UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

Annual Financial Report

2014-15

STATEMENTS OF NET POSITION (unaudited)

At June 30, 2015 and 2014 (In Thousands of Dollars) CAMPUS * FOUNDATION
2015 2014 2015 2014

ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 358,657 $ 496,840 $ 2,668 $ 1,704
Short-term investments 64,950 65,676
Investments held by trustees 1,801 2,409
Accounts receivable, net 244,708 177,336
Pledges receivable, net 2,726 5,674 27,345 25,651
Notes and mortgages receivable, net 4,950 4,830
Inventories 5,041 4,533
Other current assets 2,964 8,019 963 2,946
Current assets 620,847 699,641 95,926 95,977
Investments 3,460,043 3,374,500 1,738,675 1,661,018
Investments held by trustees 7,826 31,218
Restricted bond proceeds held by UC 40,779 179,486
Pledges receivable, net 7,533 19,778 91,534 104,230
Notes and mortgages receivables, net 26,223 25,287
Capital assets, net 3,918,971 3,746,187
Other noncurrent assets 1,067 1,669 1,806
Noncurrent assets 7,462,442 7,376,456 1,831,878 1,767,054
Total assets 8,083,289 8,076,097 1,927,804 1,863,031
DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF RESOURCES 506,099 369,529
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable 103,013 114,549 555 594
Accrued salaries 113,499 100,953
Employee benefits 26,163 25,745
Unearned revenue 189,673 176,319
Commercial paper 67,323 67,793
Current portion of long-term debt 99,865 99,232
Funds held for others 1,588 1,414 15,204 15,229
Other current liabilities 102,551 102,752

Current liabilities 703,675 688,757 15,759 15,823

Federal refundable loans 23,134 23,193
Obligations under life income agreements 76,437 77,200
Long-term debt 2,165,701 2,155,079
Pension obligations 1,122,991 833,793
Obligations for retiree health benefits 830,034 754,145
Other noncurrent liabilities 29,822 38,841

Noncurrent liabilities 4,171,682 3,805,051 76,437 77,200

Total liabilities 4,875,357 4,493,808 92,196 93,023
DEFERRED INFLOWS OF RESOURCES 468,220 594,418
NET POSITION
Net investment in capital assets Restricted: 1,652,325 1,508,704

Nonexpendable: Endowments and gifts 379,926 409,239 955,461 886,952

Expendable: Endowments and gifts 2,409,009 2,323,431 878,939 883,009
Expendable: Other, including debt service, loans, capital projects
and appropriations 105,089 225,770
Unrestricted (1,300,538) (1,109,744) 1,208 47
Total net position $ 3,245,811 $ 3,357,400 $ 1,835,608 $ 1,770,008
Wells Fargo: Committed to Rebuilding Trust

Progress Report
Wells Fargo has taken a series of steps to address improper sales practices, and we continue to make critical changes to rebuild the trust of our
customers and team members. While there is still work to be done, here are some actions Wells Fargo has already taken on our path to making things
right, fixing the problems, and building a better bank:

Recently Completed Actions

Leadership

 Elected Betsy Duke chair of the Board of Directors, effective Jan. 1, 2018; elected six new independent board members in 2017.

 Three long-tenured directors retired from the board on December 31, 2017; board refreshment process continues with the retirement at
our 2018 annual meeting of three of the board’s longest-serving directors and a director who was scheduled to retire in 2019.

 Reviewed board committee structure and leadership and amended committee charters to enhance and reduce duplication in risk
oversight.

 Launched a Stakeholder Advisory Council, which includes seven external members representing groups focused on consumer rights, fair
lending, the environment, human rights, civil rights, and governance, to provide insight and feedback to the board and senior
management.

 Announced new leaders and organizational structure in the Community Bank, creating a more streamlined and efficient organization, and
created a new Change Leader position, responsible for redefining the business model in branches and call centers to focus on the
customer experience.

 Released findings from the Board of Directors’ independent investigation of retail banking sales practices and related matters, which
included additional compensation actions that in total have exceeded $180 million after board mandated additional forfeitures and
clawbacks.

