| Principal Investigator (Last) | Principal Investigator (First) | Type of Research | Project Title | General Project Description or a General Descript | Tasks Student Will Perform/Learn During Internship | Seattle Children's Research Center | ||||
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| 1 |
| John | Basic Science/Bench Research | Host-pathogen Interactions | Our lab uses systems cell biology methods to study host-pathogen interactions and impact on cell biology. Various methods are used, which include molecular cell biology, 'omics, and computational biology. The Aitchison lab builds on and drives advances in high-throughput technologies and computational biology (including affinity isolation of macromolecular complexes, mass spectrometry, microarrays, next-generation DNA sequencing, high-throughput microscopy and integrative modeling of structures and networks) to reveal systems-level insights into biology, with a focus on infectious diseases of global importance. In the Aitchison Lab, we have spent several years using yeast as a tractable model system to develop technologies and systems biology approaches and to gain fundamental insights into cell biology. Building on these developments, advances in systems biology are being applied, through collaborative research programs, to dengue, HIV, trypanosomiasis, malaria and immune responses to infection. These diseases dramatically impact children and families. | -Molecular biology (PCR, purification of nucleic acids) -Tissue Culture | Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR) | |||
| 2 |
| James | Basic Science/Bench Research | Improved Diagnosis and Treatment of Children with Vascular Malformations | My lab is focused on understanding the genetics of vascular malformations. We use DNA and RNA sequencing to identify the specific disease-causing mutations that cause children to be born with these conditions. The mutations are difficult to detect, because they are not present in every cell in the body- this is called "mosaicism." Understanding how mosaicism works is a core goal of the lab. Specific methods we use to understand vascular malformations include DNA sequencing of surgically resected tissues, cyst fluid taken from vascular malformations, and blood/plasma. We work closely with surgeons and dermatologists on the Vascular Anomalies team. In addition to running a research lab, Dr. Bennett attends clinic and sees these vascular malformations patients, so it is very translational work. | Student will perform the following tasks: Processing of vascular malformation tissue from surgeries into DNA and/or RNA. Gene expression analysis using digital droplet PCR. Rare variant detection using droplet digital PCR. In general, you would help with some of the molecular biology techniques applies to patient-derived tissues. We do not work with any animal models- just specimens from patients. You would present at our lab meeting as well. | Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CDBRM) | |||
| 3 |
| Lisa | Basic Science/Bench Research | HIV Drug Resistance | My work is focused on the drug resistance research side of our lab, so any student matched with our group would be working on 1) identifying HIV drug resistance mutations that are associated with poor treatment outcomes on certain antiretroviral treatment regimens by studying multiple global cohorts and 2) developing low-cost assays to screen for HIV drug resistance, which will help improve HIV clinical care in low-resource communities. | During the internship, the student will be able to learn how to perform viral RNA/DNA extractions, reverse transcription and PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA purification, oligonucleotide ligation assay, consensus sequencing, and Illumina next-generation sequencing. The student's project will depend on the student’s interest/experience but will likely center around assay optimization — either an oligonucleotide ligation assay or sequencing-based assay. | Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR) | |||
| 4 |
| Heather | Basic Science/Bench Research | Investigating Microbial Interactions and Host Responses at Mucosal Sites | Our lab seeks to identify correlates of HIV risk at mucosal surfaces, namely the infant gut and the adolescent genital tract. We further study the role of commensal bacteria (microbiome) at these mucosal surfaces in modulating immunity. We work to achieve these goals through a combination of cohort studies, in which participants are recruited primarily from Cape Town, South Africa and complementary basic laboratory experiments, which take place at Seattle Children's Research Institute and the University of Cape Town. | Student will perform the following tasks: Microbial culture, PCR, qPCR, flow cytometry | Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR) | |||
| 5 |
| Michael | Basic Science/Bench Research | Optimizing CAR-T activity against solid tumors | Solid tumors are characterized by antigen heterogeneity, an immunosuppresive environment, and barriers for immune cell accessibility, all of which make them difficult to treat with targeted biology. Our lab is developing next-generation synthetic biology approaches to design novel therapies to tackle these hurdles. | Student will perform the following tasks: Tissue culture Cellular viability assays DNA isolation PCR, molecular cloning | Immunotherapy Integration Hub (IIH) | |||
| 6 |
| Franck | Basic Science/Bench Research | Role of Interneuron Subtypes in the Development of Leigh Syndrome Related Epilepsy | The student will learn how to identify genetic mutations present in our mouse models of epilepsy using PCR and electrophoresis assays, learn to analyze behavioral data from mouse models of epilpesy, and learn how to prepare brain slices, label neurons with specific antibodies for identification. | The student will learn the following tasks: 1) Genotyping The student will learn how to identify genetic mutations present in our mouse models of epilepsy using PCR and electrophoresis assays. 2) Immunocytochemistry The student will learn how to prepare brain slices, label neurons with specific antibodies to identify 3) Analyze behavioral data from our mouse models of epilepsy. | Center for Integrative Brain Research (CIBR) | |||
