot process effacement and reduced slit-diaphragm density/length, which result in reduced podocyte buttress force on the gel-like glomerular basement membrane (GBM), leading to high GBM hydraulic conductivity with high albumin permeability and significant albuminuria. Treatments that enhance podocyte adhesion and maintain podocyte foot process structure can thus enhance podocyte buttress force and reduce albuminuria. However, no kidney podocyte-specific anti-proteinuria therapy is currently available for protein uric kidney diseases, posing a significant unmet medical need worldwide.
Read more about Dr. Lu’s research work. Time Commitment: Consistent with the time commitment in the medical student’s Longitudinal Research Program (e.g., 6-10 hours per week during Fall and Spring semesters and full time in the summer as described in the medical school research track in LEADS). This project can also be performed as a Research Year Program for medical students.
Funding Sources: Government (e.g., NIH/NIDDK), Medical School (e.g., CTSI, MSSPP), Departmental (e.g., DOM).
Type of Research: Translational Research
|
Weining Lu BU Profile |
June 1 |
Medicine: Pediatrics Developmental & Behavioral | We are seeking one or two students to support Dr. Frank and Dr. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, sedc@bu.edu to write a research review addressing extreme heat, energy insecurity, and health, development, and food insecurity of children, especially those under the age of 4, and their families with low income. See this for an example of the kind of review we plan.
This is not funded, but students have the opportunity to be authors. Work will be coordinated with ongoing research of Children’s HealthWatch and will primarily be conducted remotely. Type of Research: Public health |
Deborah A. Frank BU Profile |
August |
Medicine: Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Bosmann Laboratory |
These are the research interests of the Bosmann Laboratory: acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia and sepsis are life-threatening complications of microbial infections with profound disturbances of the immune system. In the current absence of definitive treatment options, ARDS and sepsis represent an enormous problem for health systems worldwide.
Our laboratory is dedicated to obtain a better mechanistic understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of infections. We use PCR, ELISA, cell cultures, research animals and human samples. We have a long and successful track record of mentoring undergraduate and graduate medical students. Type of Research: Translational Research |
Markus Bosmann BU Profile |
June |
Medicine: Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care |
Project Title: Lung Cancer Screening Our group evaluates the utility of lung cancer screening, health disparities in lung cancer screening, and interventions to mitigate disparities in lung cancer screening and follow up care. Several projects are available for students with varying time commitments. Students would be mentored by Dr. Steiling, and closely work with the multi-disciplinary Lung Cancer Screening group, a nurse practitioner screening coordinator and patient navigators. Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Katrina Steiling BU Profile |
June |
Medicine: Rheumatology |
Research Project: Our laboratory is focused on investigating the mechanisms of scleroderma fibrosis, with an special interest in the role of macropahges in fibrosis. We found that Fli1 deletion in myeloid cells may contribute to SSc fibrosis by enhanced expression of profibrotic markers, galectin-3 secretion, and activation of the mTORC1. We are now investigating the interplay between fibroblasts and macrophages in the development of fibrosis in scleroderma, using animal models of fibrosis and conditional knockout mice.