Customers
 Remediating customers in connection with the retail sales practices matter, including under the stipulated judgment with the Los Angeles
City Attorney and under the CFPB and OCC consent orders, as well as by working with customers directly and offering free mediation
services; we are committed to making things right for any customer who was financially harmed by unacceptable sales practices –
regardless of the time frame.
 Expanded the company’s customer complaint servicing and resolution process and reached out to 40 million retail and 3 million small
business customers asking them to contact us with any concerns about their accounts.

 Improved controls by sending automatic notifications to customers after a personal or small business checking account, savings account,
or credit card has been opened.
 Established a dedicated 24/7 toll-free number for customers with concerns about their accounts, or any aspect of their relationship with
Wells Fargo. Customer service representatives are available 24/7 at (877) 924-8697.

 Received preliminary court approval for a class-action settlement agreement for retail sales practices, which sets aside $142 million for
remediation and settlement expenses to cover customers and former customers with claims of unauthorized accounts back to 2002.

Progress as of 3.6.18
Customers
 Engaged a third-party to conduct a detailed analysis of our customers’ accounts to help identify potential harm and expanded the review
time period to almost eight years – 2009 through 2016 – and are providing customer remediation based on this expanded review.

 Created a Commitment to Customer Center of Excellence, responsible for establishing centralized enterprise standards and enhancing
execution of remediation efforts across Wells Fargo’s consumer businesses.

Recently Completed Actions

Incentives

 Eliminated product sales goals for retail bankers who serve customers in bank branches and call centers.

 Created a new compensation and performance management plan for retail bankers focused on customer experience, stronger oversight and
controls, and team versus individual incentives.
Risk Management & Integrity

 Created a Conduct Management Office to centralize the handling of internal investigations, EthicsLine and ethics oversight, complaints
oversight, and sales practice oversight.

 Strengthened our risk framework by centralizing core functions like HR, Risk, and Finance, while enhancing our risk and compliance controls
as we pursue a cohesive approach to risk companywide.

 Hired external talent to strengthen our risk management capabilities, including a new chief operational risk officer, chief compliance officer, and a
head of Regulatory Relations (new position); hired more than 2,000 new external team members in Risk Management in 2016 and 2017.

Team Members

 Introduced a streamlined Vision, Values & Goals of Wells Fargo, which clearly express the beliefs that guide every team member as we
work together to build a better Wells Fargo.

 Made enhancements to the EthicsLine intake process and hired an outside expert to help identify possibilities for additional
improvements.

 Expanded the “Raise Your Hand” communications initiative encouraging team members to speak up when they see something they think is
unethical – or if they have an idea to help reduce risk.

 Established a process to enable former team members to request a termination review regarding termination or resignation allegedly due
to sales performance/culture reasons. Those who are eligible for reemployment have an opportunity to work with a special recruiting
team to identify and explore opportunities for reemployment with Wells Fargo.

 Following third-party reviews and team member feedback, including a detailed culture assessment and ongoing pulse surveys, we
launched a Culture Program to clearly articulate the culture we want and the behaviors we expect from all team members and to build a
disciplined and objective approach to monitoring our culture.

In Progress
 Committed to satisfying the requirements of a consent order with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System regarding our
board’s governance oversight and the company’s compliance and operational risk management.

 Implementing a fully integrated operating model for risk management and executing comprehensive plans that address our compliance and
operational risk management programs, organizations, processes, technology, and controls.
 City of Newnan, Georgia
Request for Proposals (RFP)
for

Feasibility Report and Market Study for a

Multi-Sport and Recreation Venue

Issue Date: Thursday, October 13, 2016

Issued By: City of Newnan

25 LaGrange Street
Newnan, GA 30263

Inquiries: Hasco Craver

Assistant City Manager
770-253-2682
hcraver@cityofnewnan.org

Proposals Due: Friday, October 28, 2016 by 10:00 AM, EST

Proposal Opening: Friday, October 28, 2016 at 10:00 AM, EST
 CITY OF NEWNAN, GEORGIA
RFP – Feasibility Report and Market Study for a Multi-Sport and Recreation Venue

