Students interested in Clinical/Rare Disease research typically work with a mentor in the Fritz Wenzel Center for Clinical Research (FWCRC) on projects that explore relationships or association between the cause of disease and current medical practice with the goal to enhance a better understanding of a disease or disorder. In addition to the independent project, students may have the opportunity to be involved with other projects that have an emphasis rare disease or rare disease registries, cardiology, infectious disease, neurology, or pediatrics.
FWCRC SRIP Projects
The FWCRC researchers will offer one project for the 2025 summer session.
1) Identifying factors impacting the health and well-being of adolescents and adults with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Project Overview:
Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a complex condition with a diverse array of features with the potential to adversely impact emotional well-being and quality of life throughout the life span. Features of BBS include hyperphagia (excess hunger drive), vision loss, and learning difficulties. Many of these features first appear in childhood but have impacts that continue into adulthood.
Primary research question: identify factors that impact the health and well-being of adolescents and adults with BBS. Questions can include factors related to hyperphagia, reproduction, or the transition to adult medical care. This investigation will be carried out using data collected in the annual interviews that are part of the Clinical Registry Investigating (CRIBBS). CRIBBS has over 750 participants with over 3000 interviews conducted. The interviews include questions about health as well as questions related to psychosocial well-being and quality of life.
Requirements:
Students need to have taken introductory statistics. This project is open to undergraduate juniors and seniors, and graduate students who are engaged in the following areas: psychology, nutrition, epidemiology, genetics, pre-med, biology, physiology, and pharmacy. Students will be performing literature reviews, analyzing data, and attending seminars. This project is either virtual or in-person internship.
Friendly reminder, the internship is a competitive process with an application, copy of transcripts, resume or CV, personal statement, and two academic or research references. See Frequently Asked Questions for additional details.
The RedCap application window is now open and will close Feb. 7, 2025 at 11:59 pm. References will be sent an email link and these will be due Feb. 9, 2025 at 11:59 pm.