Bioinformatics in cancer therapy - Research Proposal Example

Running Head: Research Proposal Research Proposal [Institute's Research Proposal Introduction Since few decades, medical science has advanced and progressed rapidly that has enabled physicians, therapists, surgeons, etc in carrying out their processes in an easy and efficient manner. Bioinformatics is one of the major indications of scientific achievements that are now contributing enormously to the field of medical science as well (Chinnaiyan, pp. 22-24, 2005). Experts (Coleman, pp. 161-63, 2004) have indicated that since few years, biological data has become a significant piece of information used by medical experts to understand different variations and sequences of patients, essential for understanding patient's condition. However, biological data consists of huge amount of minute information regarding protein sequences, genomic sequences, etc that is not a thing of manual handling (Gordon, pp. 57-58, 2008). For this purpose, bioinformatics is playing a leading role in managing and handling huge amount of biological information with the help of information technology that has been very beneficial for medical science (HCR, 2008). In specific, it has enabled medical experts (Clauser & Reeve, pp. 5049-50, 2007) to understand biological processes of the human body by just making some clicks on the computer that has been helpful in various treatments, especially treatments and therapies for the cancer. Statement of the Problem In this regard, the proposed research will focus on the following purpose statement: "To identify and analyze the role and impact of bioinformatics in cancer therapy." Purpose of the Study It is very crucial for a study to identify objectives while focusing on the purpose statement that enables a research to acquire competent and efficient results while avoiding any misuse of resources. For this purpose, it is anticipation that outcomes of the proposed research will provide a comprehensive understanding regarding the role of bioinformatics in cancer treatments and therapies. It is an observation that although information technology has been effective in resolving a number of issues confronted earlier in medical science; however, it is important to analyze drawbacks of such technological intervention in healthcare processes. In this regard, the proposed research will endeavor to identify any disadvantages or flaws in the bioinformatics system that is now a major tool of experts in cancer therapies. Furthermore, the research will attempt to look for the prospects of bioinformatics, as well as cancer therapy that will be crucial for the cancer patients in the future. Additionally, it is the major objective of the proposed research to analyze studies and researchers of both perspectives that encourage and motivate the utilization of bioinformatics in cancer therapy respectively that will enable the researcher to come to a conclusion in the end of the study. Literature Review Due to such benefits of the application of bioinformatics in the cancer therapy and research, experts have indicated rapid and expanded amount of research on the tools of bioinformatics, and such tools are now becoming necessities during cancer therapies. Studies (Hollon, pp. 20-23, 2002) have specified that the major benefit of applying bioinformatics system is provision of updated information of biological changes in the patients' body on real-time basis. In particular, computerized models represent biological information in a quantitatively that allows the therapists to know about the quantity of cancer cells in the body and the biological state of the patient. Such facility has resulted in positive outcomes after cancer therapies, as experts are now able to monitor the tumor growth that was not possible earlier during the absence of bioinformatics. Moreover, studies have indicated that gene expression of cancer cells is imperative and critical information that ensures efficient results after the treatment. In a study, few experts (Chinnaiyan, pp. 22-24, 2005) used a bioinformatics model to estimate chemotherapy regimens by analyzing tumors in a genetic manner. The model used a database consisting of data regarding more than fifty cancer cells' expressions and responses for inefficient drugs. With this biological data, experts were able to estimate responses of cancel cells for a specific tumor and drug. Until now, studies (Coleman, pp. 161-63, 2004) have indicated that bioinformatics systems have been enormously successful in the cases of breast and ovarian cancers and future developments will ensure effectiveness of therapies in other cancers as well. Moreover, researchers (Clauser & Reeve, pp. 5049-50, 2007) are confident that in few years, usage of bioinformatics systems in the cancer therapies will enable the experts to estimate best possible therapies for cancer patients based on their biological information that will increase the rate of success and efficacy of cancer therapies in the future. Another important benefit of the application of bioinformatics in cancer therapies is indication of immune responses to cancer cells that is critical information, essential for treating cancer patients. In this regard, bioinformatics has made it possible for therapists to analyze immune responses that allow an understanding of differences between controlled and uncontrolled tumors, very crucial for treating cancer patients (Rafi, pp. 21, 2006). In other words, bioinformatics have been very contributive in optimizing the effects of chemotherapy, as well as radiation therapy with the help of mathematical models that are fundamental in the bioinformatics. Besides advantages of the application of bioinformatics in the cancer therapy, few experts have indicated to the need of proficiency of medical experts in the computerized systems. They specified that few studies (Schultz, pp. 41-46, 2005) have shown ineffective outcomes of bioinformatics system due to lack of expertise of cancer therapists and experts, and thus, it is very imperative that medical organizations and institutions should arrange and organize trainings at regular intervals that will be very helpful in acquiring positive outcomes from this beneficial technology (HCR, 2008). Additionally, few researches (Gordon, pp. 67-73, 2008) showed that bioinformatics systems use an online database like Google for analyzing information and estimating responses and expressions of patients' biological state. However, few organizations and experts limit their models and biological information that do not allow other experts to benefit from the same information. In other words, integration of databases is an imperative and crucial factor that will decide the future of bioinformatics in the field of medical science, and especially cancer