FACT SHEET

Feasibility Report and Market Study for a Multi-Sport and

Title of RFP:
Date of Issue:
Last day to submit questions:
Date of final answers:
Proposal due date:
Copies of proposal required:
Proposal opening date:
Proposal submission location:
Proposal opening location:
Project name:
Recreation Venue
October 13, 2016
October 21, 2016
October 25, 2016
October 28, 2016 before 10AM
1 original, 1 copy, 1 digital copy
October 28, 2016 at 10:00AM
Newnan City Hall, Office of the City Manager
Newnan City Hall, Office of the City Manager
Feasibility Report and Market Study for a Multi-Sport and
Recreation Venue
 CITY OF NEWNAN, GEORGIA

RFP – Feasibility Report and Market Study

for a Multi-Sport and Recreation Venue
A. INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
The City of Newnan, Georgia, located 35 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta, on Interstate 85
South, and county seat of Coweta County, Georgia, is seeking proposals for a Feasibility Report
and Market Study to explore the potential viability of a Multi-Sport and Recreation Venue.
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, 140 million Americans make recreation a priority in
their daily lives, over 6 million American jobs are tied to recreation and $646 billion dollars are
spent annually on outdoor recreation activities. A diversity of interests and disciplines drives the
modern recreation industry. Recreation facilities and programming are vital to the overall health
of successful communities.
As the City of Newnan looks towards providing outstanding services to meet the desires of a 21st
century citizenry, the consideration of a Multi-Sport and Recreation Venue is warranted. Having a
thorough understanding of the financial viability and potential economic impact of a Multi-Sport
and Recreation Venue is required.
Therefore, the City of Newnan is interested in having a more complete understanding of the benefits
and challenges associated with a Multi-Sport and Recreation Venue.

B. GENERAL INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE

This RFP has been issued on October 13, 2016. Questions and requests for clarifications relating
to this RFP must be directed to Hasco Craver, Assistant City Manager, at
hcraver@cityofnewnan.org. The last day to submit questions and requests for clarifications will be
on October 21, 2016. Answers to such questions and requests for clarifications will be released
on or before October 25, 2016.

Delivery of one (1) original, one (1) copy and one (1) digital copy of the proposal, with original
signatures, to the City of Newnan (at the address below) is due by 10:00 A.M. on Friday, October
28, 2016, at which time there will be a public opening in the City Manager’s Office. Proposals
received by the City of Newnan after this date and time will be rejected, without exception. No
provisions are made for extenuating circumstances in this RFP. Proposals shall be submitted in a
sealed envelope marked “Feasibility Report and Market Study for a MultiSport and
Recreation Venue.”
 Submit Proposals to: Office of the City Manager

City of Newnan
25 LaGrange Street
Newnan, GA 30263

C. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The City of Newnan is seeking the services of a firm or team of firms to assist with the completion of a
Feasibility Report and Market Study for a Multi-Sport and Recreation Venue, which must include:

1. Market research, including local and regional markets of the southeastern United States;
2. Strategic planning meetings, including meetings with city officials and public input sessions;
3. Sports participation analysis, both local and regional;
4. Potential programming demands and opportunities;
5. Facility/space requirements, including size, location, access, utilities, amenities, etc;
6. Management and staffing models;
7. Funding strategies and recommendations, including private/public partnership
opportunities; 8. Financial analysis of identified programs and facilities;
9. Local economic and social impact analysis.

The Selected Firm will:

1. Serve as the main contact on the project. Review new and existing information
sources regarding the potential location of a Multi-Sport and Recreation Venue. Prepare
an overall project approach, which should include community input meetings, financial
modeling, forecasting, market study, feasibility report, program management, economic
and social impact analysis.
2. Assist with Public Relations and Public Information Coordination. Assist in
information campaigns, manage public meetings and assist in the development of
communication materials for public release.
3. Manage Project Progress. Track schedule and budget for conformance to
expectations; coordinate and facilitate meetings. Keep up to date records.