| 7 |
| Rimas | Basic Science/Bench Research | Mechanisms of T Cell Anti-cancer Immunotherapy | Our laboratory creates engineered T cells that can seek out and destroy pediatric cancer cells. We engineer these cells with a lentivirus-based gene vector, and induce expression of a chimeric antigen receptor on the surface of the T cell, now called a CAR-T. Depending on interest, your project will be centered on how to create better CAR-T cells, by studying the impact of CAR-T expression on T cell metabolism, creating better gene expression vectors, or using bioinformatics to analyze the functional activity of CAR-T. This will largely depend upon previous experience in tissue culture techniques, molecular biology techniques, or proficiency in bioinformatics. | Student will perform the following tasks: Molecular cloning techniques including plasmid analysis and purification, PCR-based techniques, and lentiviral vector production. Tissue culture and cell biology experiments including, sterile tissue culture of tumor cells and immune effector cells, analysis of cell number and physiology, microscopy, and immune function assays. Bioinformatics techniques such as RNA-Seq, scRNAseq, and epigenetic analysis of leukemia cell biology. | Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research (BTCCCR) | |||
| 8 |
| Andy | Basic Science/Bench Research | Microvascular Dynamics in the Developing and Adult Brain | Our research focuses on the small blood vessels that delivery oxygen and nutrients to all reaches of the brain. In the human brain, an estimated 100,000 miles of blood vessels delivers blood to 100 billion neurons. This immensely complex task can easily go awry during human disease. When we are young, genetic and environmental factors can compromise the normal development of brain vasculature. As we age, leakage and blockage of small vessels can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Our laboratory studies how blood vessels grow, degrade, and respond to injury from birth to senescence. We use mouse models of normal brain function and cerebrovascular disease and image vascular function in vivo using multiphoton microscopy. We also study disease processes using immunohistology and analysis of imaging data. | Student will perform the following tasks: Image analysis Aiding in surgery Aiding in in vivo imaging Confocal microscopy of tissue Histology | Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CDBRM) | |||
| 9 |
| Stephen | Basic Science/Bench Research | Investigating the Mmolecular Mechanisms of Autism | Hundreds of genes have been genetically linked to autism, but the mechanisms through which gene mutation leads to altered behavior is unclear. In the SEPS lab, we study how autism-linked genes disrupt signaling pathways in neurons. Your project may involve molecular biology, proteomics and optogenetics. | We will work with the student to match student interests with one of many diverse ongoing projects in the lab. | Center for Integrative Brain Research (CIBR) | |||
| 10 |
| Donald | Basic Science/Bench Research | Does Smoking Cigarettes Influence HIV Gene Expression? | Cigarette smoking causes inflammation and activation of various immune cell subsets. Our laboratory is interested in understanding how cigarette smoke can influence cellular and viral processes, particularly as it pertains to HIV infection. The summer project will provide training in tissue/cell culture and basic molecular biology techniques. In addition, the student will also evaluate the data that they generate and learn how to create graphs as well as present their findings. The goal of the project is to identify transcriptomic changes in cultured cells that are associated with cigarette smoke extract, in the presence and absence of an HIV infection. | Student will perform the following tasks: - Lab maintenance (refilling supplies, preparing solutions/buffers) - Tissue/cell culture (working in a laminar flow hood) - Molecular biology (PCR, purification of nucleic acids) | Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR) | |||
| 11 |
| Ashley | Basic Science/Bench Research | Malaria Research | This project will help the student understand the malaria lifecycle. | TBD | Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR) | |||
| 12 |
| Juliane | Basic Science/Bench Research | CAR T Cell Neurotoxicity | We are studying how cancer immunotherapy for leukemia using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells affects the brain. In patients, the therapy frequently causes neurologic toxicity such as brain swelling or seizures. We are studying a mouse model of this neurotoxicity. The student would work in the lab processing mouse brain tissue to investigate for changes in the cellular architecture of brain blood vessels and the blood-brain-barrier. | Student will perform the following tasks: - immunohistochemistry - image processing - confocal microscopy - cell culture techniques | Center for Integrative Brain Research (CIBR) | |||
| 13 |
| Bryan | Basic Science/Bench Research | Mutational Analysis of Leishmania Protein Kinases | The goal of the project is to clone protein kinases from the pathogen Leishmania. The cloned genes are then mutated so that they will become sensitive to a known inhibitor. The ultimate goal is to replace the wild-type copy of the protein kinase with the mutant copy. Once the strains have been generated, the cells will be treated with the inhibitor to assess whether the target protein kinase is essential in Leishmania. | Student will perform the following tasks: Primer design PCR E. coli transformation plasmid isolation DNA sequence analysis | Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR) | |||
