Congratulations to the recipients of the inaugural VCHRI Summer Program Advancing Research Knowledge and Skills!
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) is committed to fostering a culture of mentorship for the next cohort of health researchers with the VCHRI Summer Program Advancing Research Knowledge and Skills (SPARKS). This new program provides a unique opportunity for a select group of highly qualified undergraduate and medical students to explore their interest in health research and receive hands-on experience by undertaking a summer project with a VCHRI principal investigator.
The inaugural VCHRI SPARKS award is graciously sponsored by Pfizer Canada, empowering the next generation of talent in clinical and life sciences research.
The 2024 VCHRI SPARKS recipients are:
Supervisor: Dr. Aline Talhouk
Project: RESToRE risk evaluation and screening to tailor prevention and reduce the incidence of endometrial cancer
“Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the developed world. This project allows us to explore data from people who are at high risk for endometrial cancer. I am looking forward to working with Dr. Aline Talhouk on the RESToRE project to improve risk modeling for identifying asymptomatic individuals and targeting screening.”
Supervisor: Dr. Amina Zoubeidi
Project: Exploring ETS gene fusions in prostate cancer: Insights into lineage plasticity, treatment dynamics and biomarker discovery
“Molecularly targeted therapies are crucial for cancer treatment, yet resistance remains a challenge. Dr. Amina Zoubeidi’s guidance will play a pivotal role in deepening my understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving prostate cancer progression and therapy resistance. I am excited to leverage my background in computation to advance research in the biology field.”
Supervisor: Dr. Chris Carlsten
Project: Characterization of pro-inflammatory cytokines in broncho-alveolar lavage fluids after wildfire smoke exposure
“In recent years, the increased incidence of wildfires has had devastating impacts, including exposing communities to dangerous levels of toxic gases and particulate matter. Learning from lung health expert Dr. Chris Carlsten, findings from our study will shed light on the contributions of wildfire smoke to inflammation and may also provide insights into the development of chronic airway diseases.”
Supervisor: Dr. Gillian Hanley
Project: Changing contraceptive use patterns and future cancer rates
“Contraception choices have key implications for many aspects of health, including cancer risk. Understanding how contraceptive patterns are shifting over time will be important for predicting future cancer incidence. Under the mentorship of Dr. Gillian Hanley, I am eager to contribute to the development of a toolkit for care providers to help patients make informed contraceptive choices.”
Supervisor: Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez
Project: The CARS Study on ECT
“Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is pivotal treatment for various psychiatric disorders, yet its accessibility remains an issue within the health care system. Our project aims to demonstrate the benefits of ECT, while also attempting to help optimize it. I am honoured to receive the opportunity to gain invaluable expertise from Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez on this important research topic.”
Supervisor: Syam Somasekharan
Project: Investigating the function of lysine-rich nucleolar protein 1 (KNOP1) in the development and progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer
"Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among the male population of Canada. Through our research, our team strives to understand better the molecular mechanisms driving the disease for developing improved treatments. By leading this project under the guidance of Dr. Syam Somasekharan, I have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the scientific community while advancing my research skills."
Supervisor: Dr. James Johnson
Project: The role of hyperinsulinemia in breast cancer onset
“Approximately 23 per cent of all breast cancer cases are attributable to metabolic disease. Our project aims to understand how insulin promotes breast cancer initiation, which could lay the groundwork for physicians to use insulin as a risk biomarker. I am looking forward to spending my summer learning more about this important research at Dr. James Johnson’s lab.”
Supervisor: Dr. Stefan Lang
Project: Investigating the network effects of deep brain stimulation with functional magnetic resonance imaging
“Low-frequency deep brain stimulation has been explored as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease patients, but how it can improve cognition remains unclear. Dr. Stefan Lang’s research sheds light on these mechanisms, with the potential to optimize treatment strategies. I am excited to be involved in all aspects of this study, from recruitment to fMRI data collection.”
Supervisor: Dr. Cornelia Laule
Project: Improving image segmentation of ex-vivo human spinal cord injury MRI
“Prognosis after spinal cord injury is typically uncertain. Having biomarkers to indicate potential recovery would be beneficial for clinical decision making, which is what Dr. Cornelia Laule is hoping to accomplish with her research. I am proud to work on this project that could ultimately lead to more informed treatment and improved health outcomes for people with spinal cord injury.”
Supervisor: Dr. Todd Woodward
Project: Enhancing pre-surgical precision in epilepsy through mapping the language network
“Epilepsy surgery, while lifesaving, faces reluctance from many patients due to the fear of language decline. Our language-mapping study could lay the groundwork to guide surgeries at a personalized level for each patient. Receiving mentorship from Dr. Todd Woodward on this project is an amazing opportunity to contribute to patient-centred care and address the psychological well-being of those undergoing surgery.”