D. PROPOSAL FORMAT

Proposals must be organized according to the sections listed below. Proposals that do not address
all the mandatory sections listed below may be considered non responsive and may not be
evaluated. Proposals should be of sufficient length and detail to demonstrate the proposer has a
thorough understanding of the skills necessary to deliver the services requested.
1. General Information

Provide a company profile including principal areas of expertise and experience

providing feasibility reporting and market studies for multi-sport and recreation venues.
Include an organizational chart depicting the management of the firm’s organization and
its relationship to any other business entity. Proposals must include the following
information:

 Brief descriptions of recent similar projects; project reference including name, title,
phone number and e mail address.
 Describe how successful the firm was in managing the recent similar projects on time
and within budget.
 Identify the key personnel responsible for leading and staffing the project.
 Key personnel’s resumes including name, title, education, experience, references,
professional affiliations, certifications, licenses and registrations.
 Key personnel’s current assignments and the percentage of their time each will devote
to each assignment if selected for this project.
 Key personnel’s office location(s) and the number of other staff in each office.
 Provide a copy of the firm’s liability insurance certificate.
 Identify any external sub consultants and describe their roles and responsibilities.

2. Project Understanding & Approach

Describe your understanding of the project and approach to delivering a feasibility

report and market study for a multi-sport and recreation venue. The selected firm must
demonstrate the ability to help the City make important decisions during the project by
collecting and interpreting relevant information. Proposals must include the following
information:

 Describe project tasks, including a timeline/schedule.

 Describe how you will organize and perform tasks.
 Describe the resources you will use to complete each task.
 Describe how you will ensure progress and a timely project completion.  Describe how
you will manage the project budget, schedule and scope.

3. Fee Proposal

The Fee Proposal must be submitted with the “original” proposal copy. The following
should be included with the Fee Proposal:

 A Not to Exceed Fee Proposal, for the scope of services as outlined above.
 Whether reimbursable expenses are included in the Not to Exceed Fee Proposal. If not
included, the Fee Proposal must list all reimbursable expenses.
  Hourly billing rates of key personnel. Such rate will be used if additional services are
approved by the City.
 Payment Terms.

E. RESERVED RIGHTS
Issuance of this RFP does not constitute a commitment on the part of the City of Newnan to award
a contract pursuant to this RFP. The City of Newnan reserves the right to reject any and all
proposals submitted in response to this RFP, in whole or in part, and to award a contract pursuant
to this RFP or cancel this RFP if it is considered to be in the best interests of the City of Newnan.
The City of Newnan further reserves the right to make changes to this RFP at any time by issuance
of written addendum/addenda, amendment(s) or clarification(s).

F. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
The City Manager will appoint a committee of key staff members to review each proposal, conduct
interviews if necessary, and make a recommendation to the Newnan City Council. The committee
will recommend that Council enter into a contract with the firm whose proposal is determined to
be the most advantageous for the City of Newnan, considering all the conditions set forth in this
RFP. While price is obviously an important factor, it alone will not be the deciding factor.
Experience with Feasibility and Market Studies of similar scope will be a major factor in the
evaluation process. References will be checked closely.

G. ORAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUESTIONS

Any firm that submits a proposal may be requested to provide additional information to the City of
Newnan. Such information is only for the purpose of clarification and in no way changes the firm’s
proposal as originally submitted. The City of Newnan reserves the right to ask any or all firms to
present oral presentations.

H. COSTS OF PROPOSALS
The City of Newnan is not responsible or liable for any of the costs incurred by any vendor in preparing
and/or submitting a proposal pursuant to this RFP.

I. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The City of Newnan prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national
origin, or disability in connection with employment of any person, or the award of any contract
with the corporation. The City of Newnan will provide equal opportunities without regard to race,
color, gender, religion, national origin, or disability, by requiring that any bank doing business with
the corporation provide equal opportunity to persons and businesses employed by, or contracting
with the supplier of products and services to the Corporation.
 J. ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT NOTICE
Each vendor should give specific attention to the identification of those portions of its proposal
that it considers confidential, proprietary commercial information or trade secrets, and provide
justification as to why such materials, upon request, should not be disclosed.

K. GENERAL CONDITIONS
Upon submission of a proposal, the firm hereby certifies on behalf of his company or organization that:
1. This proposal is genuine and not made in the interest of, or on behalf of, an undisclosed
person, firm or corporation.
2. This proposal is not submitted in conformity with any agreement or rules of any group,
association, organization or corporation.
3. The firm has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other firm to submit a false
or sham proposal.
4. The firm has not solicited or induced any person, firm or corporation to refrain from
submitting a proposal.
5. The firm has not sought by collusion to obtain for itself any advantages over any other firm
or over the City of Newnan.