treatments and therapies. Research Questions What are the benefits of bioinformatics in cancer therapy' What are the drawbacks of bioinformatics in cancer therapy' What are the future prospects of bioinformatics system in cancer treatments' What role do medical experts play in the application of bioinformatics in cancer therapy' Does technological proficiency play any role in the efficacy of bioinformatics systems' Methodology Methodology has always been an imperative and crucial phase of every research, as an ineffective methodology causes inefficient results despite of disciplined analysis of resources. For this purpose, the researcher will be focusing primarily on the methodological processes of the research. Analysis of different research methodologies has indicated two types of methods: primary research and secondary research methods. In particular, the proposed research will benefit from both research approaches to acquire material regarding the research statement. In specific, internet is one of the major platforms that allow wide-range analysis of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, etc that will enable the researcher to identify and locate relevant journal articles and books, which will enhance the process of research in terms of its efficacy and validity. Internet has a number of journal articles regarding bioinformatics, bioinformatics in healthcare science, and specifically, on the application of bioinformatics system in cancer therapy. All such secondary material will provide comprehensive and critical understanding of the research statement. One of the major advantages of giving significant importance to the internet databases is its huge range of information on different studies that will allow comparison of various findings in a short period that would have taken months in a conventional library. Although secondary research methodology will be efficient in providing abovementioned information in an inclusive manner, however, secondary method has some drawbacks as well, such as lack of complete relevancy with the research statement, etc (Babbie, pp. 23-25, 2000). Thus, it will be imperative to carry out primary research as well that will facilitate the researcher in acquiring findings and outcomes based specifically on the impact of bioinformatics on the cancer therapy. For such purpose, the researcher will create questionnaires based on aims and objectives discussed earlier in the proposal that will provide an understanding of the application of bioinformatics on ground realities. For questionnaires, the researcher will attempt to locate individuals and experts involved in cancer therapies or bioinformatics that will provide critical analysis of the impact. Moreover, university students studying bioinformatics and cancer therapies will also be a part of surveys that will enable the researcher to look at two perspectives of a single notion. Therefore, secondary research will include archival analysis of available journals, books, articles, etc, and on the other hand, primary research will involve surveys and questionnaires. Lastly, researcher considered few aspects of both methodologies before deciding to include both in the proposed research. For instance, secondary research methodology is an unproblematic approach as compared to the primary method, as it allows a researcher to acquire relevant information by just sitting and scrolling on the internet (Bernard, pp. 51-58, 2005). In addition, traditional library is another arena that will provide huge amount of books on the cancer therapy and application of bioinformatics in its process. On the other hand, primary research will involve creation of questionnaires, their distribution, as well as collection that will be a hindering process requiring huge amount of efforts, as well as resources. Time is the major distinctive factor that distinguishes both methodologies from each other. Although surveys and questionnaire will take enormous amount of time, however, they will provide specific information required to acquire a validate understanding of the topic. Data Analysis For the proposed study, research will benefit from quantitative analysis as well, as it will enable obtaining of accurate results and findings. Particularly, proposed study will use the following formula for sample size calculation: Formula: SS = Z 2 * (p) * (1-p) c 2 Where: SS= Sample Size Z = Z score (1.96 is taken for 95% confidence level according to normal distribution table) p = percentage (50%), expressed as decimal (0.5 used for required sample size) c = confidence interval, taken in decimal form (for '5, = 0.05) (1.96)2 * (0.5) * (1-0.5) = 0.9604 = 384.16 (0.05)2 0.0025 Confidence Level: 95% Confidence Interval: 5 Sample Size 384 Limitations & Delimitations One of the basic limitations of the proposed research is funding that will bound the researcher in carrying out primary research methodology. For such reason, the major delimitation is interview that the researcher will not be carrying out in the proposed research. Significance & Conclusion Conclusively, the proposal has discussed some of the significant aspects of studies related to cancer therapy, as well as application of bioinformatics in cancer therapy and treatments. The proposed research will attempt to analyze the available studies and information in a critical manner that will be beneficial and valuable for researchers in the future. In brief, the study will carry out primary and secondary methodologies to attain information regarding the major contribution of bioinformatics in the field of cancer therapy. It is anticipation that the proposed study will be beneficial for students, teachers, and professionals in better understanding of the topic. References Babbie, E. (2000). The practice of social research, Wadsworth. Bernard, Harvey Russell. (2005). Research Methods in Anthropology. Rowman Altamira. Chinnaiyan, Arul M. (2005). "Oncomine and caBIG advance cancer bioinformatics." The Scientist. Volume 19, Issue 7, pp. 22-24. Clauser, Steven B., Reeve, Bryce B. (2007). "Patient-Reported Outcomes Assessment in Cancer Trials." Journal of Clinical Oncology. Volume 25, Issue 32, pp. 5049-50. Coleman, William B. (2004). "Cancer Bioinformatics." Cancer Investigation. Volume 22, Issue 1, pp. 161-163. Gordon, Gavin J. (2008). Bioinformatics in Cancer and Cancer Therapy. Springer. HCR. (2008). "Can Bioinformatics offer a Cure for Cancer'" Health Care Reviewer. Issue of July 22, 2008. Hollon, Tom. (2002). "Classifying Brest Cancer Models." The Scientist. Volume 16, Issue 17, pp. 20-23. Rafi, Imran. (2006). "Cancer bioinformatics." The British Journal of Healthcare Computing & Information Management. Volume 23, Issue 6, pp. 21. Schultz, Richard M. (2005). Advances in targeted cancer therapy. Gulf Professional Publishing. Read More