| 14 |
| Alexis | Basic Science/Bench Research, Other: development of data visualization tools | Data Visualization Tool to Inform Scientific Decision Making | The students will work as part of an interdisciplinary team to build a data-visualization tool that integrates diverse data types in an intuitive way to help scientists and non-scientists alike engage data to inform decision making. | The students will drive this project, and thus will determine what their duties are and what techniques they will learn. | Center for Global Infectious Disease Research (CGIDR) | |||
| 15 |
| Jason | Behavioral Research | Fit 5 Kids Screen Time Reduction Study for Latino Prescoolers | Television viewing and other screen time are major risk factors for childhood obesity. This study evaluates an intervention, called "Fit 5 Kids" (i.e., fit by age 5 years), a preschool curriculum designed to decrease TV viewing/screen time. The goals are to teach participants to decrease their TV watching; encourage alternative activities such as family meals and active playtime; and reduce excess weight gain. | Student will learn project planning & execution, as well as data collection & analysis | Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development (CHBD) | |||
| 16 |
| Brian | Behavioral Research | Weight Management Intervention | Varies studies about pediatric weight management intervention and policy and environmental factors related to healthy eating and active living | Student will perform the following tasks: - Data entry and quality control - Basic data analysis to address a research question developed by the student - Abstract writing and presentation (poster, powerpoint) preparation | Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development (CHBD) | |||
| 17 |
| Juliana | Clinical Research | Understanding the Effects of Providing Language Concordant Care for Spanish-Speaking Patients and Families Visiting a Pediatric Otolaryngology Clinic | The “Spanish Pediatric Otolaryngology Clinic” has the goal to serve patients who would prefer to receive their medical care in Spanish. Studies have shown that having language-concordant and culture-concordant patient-physician relationships result in improved patient care, patient experience, and most importantly, health outcomes. The clinic would serve a vulnerable population. We will examine the effects that providing clinical care in Spanish will have in our Spanish-speaking patients and families in multiple areas such as patient and family satisfaction, understanding of their disease process, compliance, clinic efficiency, among others. | Student will participate in English and Spanish Otolaryngology clinics and do a survey after the clinic to the patients/families. Opportunities to participate in other aspects of the project and in publishing results. | Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) | |||
| 18 |
| Julie | Clinical Research | Foreign Body Ingestions | We maintain a large database of all foreign body ingestions at Seattle Children's back to 1998. Students will search the electronic medical record and catalogue these records in excel using existing spreadsheets. This is continuing work started by other members of the research team. | Student will perform the following tasks: - Review of medical records - Manage a large database - Learn how to present study data | Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) | |||
| 19 |
| Deepti | Clinical Research | Stigma Associated with Skin Conditions in Children | - Researchers will be performing retrospective chart review and extracting data from charts and inputting into RedCap Database - Researchers will also be in clinic actively recruiting patients to studies centered around completing a survey to assess the stigma associated with pediatric skin disease | Student will perform the following tasks: - chart review - data extraction - use of RedCap database - exposure to dermatology clinic - in person patient interactions - study recruitment and administering study consent | Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) | |||
| 20 |
| Carrie | Clinical Research | Monitoring Growth, Feeding, and Nutrition in Infants with Craniofacial Conditions | Infants with craniofacial conditions such as clefts of the lip and palate are at high risk of growth faltering. We have conducted several pilot projects looking at different factors (e.g. diagnosis, parental observations of feeding, etc) that are related to growth, feeding, and nutrition in this specific population. In the next phase of our research, we will explore methods to collect these data systematically by engaging caregivers and healthcare providers, and create methods for data visualization. Ultimately, our goal is to identify infants at high risk for growth faltering and initiate early interventions. | Student will perform the following tasks: - Chart review - Collecting forms filled out by caregivers - Data entry - Create short surveys in Redcap - Working with team members to improve the process from data collection through intervention and ongoing monitoring | Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) | |||
| 21 |