L. GEORGIA SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION COMPLIANCE ACT: E-VERIFY AND

SAVE PROGRAM
The City of Newnan participates in the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act with
regard to Contractors and Subcontractors. The Act is explained in detail in this document.
Additionally, there are four documents included that must be completed and returned to the City
of Newnan with your proposal package, as applicable. These are:
1. Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006
2. Contractor Affidavit and Agreement
3. Subcontractor Affidavit
4. Sub-subcontractor Affidavit

Failure to return the completed documents, if required, shall result in disqualification of the
proposal in its entirety.
Analytical Report

Evonik Industries AG | Analytical Report AMINOLAB®

 Position Paper

Committee: Commission on Human Rights

Topic: Violence against Women

Country: The Kingdom of Denmark

Delegate: William Hayward Wilson, Shea University

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment.” Although this doctrine was adopted in 1948, the world has fallen quite
short of this goal. Violence against women pervades all states and it is the duty of the international community
to ensure that all persons are afforded equality and respect. Despite cooperative efforts at combating gross
human rights abuses, such as the adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,
the United Nations has not been able to alleviate the injustice women worldwide experience daily.

The Kingdom of Denmark believes that in order to end violence against women, nations must look to empower
women in all aspects of society. This includes promoting equal gender roles in government, civil society,
education and business. However, Denmark also recognizes the need to combat human rights abuses against
women as they occur, and no nation is immune to gender violence.

In 2002, the Danish Government launched an extensive action plan to combat domestic violence against
women. The plan includes measures to help treat abused women, identify and prosecute the perpetrators, and
incorporate professional medical and psychological staff into the rehabilitation process. The action plan
currently reaches out to both governmental and nongovernmental groups on the local level throughout the
nation.

The Danish Centre for Human Rights in Copenhagen, Denmark’s foremost national human rights institution,
also promotes and protects human rights. Based on the Centre’s research, Denmark’s parliament can promote
human rights-based legislation and education/awareness programs throughout the nation. The Centre also
addresses the UN Commission on Human Rights annually regarding human rights developments in Denmark
and internationally. Denmark has no record of committing major human rights violations, most importantly any
targeted at women. In its 2003 Annual Report, Amnesty International also found no human rights violations
against Danish women.

Women are invaluable to Denmark’s society and have achieved significant economic and social gains in the
20th century. Currently, 75 percent of medical students in Denmark are women.

Denmark is confident that this Commission can bring about an end to violence against women without
compromising the sovereignty of member states. Education remains perhaps the most useful tool in protecting
victims of gender-based violence. Governments, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
can plan a coordinated campaign that educates national populations on the various ways women are violently
targeted. Similarly, harmful traditions, such as honor killings and female genital mutilation, must be stopped by
reforming traditional views of women in society. Children of both sexes need to be taught at an early age to
value the rights of women in order to prevent such violence in their generation.
Another way to stop gender violence would be to reproach member states that consistently violate treaties such
as the Convention on Political Rights of Women (1952), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (1979), and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
(1993). Although this Committee cannot impose sanctions, it can pass resolutions verbally condemning states
that commit human rights violations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights can also meet with
representatives of governments that violate the above treaties to discuss possible solutions.

In order to prevent gender violence, nations must work together to build a culture of support, equality and
community. As such, the Kingdom of Denmark looks forward to offering its support, in whatever form possible,
to nations firmly committed to ending violence against women in all its forms.

Committee: International Labor Organization

Topic: Globalization and Development
Country: Romania

*This sample position paper was submitted by the delegation of Romania at the 2007
UNA-USA Model UN Conference in New York City.

In the past two decades the rapidly growing world trend has been toward globalization. With the emergence
of the internet as a means of communication and the increasing accessibility of international trade physical
barriers are not the only barriers withering away. Protective tariffs are plummeting and free trade agreements
are becoming more prevalent. Romania appreciates that globalization creates favorable situations for
expansion of commercial as well as economic assets. In the past year Romania has seen a foreign direct
investment (FDI) increase of 199%. Inward FDI increased from EURO 234 million in 2005 to EURO 699 million
in 2006. However, Romania realizes that increased globalization does not automatically produce more
equality.

