Child Health Research Centre Winter Research projects
CHRC#1: Evaluation of patient/family experiences with novel paediatric sleep diagnostic tools
Project title: CHRC#1 | Evaluation of patient/family experiences with novel paediatric sleep diagnostic tools |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 20 hours |
Location: | South Brisbane: Child Health Research Centre-UQ, Centre for Children's Health Research Building, Queensland Children’s Hospital |
Description: | This project involves looking at already-collected data from surveys completed by parents of children who have undergone sleep study tests. The data asks questions about whether they prefer the gold standard test, in-hospital polysomnography sleep studies, or whether they prefer the alternate novel diagnostic test which their child was part of a study of. This might have been the Sonomat or Sunrise mandibular device. The aim of the project is to better understand patient and family preferences based on the data collected. There is the opportunity to contribute to writing an article or manuscript for publication about this topic and the student if making such a contribution would be listed as a middle author on this. Students will need to complete the Work Experience Registration Form (attached) prior to commencement. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | The expectation is the student will help process, analyse and summarise the survey data, and write a report of results having done some statistical analysis on this. They will be assisted by Andrew Collaro, a postdoctoral sleep scientist. |
Suitable for: | Students with capacity for performing relevant basic statistical analyses and using relevant software e.g. excel; students interested in academic writing; students interested in paediatric health care. |
Additional requirements: | This project involves contact with children and require a Blue Card. It also requires evidence of vaccination or non-susceptibility for vaccine preventable diseases. Student will be provided with details to obtain evidence and Blue Card before commencing (information will be provided with an offer of placement). |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Ajay Kevat Or Andrew Collaro |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
CHRC#2: Potentiate CD8 T cell function to innovate cancer immunotherapy
Project title: CHRC#2 | Potentiate CD8 T cell function to innovate cancer immunotherapy |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 30 hours |
Location: | Woolloongabba: Translational Research Institute |
Description: | Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cells have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the treatment of various human cancers, particularly hematologic malignancies. These innovative cells are derived from the T cells present in the patient's own blood. Following extraction, they are genetically modified to express CARs and subsequently reintroduced into the patient for cancer therapy. However, it is evident that the current production process may not be optimised to its fullest potential. This is reflected in the restricted expansion of generated CAR-T cells and their limited persistence within the patient's body, ultimately compromising the overall therapeutic effectiveness. In light of these challenges, there is a pressing need to enhance the manufacturing protocol of CAR-T cells. By leveraging our new discoveries into the regulation of T cell differentiation and survival, this project will pioneer novel strategies for refining the in vitro T cell cultivation process. The overarching goal is to bolster the functionality of these cells within the in vivo environment, thereby augmenting their therapeutic impact against cancer. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Knowledge of T cell immunobiology T cell in vitro culture assays Flow cytometry to measure T cell functionality. |
Suitable for: | Students with a background in biomedical sciences, who are considering an Honours and/or PhD. |
Primary Supervisor: | Prof Di Yu |
Contact info: | The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application |