Name: Robert Baiocchi

Email: robert.baiocchi@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Lab Manager/Dept Contact: Derek West

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email: derek.west@osumc.edu

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Phone: 614-292-8009

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email

Previous Mentoring: Yes (funded)

Category of research: Translational

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Cancer Therapy; Immunology


Name: Joshua Englert

Email: joshua.englert@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Lab Manager/Dept Contact: Kayla McElroy

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email: Kayla.McElroy@osumc.edu

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email

Previous Mentoring: Yes (not funded)

Category of research: Translational

Research Description: The Englert lab is interested in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and how mechanical ventilation can exacerbate lung injury in patients with ARDS. We use in vivo models of mechanical ventilation as well as microscale models of ventilator induced lung injury to dissect the mechanotransduction mechanisms by which various mechanical forces can lead to lung injury.

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Cells, Organ Systems & Integrative Biology, Critical Care, Lung Disease


Name: Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate

Email: zobeida.cruz-monserrate@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Lab Manager/Dept Contact: Niharika Badi

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email: niharikareddy.badi@osumc.edu

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Phone: 614-292-5387

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email

Previous Mentoring: No (never applied)

Category of Research: Translational

Research Description: The Cruz-Monserrate laboratory is interested in understanding molecular mechanisms in the development of pancreatic cancer. The lab studies the roles of obesity, diet, and exercise in the initiation, progression, and prevention of this disease. Researchers in this lab use a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches to model pancreatic cancer in an effort to decelop preventive stratgies and discover biomarkers for early detection.

Mentor website: http://cancer.osu.edu/research-and-education/find-a-researcher/search-researcher-directory/zobeida-cruz-monserrate

Lab website: http://go.osu.edu/cruz-monserrate

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Cancer Biology; Nutrition/Obesity; Pancreatic Disorders


Name: Alejandro Diez

Email: alejandro.diez@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Lab Manager/Dept Contact: Shawnna Graves

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email: Shawnna.Graves2@osumc.edu

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Phone: 614-293-4997

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email

Category of Research: Translational

Research Description: My area of interest is in investigating graft and patient clinical outcomes post kidney transplant. My current project involves attempting to predict post donation renal function in both kidney donors and recipients. Previously we established a correlation between morphological and functional renal parameters. More recently we are working in establishing a quantifiable correlation between renal volumes and creatinine clearance in potential donors which can then be extrapolated to kidney recipients.

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Kidney Disease; Transplantation


Name: Kathleen Dungan

Email: kathleen.dungan@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email

Previous Mentoring: Yes (funded)

Category of research: Clinical

Research Description 1: Evaluation of hypoglycemia unawareness in patients with heart failure.

  • Type: prospective observational study. Duties: write a proposal (with help), submit IRB, recruit patients, analyze data, write abstract/manuscript.
  • Goals: name on paper, presentation at a national conference, publication of peer-reviewed journal article.
  • Time Course: 1 year----with advance notice the bulk of the work can be performed in a research block.
  • Skills: none.

Research Description 2: Effect of Beta Blocker Use on Hypoglycemia in Hospitalized Patients with Diabetes.

  • Type: a retrospective analysis.
  • Duties: already IRB approved; analysis of data, write a manuscript.
  • Goals: name on paper, publication of peer-reviewed journal article.
  • Time Course: 1 year--the bulk of the work can be performed in a research month.
  • Skills: none, Excel ideal.

Research Description 3: Enhancing the Routine Measurement of HbA1c among Hospitalized Patients to Improve Clinical Outcomes of Care

  • Type: Retrospective Analysis
  • Duties: submit IRB, analyze data, write abstract/manuscript
  • Goals: name on paper, presentation at a national conference, publication of peer-reviewed journal article.
  • Time Course: 1 year--with advance notice the bulk of the analysis can be performed in a research block
  • Skills: none, Excel ideal.

Research Description 4: Analysis of Outcomes among Patients Attending a Multidisciplinary Diabetes Device clinic.

  • Type: retrospective analysis
  • Duties: submit IRB, some analysis of data, write abstract/manuscript
  • Goals: name on paper, presentation at a national conference, publication of peer-reviewed journal article
  • Time Course: 1 year--with advance notice the bulk of the work can be performed in a research month
  • Skills: none, Excel ideal

Name: Benjamin Kaffenberger

Email: benjamin.kaffenberger@osumc.edu

Department: Dermatology

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email

Category of Research: Clinical

Research Description: We have multiple clinical studies investigating cost or efficacy of interventions in dermatology, maintenance of a biorepository of skin disease for translational research

Potential projects include:

- Modeling myocardial dysfunction in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis

- Evaluating skin disease morphologies and risk of death during hospitalization

- The use of teledermatology to provide access to dermatologic care

- Maintenance and collection of additional specimens for the biorepository of skin disease

- Evaluating predictive factors for contact dermatitis testing

- Developing and validating an imaging analysis algorithm for clinical trial scoring of acneiform (acne, rosacea) disease. Successful students tend to have some background in statistics and some knowledge of a statistical program such as JMP, STATA, SAS, or R.