| Stephanie | Clinical Research | Demonstrating 'Respect for Persons' in Research | The overall goal of this project is to examine the meaning of the bioethics principle of 'respect for persons' from the perspective of individuals from diverse backgrounds and to provide guidance for researchers to do a better job of demonstrating respect when interacting with patient-participants. We have completed a set of qualitative interviews with research participants about their views on what activities demonstrate respect in research and healthcare settings, how respect relates to trust, and what factors influence their decisions to participate in research. Next project steps include analyzing our qualitative data and pilot quantitative data, doing conceptual work to develop interventions to improve respect in practice, drafting manuscripts, and planning/carrying out focus groups to further examine these questions. | The student will have the opportunity to participate in qualitative analysis, including drafting data summaries from already-coded interview data, participating in discussions of emerging themes, and possibly conducting secondary qualitative coding as needed. Additionally, the student can work on a literature review related to the topics of respect and trust among patients from diverse backgrounds, particularly in the primary care setting. It is also possible that the student may be able to observe one or more focus group and/or participate in focus group planning and initial debriefing. | Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics | |||
| 22 |
| Amalia | Clinical Research | Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Reporting of Adverse Experiences within Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Trials | Studies have shown that lung function and mortality rates differ by race and ethnicity within persons living with cystic fibrosis, with some non-white groups being shown to have higher rates of death and less healthy lung function. Mechanistic studies are limited, but the differences by race and ethnicity persist after adjusting for many other measures including: a) age, b) class of cystic fibrosis mutation, c) type of health insurance, d) the presence of bacterial infections, e) median income by region as an approximate measure of individual income, and f) number of annual visits to clinic as an approximate measure of access to care. We plan to explore whether there are differences by race and ethnicity in the frequency of reporting of adverse experiences in clinical trials. Reporting of adverse experiences within clinical trials has been shown to differ by age, sex, and current lung health; but racial and ethnic differences have not been examined. We will use our vast repository of clinical trial data, collected over the past 20+ years; our findings may bring some insights to possible mechanisms of differences observed in clinical outcomes. | This role will involve statistical analysis of clinical trial data, conducted in a setting of an large, established clinical trial coordinating center. Our 60+ employees have varying specialties and interests; and a dedicated team will be on hand to help the intern: a) become practiced at data handling, b) perform basic graphical and analytical tasks using statistical software such as R or SAS, and c) summarize and interpret findings in the format of a poster or abstract. Publication in a scientific journal is possible. Statistical expertise is not required, but the student should possess interest in conducting clinical research. | Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) | |||
| 23 |
| Margarett | Clinical Research | Outcomes in Reproduction in Childhood and Adolescent Survivors | Among the most important challenges faced by male childhood and adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors is the reproductive toxicity of cancer chemotherapy. Cisplatin and Ifosfamide form the backbone of chemotherapy for some of the most common childhood and young adult cancers, but there is a gap in knowledge regarding the effects of cisplatin, and the effects of ifosfamide without cyclophosphamide, on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in male AYA survivors of childhood cancer and non-germ cell cancer populations. DNA methylation changes are a possible mechanism of action of these drugs on testicular function. A better understanding of these effects will allow for identification of high risk patients and better prevention strategies for testicular toxicity to be developed for pediatric and AYA cancer treatment protocols. This study will comprehensively evaluate the effects of cisplatin with or without ifosfamide on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis among childhood and AYA survivors treated with modern chemotherapies for osteosarcoma. Specifically, our aims are: 1) Determine whether infertility and/or biomarkers of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis differ in male osteosarcoma survivors treated with cisplatin with or without ifosfamide compared to male controls without a history of cancer; 2) Evaluate whether cisplatin with or without ifosfamide for the treatment of osteosarcoma is associated with sperm DNA methylation patterns. Osteosarcoma survivors will be recruited from two COG therapeutic trials [COG AOST0331 and INT0133 (CCG7921 and POG9351)], and controls identified and recruited through address-based sampling. Subjects will complete questionnaires and provide blood, saliva, and semen samples through a mail protocol. Blood samples will be analyzed for testosterone, FSH, LH, Inhibin B; genomic DNA extracted from saliva and stored for future studies of host genetic variation in metabolism of chemotherapeutic drugs storage; and sperm DNA will be assayed using genome-wide methylated DNA immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing. The assembled team and consortium brings together multi-disciplinary expertise in urology, andrology, oncology, epidemiology, biostatistics, and epigenomics. Completion of the proposed research will be a major step towards informing male childhood and AYA cancer patients receiving similar regimens about the adverse effects of their treatment and towards identifying high risk groups that would benefit from targeted strategies for fertility preservation. | Principal Investigator will individualize the tasks at our data coordinating center to their interests as this is a multi-disciplinary grant. Participant recruitment, database, data analysis, manuscript development, etc. | Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) | |||