Research Grant: The project is funded through an R01 NIH grant named “The role of Fli1 in myeloid cells and its contribution to cardiac fibrosis”. PI Dr. Bujor, 2 postdoctoral fellows and a Research Assistant are available to mentor students in the lab. Type of Research: Basic Science |
Andreea Bujor BU Profile |
September |
Neurology- St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center |
Project Goals and Description:
Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Anna Hohler BU Profile |
October |
Neurology |
project Title: Neurocritical Care Research Focuses on Risk Stratification of Patients with Critical Neurologic Diseases We are recruiting interested students to work with Dr. Ong, an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine and lecturer at Harvard Medical School who specializes in Neurocritical Care whose research focuses on risk stratification of patients with critical neurologic diseases. Project Title 1: Dynamic Models of Life-Threatening Mass Effect in Ischemic Stroke Project Title 2: Identifying eye movements from electrooculography in comatose cardiac arrest patients Project Title 3: Pupillometry trends in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Project Title 4: Pupillometry trends in patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) Students will have opportunities to work at both BU School of Medicine and with our active collaborators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Our interdisciplinary team includes Dr. Agni Orfanoudaki, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Oxford University, and leaders in the field of Neuro-cerebrovascular disease including Drs. David Greer (Neurology), Stelios Smirnakis (Neurology) and Emelia Benjamin (Cardiology). Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Charlene Ong BU Profile |
June |
Neurology, APDA Centers for Advanced Research |
Project Title: Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative
Project Goals and Description: APDA’s Centers for advanced Research support research trainees, fellowship programs, early-stage discovery, and later-stage clinical translation. The Centers facilitate investigative research into the causes, treatments, and ultimately a cure for Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Funding Sources: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (10/01/2010 – 01/31/2024) Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Marie Helene Saint-Hilaire BU Profile |
June |
Neurology |
Project Title 1: Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD) and Stroke in Minorities Project Goal: To characterize the relation of CSVD in brain imaging (CT and MRI) and stroke characteristics and outcomes in minorities. Project Title 2: Inflammation and Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in the Framingham Heart Study Project Goal: To study the relation of a comprehensive panel of inflammatory biomarkers (vascular and systemic) to topography and burden of enlarged perivascular spaces on brain MRI. Ways you can get involved: Writing of research proposal, interpretation of results, preparation of abstract for presentation at a meeting, preparation of manuscript. Learning Opportunities: Develop a research proposal, understand concepts on study design, statistical analyses, interpretation and presentation of results, poster/platform presentation, manuscript preparation and submission. Time Commitment: 1 year. A timeline will be discussed on the initial meeting. Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Rafael Romero BU Profile |
June |
Neurology: Neurocritical Care/Stroke |
Project Title: Stroke Epidemiology in a National Veterans Cohort Project Goals and Description: VA Cardiovascular Epidemiology working group w/ collaborators from BU, BI, Brigham, Emory, and other institutions:
Time Commitment: 1–2-year commitment with close mentoring. Research proposal meetings Fridays 2x per month 10-11am Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Hugo J. Aparicio BU Profile |
June |
Neurology |
Project Title: Clinical and diagnostic predictors of functional outcome in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) at Boston Medical Center Description of Research Project: The TBI study is a collaborative study between the departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Trauma surgery, Radiology and Anesthesia. The study aims to establish a TBI database at Boston medical center, which is the largest level 1 trauma center in New England. The other aims of the project are studying the clinical and diagnostic predictors of outcome in patients with TBI. Type of Research: Clinical Research and Public Health |
Kushak Suchdev BU Profile |
June |
Occupational Therapy – Occupational Therapy, Rehab Sciences, and Psychological & Brain Sciences (PhD programs) Health & Rehabilitation Science Research |
Project Title: Neurobehavioral Mechanisms Involved in Social Perception and Motivation in Individuals w/ and w/o Serious Mental Illness
These projects test hypotheses regarding motivation, social isolation, and loneliness in serious mental illness. One project examines the neurobehavioral mechanisms involved in social perception and motivation in individuals with and without serious mental illness, as well as associations with cardiometabolic health. In two projects we investigate the specific dynamic interactions among social experiences in daily life. We also conduct experimental research on decision making processes and links with psychopathology. Funding:The above funded projects will last between 2 and 5 more years. Type of Research: Clinical Research |
