Since high school, I have had a desire to help people through the application of science to medicine. Clinical practice alone is emotionally gratifying but intellectual stimulation is derived from the scientific exploration of questions generated by clinical practice. Boundless opportunities, political stability and relative safety from crime attracted me to the US from South Africa. My US citizenship has been obtained and my formal clinical training as a pediatric otolaryngologist has recently been completed. Attention must now be directed at developing my scientific skills. It is necessary to become familiar with the latest life sciences techniques, while maintaining the skills already acquired. Didactic teaching in the fields of genetics, molecular biology applications and information management coupled with hands-on apprenticeships within CGS laboratories and those of consultant laboratories are planned. Research mentorship and troubleshooting assistance by Drs. Post MDPhD and Ehrlich PhD (co-directors of the Center for Genomic Sciences, CGS) will ensure progress in my chosen research field and thereby enable me to build the foundation for an independent career. The CGS is powered by 6 principal investigators and 20 other staff members. Amongst many other achievements, these researchers have localized a gene for gastroesophageal reflux. The center is equipped with over $2.5 million worth of instrumentation including: multiple robotic platforms for construction and analysis of arrays; multiple high throughput automated sequencing systems, and an integrated bioinformatics system. CGS receives approximately $2 million/year in extramural research support (90% NIH) and is held in high regard the parent organization, Allegheny General Hospital. The PI has been fascinated by the poorly-understood affliction, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and whishes to make his mark by contributing to its understanding. The disease has received little attention yet it renders children dysphonic, aphonic and dyspneic and requires that they undergo numerous surgical procedures until remission eventually occurs. Many individuals are exposed to the causative viruses but most do not get the disease. The latest genomic advances enable one to discover the underlying genetic susceptibilities to infectious agents. Collaborations have been established to obtain and analyze the specimens necessary for such a mission.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08DC005819-04
Application #
7002654
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDC1-SRB-J (18))
Program Officer
Sklare, Dan
Project Start
2003-01-01
Project End
2007-12-31
Budget Start
2006-01-01
Budget End
2006-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$190,606
Indirect Cost
Name
Allegheny-Singer Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
033098401
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15212
Buchinsky, Farrel J; Donfack, Joseph; Derkay, Craig S et al. (2008) Age of child, more than HPV type, is associated with clinical course in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. PLoS One 3:e2263
Donfack, Joseph; Buchinsky, Farrel J; Derkay, Craig S et al. (2006) Four mutations in Epidermodysplasia verruciformis 1 (EVER1) gene are not contributors to susceptibility in RRP. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 70:1235-40
Buchinsky, Farrel J; Carter, Joseph J; Wipf, Gregory C et al. (2006) Comparison of oral fluid and serum ELISAs in the determination of IgG response to natural human papillomavirus infection in university women. J Clin Virol 35:450-3
Sherwood, Mylaina L; Buchinsky, Farrel J; Quigley, Matthew R et al. (2006) Unique challenges of obtaining regulatory approval for a multicenter protocol to study the genetics of RRP and suggested remedies. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 135:189-96
Buchinsky, Farrel J; Derkay, Craig S; Leal, Suzanne M et al. (2004) Multicenter initiative seeking critical genes in respiratory papillomatosis. Laryngoscope 114:349-57