| 24 |
| Jodi | Clinical Research | Pediatric Kidney Transplant: Identifying Risk Factors to Optimize Graft Survival | The goal pediatric kidney transplant research program is improve outcomes for pediatric kidney transplant recipients. Our areas of focus include: • organ allocation • viral complications • impact of anti-HLA antibodies on graft survival • adolescent adherence to transplant medication • quality of life post transplant | Students will: • have the opportunity to explore thoroughly any of the topics listed above • collect and enter data pertaining to the above topics • learn to read lab report and clinical notes from the patient medical record and extract data • attend weekly research team meetings with the research team(s) | Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies ( CIIT) | |||
| 25 |
| Emily | Clinical Research, Other: Literature Review | Shared Decision Making for Families about Limiting Screen Time and Health | The ideal student would, with mentorship, conduct a systematic review of literature about limiting screen time and family shared decision making as it relates to health. | The student will be reading various academic articles to evaluate their rigor, content, and methods. The student will code articles to fit within a pre-determined coding schema. The student will contribute to a systematic review to be published as an academic article. The student will learn how to conduct a systematic review, evaluate literature reviews and academic articles, and also gain a larger understanding of the coding process and how that process fits into producing academic scholarship. | Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development (CHBD) | |||
| 26 |
| Elizabeth | Health Services Research, Delivery of Care, Disparities | Migration Health and Multilingual Research Collaborative | The migration health and multilingual research collaborative focuses on community and public health partnered research. Areas of focus include: measuring adversity and resilience; supporting early childhood feeding practices; piloting multidisciplinary interventions focused on parents with young children; conducting multilingual qualitative research; mixed-methods studies; partnering with community leaders and organizations; and developing policy from research findings. | -Qualitative research coding and use of Dedoose -Data entry and use of RedCap database -Literature review -Participating in multi-stakeholder meetings -Drafting data summaries to inform team discussions and policy development -Student will learn about key topics in migration health and multilingual research | Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development (CHBD) | |||
| 27 |
| Tumaini | Health Services Research, Delivery of Care, Disparities | Time and Motion Study of Well-Child Care Visits for Children in Low-Income Communities | As part of a larger intervention trial of a new model of delivery of preventive care services to children and families in low-income communities, we will collect data on patient visits at clinics. This is a time and motion study, in which we collect data on how much time families spend at each step of the visit, and complete a survey on the preventive care services received. | -Parent recruitment, enrollment, and data collection into the study at clinics in Tacoma, WA, -Attend and engage in research team meetings; -Data management. Students will also learn about key health inequities in child health | Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development (CHBD) | |||
| 28 |
| Emily | Quality Improvement | ED Observation Study for Families with a Language Preference Other than English | This will be an observational study of patient encounters in the pediatric emergency department (ED) at Seattle Children’s hospital. Research assistants will observe ED visits for families with English or another language preference from outside the room and record the time the visit begins, and the times that care providers enter or exit the room. On arrival to the ED, families are asked, “What is your preferred language for care today?” ED visits will be observed for both families who prefer English and those who prefer another language by using a convenience sampling method, although they will attempt to observe across a range of days of the week and times of day. Inclusion criteria are any patient seeking care in the Seattle Children’s Emergency department who receives an emergency severity index of 3, 4 or 5 by the triage nurse. The observation will begin once the patient is brought back into a patient room. The patient age, preferred language, ESI, visit time of day and day of week, visit month, gender, chief complaint, and insurance status will be recorded. They will also record use of an in-person interpreter or remote interpretation. The latter will be confirmed by matching vendor billing data for the encounter. Exclusion criteria include patients with an ESI level of 1 or 2, those placed in the “fast track” area of the ED, those being seen by medical students, siblings, and mental health visits. | Student would create shifts of time in the ED approximately 6 hours each to observe visits and record the following: Sample observation sheet (to enter in red cap) Study ID: Patient age: Patient gender: Chief complaint: ESI: Insurance status: Day of the week: Month: Visit start time: Visit end time: Preferred language in EPIC: Interpreter today yes/no: Language preference displayed on the door: The student would learn about quality improvement methods to improve health disparities for families with limited English proficiency and would gain exposure to an ED setting. | Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) | |||