Daniel Fulford BU Profile |
June |
Ophthalmology: Immunology and Pharmacology |
Project Title: Immunobiology of the Retina
Within the healthy eye, mechanisms to control and manipulate immunity are necessary to preserve vision. Several specific neuropeptides present within the healthy eye regulate different immune cells and different immune cell functions. Collectively, they suppress inflammation and promote immune cell-mediated anti-inflammatory activity and immune-tolerance. Understanding how these neuropeptides alter immunity and work together to suppress inflammation profoundly impacts finding ways to reestablish health in the eyes following infection, graft rejection, autoimmune disease, and trauma. Our experimental approach uses molecular biology, biochemistry, histology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, gene delivery, cultured immune cells, and immune model techniques. Each student has a separate research opportunity linked to the general study of vision science and immunobiology. Type of Research: Basic Science. |
Andrew Taylor BU Profile |
June |
Pharmacology and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology Department of Pharmacology Ganem Laboratory |
Project Title: Defining Mechanisms of Genome Instability General Research Areas Include:
Funding: There is currently no budgeted salary support available to medical students to work on these projects. Time Commitment is variable, depending on the project and whether it is during the academic or summer term. Type of Research: Basic Science |
Neil J. Ganem BU Profile |
June |
Physiology & Biophysics |
Research Project: Our research is focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms and regulation of protein synthesis (translation) in human cells and the integrated stress response (ISR). Dysregulated ISR is a causative factor in Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Specific areas of interest include:
Time Commitment: Interested students need to be able to commit to at least 10 hours a week on average. The nature of the work here requires blocks of at least a few hours, preferably on consecutive days. The students will be mentored by me, with the help of Paul Wagner, a research technician in the laboratory. Type of Research: Basic Science |
Assen Marintchev BU Profile |
September |
Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics: Cardiovascular Research Institute |
Jiang Laboratory Research Focus: Obesity and Systemic Inflammation
We are applying cell culture and animal models to our study using a variety of basic techniques. We encourage medical students to visit the lab and discuss potential projects. Funding: Funded by an NIH R01 grant. Type of Research: Basic Science |
Zhen Jiang BU Profile |
June |
Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics: Hematology and Medical Oncology |
Research Project: Telomere elongation is a requisite for cellular immortality and a hallmark of cancer cells. Most cancer cells rely on reactivation of the enzyme telomerase or activation of the alternative lengthening of telomeres pathway (ALT) to promote telomere elongation. The prevalence of ALT across all cancers is approximately 10%, however the prevalence of ALT in cancers of neuroepithelial and mesenchymal origin are estimated to be over 50%. Although comprehensive studies in children are limited, analysis in our lab suggests that ALT is prevalent in approximately 95% of pediatric osteosarcoma. Given that ALT activity is absent in normal tissue, targeting the ALT mechanism has become an attractive target in the treatment of ALT positive cancers including pediatric osteosarcoma. While several therapeutic modalities have showed promise in vitro, there are currently no clinical trials specifically for the treatment of ALT positive cancers. Therefore, defining the genetic and molecular underpinnings of ALT activity could not only identify genetic vulnerabilities in the ALT pathway, but drive therapeutic development for the treatment of ALT positive cancers.
Mentoring: Myself and a senior Graduate Student (Joshua Keegan) |
Rachel L. Flynn BU Profile |
September |
Research Project: Dr. Lehman’s research is focused on characterizing the role played by muscle thin filaments in regulating cardiac and smooth muscle contractility. To accomplish his research goals, he takes a structural approach involving a combination of molecular biology, cryo-electron microscopy, and image processing as well as uses computational tools such as molecular dynamics and protein-protein docking protocols. His laboratory was the first to directly visualize the steric-blocking mechanism of muscle regulation by identifying the positions assumed by tropomyosin on actin in the presence and the absence of Ca2+. His molecular models of actin-containing thin filaments provide a framework to investigate disease-bearing mutations leading to cardiomyopathies and for drug discovery to counteract corresponding disease development.
Dr. Lehman’s team consists of Drs. Rynkiewicz, Karpicheva and Ramachandran. He collaborates actively with Dr. Bullitt in the PP&B department as well as with colleagues at Yale University, UMass-Lowell, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Washington and the University of Kent. Research Grant: NIH- Thin Filaments and Muscle Regulation; Computational Pipeline for Identification of Disease-Causing Variants in Genes of the Cardiac Sarcomere; and Pathogenesis and In Vivo Suppression of Thin Filament Based Cardiomyopathies. |
William Lehman BU Profile Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute |
September |