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Biomedical Informatics, Skin Disease, and Dermatology


Name: Marwan Mohammad

Email: marwan.mohammad@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Research Description: Dr. Marwan Mohammad are looking for a medical student volunteer to help with retrospective study comparing outcomes of patients with a known diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and whether appropriate intervention during hospitalization (sleep medicine referral and/or treatment of OSA with CPAP) reduce complications from A fib (hospitalization for arrthymia, stroke, death). A spreadsheet is already established and sub-groups are setup. Data gathering is currently being completed in regards to which patients have received appropriate referrals to sleep medicine prior to analyzing the data.


Name: Abigail Norris-Turner

Email: ant@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty Email

Previous Mentoring: Yes (Funded)

Category of Research: Clinical

Research Description: Dr. Abigail Norris Turner, a joint faculty member in the Division of Epidemiology, is looking for qualified students to work as interviewers for a study on risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in MSM (men who have sex with men). This study will be conducted off-site at Columbus Public Health (CPH) throughout Spring 2013 and continuing through Summer 2013. Interviews will be conducted face-to-face and will cover sensitive material, so the ideal student will have some experience in interviewing, counseling, or client/patient care. Students must be able to organize their own transport to CPH (parking is free). A minimum time commitment of 8 hours per week is strongly preferred. These positions are unpaid. However, depending on the skills and interests of the student, there is a possibility that s/he could analyze data from the same study for a research project and/or publication. This position may also qualify to be used for course credit. If interested, please send an email to Abigail Norris Turner, PhD, ant@osumc.edu, describing your available time during the Spring and Summer semesters, previous research experience, and previous experience working with sensitive topics.

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Public Health Research, Infectious Disease


Name: Sameek Roychowdhury

Email: sameek.roychowdhury@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Pharmacology

Name of Lab Manager: Darshna Bhatt

Email: darshna.bhatt@osumc.edu

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty email

Previous Mentoring: No

Category of Research: Translational

Research Description: Dr. Roychowdhury is a physician scientist whose research interests involve translating next generation DNA sequencing strategies for the development of genomics-driven clinical trials. He joined the Division of Medical Oncology in September 2012. His clinical study entitled “Personalized Oncology Through High-Throughout Sequencing” evaluates individual patients with advanced cancer considering clinical trials, and seeks to identify “driving” mutations that match novel molecularly targeted therapies in development. The overarching goal is to identify putative predictive genomic biomarkers for targeted therapies and understand primary and secondary resistance mechanisms for these therapies. His clinical practice in medical oncology includes patients with advanced cancer including prostate, colorectal, soft tissue sarcoma, and rare cancer subtypes.

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Cancer Biology; Cancer Genetics; Cancer Therapy; Biomedical Informatics


Name: Peter Shields

Email: peter.shields@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine/Comprehensive Cancer Center

Lab Manager/Dept Contact: Daniel Weng

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email: daniel.weng@osumc.edu

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Phone: 614-366-4068

Preferred Method of Contact: Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email/Faculty Email

Previous Mentoring: Yes (funded)

Category of Research: Clinical; Translational

Research Description: The main focus of the lab is in the field of biomarkers of cancer risk, molecular epidemiology and carcinogenesis. Our primary focus is identifying biomarkers that can be used in the clinic to assess breast and lung cancer risk, particularly those related to diet, smoking and lifestyle. We are currently conducting studies regarding gene-environment interactions in breast cancer, molecular determinants of breast density, biomarkers of exposure, and molecular characterization of normal breast tissue.

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Cancer Biology; Cancer Genetics; Nutrition/Obesity


Name: Shu-Hua Wang

Email: Wang.1055@osu.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Lab Manager/Dept Contact: Cynthia Coles

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Email: Cynthia.Cole@osumc.edu

Lab Manager/Dept Contact Phone: 614-293-5666

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty email

Previous Mentoring: Yes (funded)

Category of Research: Translational

Category of Research: Clostridium difficile is a major cause of healthcare associated infection in the US. The CDC estimated almost half a million infections in the United States in 2011, and 29,000 died within 30 days of the initial diagnosis. Those most at risk are people, especially older adults, who take antibiotics and also get medical care. Despite these staggering statistics, little is known of how many individuals acquire C. difficile (and similar pathogens) and potential transmission to and from animals such as dogs. This study is trying to improve our understanding of how bacteria, including C. difficile, are passed between people and their dogs with the goal of finding ways for protecting dog and human health.

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Infectious Disease; Microbial Pathogenesis; Other Basic and Applied Research in Inflammation, Infection & Immunology


Name: Kara Wada

Email: kara.wada@osumc.edu

Department: Internal Medicine

Preferred Method of Contact: Faculty email

Previous Mentoring: No (never applied)

Category of Research: Clinical

Category of Research: We are working to develop a comprehensive strategy to evaluate patients with reported penicillin allergy across the medical center through the development of a risk stratification tool (survey), drug challenge protocols and other electronic health record related improvements. 90% of patients who report penicillin allergy can subsequently tolerate these medications. The label of penicillin allergy increases patient risk of poor outcomes and increases cost of care/length of stay.

Specific areas of Research Emphasis: Biomedical Informatics; Infectious Disease; Other Biomedical Informatics/Health Care Ed., Delivery, Organization/ Research Ethics