Globalization and Development can contribute to the advancement of the overall international human
condition; however, the delegation of Romania recognizes that without proper regulation the potential for
advancement will remain limited to an elite few individuals, businesses, and nations. Unless checked and
aimed toward the common good, globalization cannot effectively serve the global community. Crucial in
dealing with the complexities of globalization, good governance must act with solidarity and responsibility.
Romania believes that in involving people in globalization we must promote moral values, democratic
principals, inclusive global political culture, institutions that safeguard both individual civil rights and inherent
freedoms, and the common good. In addition, coping with the influx of information from globalization
governments must act with solidarity and insight. Access to digital education will undoubtedly result in the
confidence of citizens in their respective administrations and allow for a greater degree of transparency, and
therefore a lesser degree of corruption.

Romania believes the multinational business community has the ability and the obligation to support
pertinent values in human rights, labor standards, and environmental preservation. As stated by the
president, Mr. Traion Basescu, Romania feels a "heartfelt attachment to multilateralism, as an effective
instrument designed to identify the adequate answers to the challenges brought by globalization."

Romania is party to the majority of multilateral treaties and conventions identified as such by the Secretary
General in the context of the Millennium Summit in 2001. Romania has always supported innovative and
effective ways of establishing cooperation within and between regional organizations. As one of the newest
members of the European Union, Romania is an active member of the World Trade Organization, and looks
forward to offering its support to the redirection of globalization to best benefit the global community.
 MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH PROPOSAL
(Please type in Arial Font size 10)

Faculty Sponsor(s):

Department: Telephone:

Address: E-mail:

Proposal Title:

*Please organize your proposal into the following 4 sections and address the points as
outlined below (1 page maximum). See the attached sample.

RESEARCH PROBLEM:
Brief background on proposed problem.
Preliminary data collected by Mentors laboratory.
Goal of the project.

OBJECTIVE:
Clearly stated hypothesis to be tested by the experiments outlined.

EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL:
Proposed experimental design to analyze the problem presented
Details of the procedures and techniques to be used for collecting data
Data analysis and statistical analysis of data, where appropriate.

MEDICAL STUDENTS ROLE:

The procedures to be performed by the student.
Role of the Mentor or other identified personnel in the laboratory.
Student’s role in other department activities.
Sample Clinical Research Proposal (informational purposes only)

MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Faculty Sponsor: Hanes Swingle, M.D., M.Ph., and Jose` Martinez, M.D.
Department: Pediatrics
Telephone: 415-8623
Address: 1700 Center Street
Proposal Title: Clinical significance of chromosomal microduplications
and
microdeletions among children with developmental disabilities
RESEARCH PROBLEM: Genetic testing is recommended for children with global developmental
delay, intellectual disabilities (formerly referred to as mental retardation), and autism spectrum disorders.
Microarray comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), a relatively new technology that is being widely
used to evaluate individuals with developmental disabilities, is extremely sensitive and frequently
identifies chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications, many of which have not been reported to
be associated with human disease. Because these genomic alterations can be found in healthy
individuals, when an unreported copy number change or genetic change is identified in an individual with
a disease or a developmental disability, the clinical significance of this finding may be difficult to establish.
Population-based studies are necessary to determine if an individual deletion or duplication occurs more
frequently with a given disease or condition. However, if these apparent genomic imbalances are
associated with more severe disease or greater developmental disability, this would be presumptive
evidence that these copy number variants have clinical significance and, therefore, warrant further
investigation. The USA Autism Diagnostic Clinic has obtained microarray CGH analysis on more than 150
children with autism spectrum disorders and/or global developmental delay during the past three years;
microdeletions or microduplications have been identified in 25 of these children.

OBJECTIVE: Children with global developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, and/or autism spectrum
disorders who have micro deletions or duplications identified by microarray CGH will be more severely
affected than children with global developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, and/or autism who do not
have deletions or duplications.

EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL: A case-control study will be conducted among children with cognitive
impairments and/or autism spectrum disorders. Children with global developmental delay, intellectual
disability, and/or autism who have microdeletions or microduplications will be compared with a control
group of children from the same clinic population who also have global developmental delay, intellectual
disability, and/or autism. Cases and controls will be compared for differences in their cognitive abilities,
language scores, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores, fine motor skills, sensory issues,
dysmorphic physical features and family history of neurodevelopmental or psychiatric abnormalities. Two
controls with negative microarray CGHs will be identified for each case. Statistical analysis will be
conducted in consultation with a biostatistician.

