SmithAir747 From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1599 posts, RR: 33 Posted (7 years 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1463 times:
For those of you who have met me in person, or know me from here, I have been in London, UK, for 2 years now, studying at King's College London (Guy's Hospital campus, London Bridge). My goal has been to be a research doctor, specialising in the research of rare genetic craniofacial disorders (Treacher Collins syndrome, etc). This stems from my lifetime experience with Treacher Collins syndrome.
Earlier this year, I applied for a Wellcome Trust UK Summer Studentship Research Grant, to do a summer supervised research project with a professor in KCL/Guy's Hospital's Department of Craniofacial Development. The money would enable me to stay here in London this summer for 8 weeks and do the research project (and especially, get first-hand laboratory research experience, essential for my career prospects and CV). In March this year, my professor and I sent the application into Wellcome Trust with crossed fingers. My friends and family at home in the USA have been praying and waiting anxiously for me to get this grant.
Today, I found out that I have won this grant for my summer research project.
That means I get to stay here in London for 8 weeks this summer (early June-early August), while I work in this professor's laboratory with him.
So, I will remain here in London for most of this summer, and won't make it home to the USA until mid-August.
I'm very excited about this opportunity for this summer; it will be a valuable learning experience (and since I really want to get into this emerging research field, it will help my future career prospects and my CV). It will also help prepare me for my required 3rd-year project.
For my third year at KCL (next year), I have also been selected as one of the first few students to participate in a new third-year Craniofacial Sciences research-based curriculum; I already have my project lined up for this, too.
So, Kazzie and the others who have met me, thanks for your thoughts and wishes--they really helped!
SmithAir747
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... (Psalm 139:14)
CastleIsland From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (7 years 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1407 times:
Congratulations, Francis. No doubt well-deserved. It appears that your drive and determination to enter a very worthy and challenging field is starting to pay dividends.
Aerobalance From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 4634 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (7 years 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1394 times:
Congrats!!!!
The message you were about to post is too short and probably not of any higher value to the topic at hand.
Nighthawk From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2001, 4990 posts, RR: 38 Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1367 times:
Congrats smithAir!
I have to say im rather impressed with you, most people would probably hide away and have trouble dealing with their condition, but not you. Your out there living the life you want, and pushing yourself to be the best, and at the same time researching the condition to better understand it and hopefully make life easier for other suffers.
Kazzie From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (7 years 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1354 times:
Quoting Nighthawk (Reply 5):
I have to say im rather impressed with you, most people would probably hide away and have trouble dealing with their condition, but not you. Your out there living the life you want, and pushing yourself to be the best, and at the same time researching the condition to better understand it and hopefully make life easier for other suffers.
Flyingbabydoc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1131 times:
Quoting SmithAir747 (Thread starter): My goal has been to be a research doctor, specialising in the research of rare genetic craniofacial disorders (Treacher Collins syndrome, etc). This stems from my lifetime experience with Treacher Collins syndrome.
Congratulations, Frances. I would be very interested in learning more about your research, maybe we can exchange some thoughts on how to go about it (I am looking at genes putatively responsible for some newborn children diseases such as pyloric stenosis and Hirschsprung's disease).
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1128 times:
Excellent!
Very good to hear things are working for you as you'd desire. Of course, I'm sure it's not by accident . . . proper planning and your abilities are obvious the catalyst for your success.
SmithAir747 From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1599 posts, RR: 33 Reply 14, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1110 times:
Quoting Flyingbabydoc (Reply 12): Congratulations, Frances. I would be very interested in learning more about your research, maybe we can exchange some thoughts on how to go about it (I am looking at genes putatively responsible for some newborn children diseases such as pyloric stenosis and Hirschsprung's disease).
My project (under the tutelage of my supervising professor) will be studying the role of the signalling protein Shh (Sonic hedgehog) and the transcription factor Tbx1 in craniofacial development, and particularly, mutations/errors in Shh signalling and Tbx1 in DiGeorge syndrome (velocardiofacial syndrome).
Thanks for your support! Maybe, in the future we could meet someday!
By the way, my long-term goals would be working in the research of Treacher Collins syndrome (TCOF1) and what goes wrong in order to cause it; there are many "black boxes" and missing links that mystify me in the chain of events that start out as TCOF1 mutations and end up as phenotypic Treacher Collins craniofacial malformations. There is a doctor at the University of Manchester, UK, who found the TCOF1 gene in the early 90s, and I've met him twice, and if the opportunity someday arose, I would like to work with his group.
SmithAir747
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... (Psalm 139:14)
Flyingbabydoc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1032 times:
Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 14): My project (under the tutelage of my supervising professor) will be studying the role of the signalling protein Shh (Sonic hedgehog) and the transcription factor Tbx1 in craniofacial development, and particularly, mutations/errors in Shh signalling and Tbx1 in DiGeorge syndrome (velocardiofacial syndrome).
Well, good luck on that one. I find signalling pathways rather tricky to work with. We did an extensive experiment on the NOTCH pathway disruption caused by a t11;19 translocation in a lung tumor, only to get even more confused down the line. So many interactions! Turns out it works through a completely pathway (CREB - cAMP). 6 Months for nothing. But I am sure you will be more "on target" than I was!
Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 14): Thanks for your support! Maybe, in the future we could meet someday!
I would like that. We treat surgically a lot of children with cranio-facial deformities (scaphocephalus, schizocephalus, to name a few). I would be very interested in joining clinical knowledge to ground research such as the one you are doing. And, who knows, we might even be moving to the UK in the future. Maybe we will actually work together.
Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 14): By the way, my long-term goals would be working in the research of Treacher Collins syndrome (TCOF1) and what goes wrong in order to cause it; there are many "black boxes" and missing links that mystify me in the chain of events that start out as TCOF1 mutations and end up as phenotypic Treacher Collins craniofacial malformations. There is a doctor at the University of Manchester, UK, who found the TCOF1 gene in the early 90s, and I've met him twice, and if the opportunity someday arose, I would like to work with his group.
That is way more like my current research. Will you be looking at the genomic sequence of TCOF1? finding mutations is rather easy with a capillary sequencer, however going from the mutation into protein mutation and further into phenotype derivation requires a huge number of patients and families. You would be better off reconstructing haplotypes (loss-of-heterozigosity studies) in order to associate the genetic changes with the phenotype. I can help you with that if or when the time comes.
I can only say that you are truly entering a thrilling, exciting field and I cannot encourage you enough to continue on that path. As I said, should you ever need any help (or even an internship in our lab), just let me know. You can see the management of the craniofacial abnormalities "in the flesh" and perhaps start working on some nice DNA sequencing.
SmithAir747 From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1599 posts, RR: 33 Reply 19, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1014 times:
Quoting Flyingbabydoc (Reply 18): As I said, should you ever need any help (or even an internship in our lab), just let me know. You can see the management of the craniofacial abnormalities "in the flesh" and perhaps start working on some nice DNA sequencing.
Thanks! I'll keep that in mind!
Hope you do get to come to the UK! The research facilities in London (King's College London-Guy's Hospital) and Manchester (Univ. of Manchester), at least, are pretty near the top in the craniofacial field.
SmithAir747
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... (Psalm 139:14)
Flyingbabydoc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 999 times:
Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 19): Hope you do get to come to the UK! The research facilities in London (King's College London-Guy's Hospital) and Manchester (Univ. of Manchester), at least, are pretty near the top in the craniofacial field.
Thanks. I might look into that, although my area would be more neuroscience -control mechanisms of respiration and digestive system. These are just ideas for the future for now...
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