MEL 8376: Basic and/or Clinical Respiratory Disease Research 15-16

Allergic and immunologic problems affect up to 20% of adults and children in the United States. Therefore students rotating in Allergy and Immunology are exposed to a variety of common problems important to physicians regardless of their specialty interests. Both children and adults are cared for in the Division of Allergy and Immunology.

Objectives

The objectives of the respiratory disease research experience at the Joy McCann Culverhouse Airway Disease Center are to familiarize the student with some of the contemporary research methods relating to pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of various allergic and immunologic diseases. The student will participate in hands-on research as it relates to respiratory syncytial virus induced respiratory diseases and the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and asthma. Many other projects by the faculty are underway and the students can participate in research projects in which they have an interest. The student will also have the opportunity to participate in the asthma, allergy and immunology clinical research unit, where up to 30 clinical research projects are ongoing at any one time. Diseases targeted for research include asthma, COPD, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, chronic rhinitis, acute and chronic sinusitis, nasal polyposis, atopic eczema, urticaria and or angioedema, food allergy, hereditary angioedema and others. The student will learn the accepted methods used in clinical research in this state-of-the-art program.

The student will attend four weekly conferences on basic immunology and clinical allergy and immunology given by residents, fellows and faculty from USF College of Medicine. The student will present a synopsis of his/her work in the last week of his training.

Evaluation

The faculty members and staff associated with the training program will assess the level of competence and will complete evaluations.