Our patient-oriented and translational research program is focused in three broad areas: genotype/phenotype correlations in hemochromatosis; epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, epidemiology of hepatitis B; and cholesatic liver disease.
A number of research opportunities are available, ranging from retrospective chart review studies, prospective intervention studies and case-control studies. We have a number of sources of data, including a database of about 400 well-characterized patients referred for iron overload, established registries in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, hepatitis B and access to large databases of patients from previously completed NIH trials.
In addition, there is the opportunity to learn lab techniques such as RT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining, methods for measuring insulin sensitivity, clinical trial design and database analysis from NHANES I and NHANES III datasets. Our research group can provide support to the predoctoral trainee starting in patient-oriented or translational research with research coordinator and statistical support, Access databases, IRB application and in the ethical conduct of research.
