Research Assistant: Electroretinography and Subjective Visual Function in Age-related Macular Degeneration

Introduction to the topic:

Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) often complain of a worsening of their central vision. However, objective measures of visual function may not always correspond with a patient’s self-perceived visual abilities. VFQ-39 is a validated means of assessing subjective visual function and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) is a relatively recent, clinic-based investigation used in assessing central retinal function.

By using these two techniques, it may be possible to correlate subjective with objective measures of visual function. Patients are recruited from eye outpatients, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde and the visual function questionnaire, VFQ-39 (English language version), multifocal ERG (mfERG) will be used as methods.

Project details:

Selected relevant publications:

This is where 2-3 publications will go, chosen by the research mentor. They should be formatted in APA style and they must include a link to an accessible online version of the text. These texts should give an overview of the field (literature reviews are great), highlight any novel methodological approaches, or showcase previously published research by the mentor or the lab. If the mentor’s name appears as an author, bold the name so a reader can easily see it. Include the link as a doi: at the end of the citation. Examples are shown below:
Hardvik Åkerström J, Santoni G, von Euler Chelpin M, Chidambaram S, Markar SR, Maret-Ouda J, Ness-Jensen E, Kauppila JH, Holmberg D, Lagergren J. Decreased Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma After Gastric Bypass Surgery in a Cohort Study From 3 Nordic Countries. Ann Surg. 2023 Dec 1;278(6):904-909. DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006003
Wiklund AK, Santoni G, Yan J, Radkiewicz C, Xie S, Birgisson H, Ness-Jensen E, von Euler-Chelpin M, Kauppila JH, Lagergren J. Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma After Helicobacter pylori Eradication Treatment in a Population-Based Multinational Cohort Study. Gastroenterology. 2024 Mar 19:S0016-5085(24)00299-3. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.03.016

Prerequisites

One year each of biology and chemistry at university level.

Additional application required

You must submit an additional application through the Online Registration portal.

All application materials must be submitted on the following dates by midnight in your time zone:

November 1 for spring semester applicants
May 1 for fall semester applicants

Complete your application through Student Registration.

Faculty

Coming Soon

Faculty

The faculty teaching this course will be listed here soon.

Research Assistantship FAQ

Learn more about research at DIS.

: Earning authorship within the course of a semester is challenging. Exceptional Research Assistants may be considered for co-authorship, subject to evaluation from the supervising Research Mentor.

Though you may not ultimately become an author on a published paper, you will gain many practical skills and insights into the publication process.

: Many research projects last across several semesters, so not all RAs on the same project will conduct the same research.

: On average, students in 3-credit Research Assistantships spend at least 10 hours a week on research tasks. These 10 hours per week consist of a variety of different research-related tasks, including conducting a literature review, data collection, analyses, coding, documentation, and meetings with your mentor. You may decide on a particular block of time (consistent each week) for you to carry out the work, or adjust it on a week-by-week basis.

Students in a 6-credit Research Assistantships spend an average of 20 hours per week with lab and clinically based research tasks. You decide the exact meeting and lab times with your supervisor, but your schedule consists of classes at DIS two days a week, with two days a week in the lab.

There may be peak times in the research process where all Research Assistant students are expected to spend a few more hours, and then possibly fewer hours another week – to reflect the individual research project and process.

: Work for the 3-credit Research Assistantships may take place outside DIS, on your own time at a location of your choosing, or at DIS – this varies from project to project. The 6-credit research assistantships generally take place at labs in Copenhagen or Stockholm outside DIS.

: Students with a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the 3-credit Research Assistant course. While some courses do have prerequisites, many opportunities do not require prior research experience.

The 6-credit Research Assistant opportunity is designed for highly motivated students who have a strong science background within the field of interest and some basic research experience. The student must be willing to commit a large portion of their semester to an engaging opportunity involving hands-on research in universities and medical institutes in Copenhagen or Stockholm.

Introduction to the topic:

Project details:

Prerequisites

Additional application required

Faculty

Coming Soon

Research Assistantship FAQ

Will I publish a research paper?

What exactly will I do?

What is the time commitment for a 3-credit or 6-credit Research Assistantship?

Where is the research work carried out?

What type of student applies for the 3- and 6-credit Research Assistant courses?