MEDICAL STUDENT’S ROLE: The medical student will extract test results and clinical data from the
charts of children with microdeletions or microduplications and from the controls, formatting the data
into an Excel spreadsheet. The student will participate in the data analysis. The student will observe the
technique of microarray analysis, which is performed in the USA Genetics Laboratory. In addition to
submitting an abstract and presenting on Research Day, the student will be expected to submit her or his
findings to the Southern Society of Pediatric Research.

Sample Basic Sciences Research Proposal (informational purposes only)

 MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Faculty Sponsor: Petra Rocic, Ph.D.

Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Telephone: 460-6139; 460-6848

Address: Medical Sciences Building, Room 2194

Proposal Title: Regulation of vascular smooth phenotype in coronary collateral growth

RESEARCH PROBLEM: A non-invasive alternative to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

(PTCA) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is coronary collateral growth (CCG), a process of
enlargement of pre-existing small arterioles into larger conduit arteries capable of supplying adequate
tissue perfusion in the region of the myocardium distal to coronary occlusion. Transient, repetitive
ischemia (RI), which mimics stable angina pectoris, is a natural stimulus for CCG. However, CCG is impaired
in obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance and hypertension, or their combined phenotype, the metabolic
syndrome. A unique feature of smooth muscle (SM) is phenotypic plasticity, or the ability to transition
from the fully differentiated contractile phenotype, characterized by expression of SM-
specificspecific contractile proteins, increased extracellular matrix production, and increased proliferation
and migration. Collateral growth is characterized by VSMC de-differentiation in the early stages and VSMC
re-differentiation in the later stages. Our previous results demonstrate that CCG is severely impaired
in the rat model of the metabolic syndrome, the JCR rat, compared to the normal rat (SD). Our preliminary
data show a significantly decreased expression of SM-specific contractile proteins in the JCR animals.

OBJECTIVE: Decreased SM-specific contractile protein expression correlates with impaired CCG in the
metabolic syndrome.

EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL: Left thoracotomy is performed and a pneumatic occluder is implanted

over the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in the JCR and SD rats. The correct position of the
occluder and the success of LAD occlusion are monitored by blanching (ischemia) of the LV free wall upon
occluder inflation and reactive hyperemia (reperfusion) upon occluder deflation. Rats are allowed to
recover for 2 days before the start of the RI protocol. The RI protocol for rat consists of: 8 40 sec
occlusions, every 20 min, repeated every 8 hours for 3, 6 or 9 days. The extent of CCG is evaluated at days
0 and 9 of RI using: microspheres to measure coronary blood flow in the LAD-dependent (ischemic) and
the normal zones, and 2) M-mode echocardiography to assess cardiac function (LV free wall motion). The
expression of SM-specific contractile proteins (SM-myosin heavy chain, SM-α-actin, calponin,
caldesmin and smoothelin) and a SM-specific gene regulator, myocardin will be determined by Western
blot (whole heart tissue) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) at days 3, 6 and 9 or RI, i.e. at the time points
where VSMC start to proliferate and migrate, collaterals begin to form and collaterals are fully formed.

MEDICAL STUDENT’S ROLE: Occluder implantation and achieving consistent levels of LAD
occlusion, which are critical to interpretation of the results, involves a complicated surgical procedure,
which requires significant practice to master. Since the medical student's research time will be limited, we
anticipate that the surgical procedure will be performed by the PI and/or one of the Research
Technologists in the lab, and cardiac tissue will be harvested and processed by the student for analysis. If
the student, however, wishes to attempt to perform surgery, he/she will be assisted in doing so. The
student will learn a variety of techniques, including protein isolation from tissue, Western blotting and
IHC. Furthermore, the student will perform echocardiograms with help from the Research Technologist in
the lab. In addition, the student will analyze and interpret all of the results with PI's assistance, and
prepare them for presentation. The PI will be available to provide direct supervision of this student
project. The student will be expected to interact with other members of the lab as well as faculty in the
Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Physiology and attend seminars, journal clubs and
lab meetings as scheduled.