28BL – Age-associated molecular signatures in cancer data sets

Status: Filled – Intern: Chandan Basetty
Intern: Chandan Basetty
Faculty Name: brittany-lasseigne
UAB Department: Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
UAB School: School of Medicine
Campus Address: 946 Tinsley Harrison Tower
Telephone Number: (205) 934-8156
Email: bnp0001@uab.edu or Click to Send E-Mail
For how many summers have you served as a preceptor: 0
CCC Research Area: Experimental Therapeutics
Number of hours per week that the preceptor will personally supervise or work with the intern: 3
Other faculty, staff, or graduate students who may help to supervise the intern:
1. Dr. Vishal Oza
2. Tabea Soelter
Title of Project: 28BL – Age-associated molecular signatures in cancer data sets
Project Description:

Age is a major risk factor for cancer, with some cancers displaying age-related driver mechanisms. Older patients have historically been underrepresented in studies. A comprehensive assessment of the genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and proteomic characteristics of clinical tumor samples with respect to age is now possible with large public cohorts. Preliminary data indicate that a biomarker associated with a subset of cancer types in older patients may suggest clinical benefit by deploying approved therapeutics in novel contexts. This intern will contribute to a collaborative project aimed at establishing age-associated molecular signatures in publicly available glioblastoma multiforme, hepatocellular carcinoma, and skin cutaneous melanoma data sets. Additionally, we aim to establish molecular signatures associated with TERT promoter mutations cancer drug response in those cancers by evaluating pre- and post-treatment molecular signatures in public cell line-by-perturbation databases. While we would love to have an intern with previous programming and/or data analysis experience, we fully expect and have training plans to help the student learn R programming, genomics, and cancer biology needed to complete this project. Interest and enthusiasm are the most important prerequisites.

Project Status: Already up and running
Location of Project: Birmingham, AL (UAB)
Proposed Start Date: May 4, 2020
Proposed End Date: August 28, 2020
Expected work schedule for intern: Not very flexible, intern MUST be at work on certain days of the week and at certain times of the day (as may be necessary to interview patients, attend lab meetings, process samples, etc.) and should contribute full-time effort.
Category of Project: Analytical/Statistical Research
Cancer topic: Brain, Genetics, Liver, Skin, Treatment, Multiple Cancer Sites
Does this project involve human subjects: No
Does this project involve animal subjects: No
Duty:
1.

Analyze data

2.

Report and present results

3.

Attend lab meetings, etc.

Preceptor will provide intern with access to the following:
Office or desk space, Computer and printer, Equipment needed to complete project
Likelihood that intern will be included as an author on one or more publications
related to this summer research project:
Very likely
Areas in which the ideal candidates will have experience:
Cell Biology, Computer Programming, Genetics and Genomics, Literature Review Skills, Molecular Biology, Statistical Genetics, Statistics and Data Management, basic knowledge, NONE OF THE ABOVE (just the willingness to learn)