Medical School Winter Research projects
Targeting TM4SF1 to inhibit tumour self-seeding and liver cancer progression
Hours of engagement | 25-30 |
Location | Woolloongabba: Translational Research Institute (TRI) |
Project description | Tumour self-seeding is a process whereby cancer cells leave a primary tumour, circulate through the body, and return to recolonise their tumour of origin. Previous studies have indicated that this phenomenon contributes to primary tumour growth and enriches cancer cells with enhanced invasion. The marker of tumour self-seeded cells (TSCs), TM4SF1, has been identified as a driver of this process by promoting cell invasiveness and survival. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of TM4SF1 may provide an effective strategy to inhibit cancer progression. In this project, the TM4SF1+ TSCs isolated from a liver cancer model in our study will be treated with an anti-TM4SF1 antibody. The invasion, migration, and survival abilities of TSCs will be analysed and compared to untreated TSCs and parental tumour cells. The outcomes from this project have the potential to pave the way for the development of novel single agent or combination therapies targeting liver cancer, a disease that typically exhibits poor responsiveness to systemic treatments. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables | The student will learn essential skills in cell culture, in vitro functional assays (such as cell invasion and migration assays), microscopy analysis, and data analysis. The student will also have the opportunity to present and discuss the results with the group. |
Suitable for | This project is open to applications from students with a background in biomedical science and cell biology, who are also considering Honours or a PhD. |
Primary Supervisor | Dr Haotian Yang |
Instructions to applicants | The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Treatments of negative symptoms in Schizophrenia: An updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials
Hours of engagement | Approx 25 |
Location | Dutton Park: Princess Alexandra Hospital, Building 33 |
Project description | People with schizophrenia live with several types of psychotic symptoms, including positive (e.g. hallucinations, delusions), and negative symptoms (e.g. alogia, avolition, blunted affect). Although positive symptoms can be treated with anti-psychotic medications, effects of pharmacological interventions on negative symptoms are less clear. The last meta-analysis analysing effects of pharmacological interventions on negative symptoms was published in 2014, with several randomised controlled trials being published since. Our aim is to update this meta-analysis. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables | Methods: This will be a systematic review examining the effectiveness of any pharmaceutical agent on negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Outcomes will be a peer reviewed paper in a Q1 journal, which if the student satisfies the criteria for authorship, they will be a co-author. If the student does not satisfy criteria for authorship, they will be included in acknowledgments. The nature of the project means that the work is flexible and so could fit round other commitments. It will give practical experience of doing a systematic review and meta-analysis, and the process of peer review publications. |
Suitable for | This project is open to applications from health sciences students from The University of Queensland. Applications from students with experience of undertaking PubMed, EMBASE or PsycInfo searches are especially welcome. An attention to detail is important. |
Primary Supervisor | Dr Mike Trott |
Instructions to applicants | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Validation of the proposed 9th TNM lung cancer staging system
Hours of engagement | 36 |
Location | Chermside: The Prince Charles Hospital, Clinical Sciences Building |
Project description | The project will assess the prognostic significance and concordance of the proposed 9th Edition TNM staging system compared to the current 8th Edition. Primarily, the winter project scholar will prepare the large deidentified data set in preparation for data validation and analysis to meet the objectives. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables | The student will complete the sorting, cleaning of a large dataset and summarise the process and the results. |
Suitable for | Student interested in data science and analysis. |
| Additional requirements | The stduent will need to provide Metro North Hospital and Health Service with evidence of their non-susceptibility to vaccine preventable diseases. |
Primary Supervisor | Professor Kwun Fong Primary contact: Barbara Page |
Instructions to applicants | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |