Work Experience Report - Essay Example

?Work Experience Report I have always had a keen interest in the science of medical healthcare. I knew that I wanted to be part of the world that helped cure illnesses and prevent the spread of viruses that harm our modern day society in the future, which is why I chose a pursue a career in the field of Biomedical Science. As a biomedical scientist we work in the most important area of healthcare. It is our job to carry out laboratory tests and techniques that can help doctors diagnose diseases through laboratory testing and tissue sampling on affected laboratory mice or animals. The nature of the work involves evaluating the effectiveness of treatments or discovering the links between various human DNA strains with genetic or viral illnesses. Through experimentation, observation, and evaluation, a biomedical scientist is able to trace the root cause of various illnesses and viruses and is then able to predict whether it shall mutate into another type of illness, how it will mutate, and hopefully how it can be stopped before or upon mutation. However the main focus of biomedical research is to understand an illness or disease and how it can be rendered non threatening to human beings. This is a tall order for any medical scientist but biomedical scientists are not daunted by this task because it is a challenge that they look forward to. The enigma of an illness and the explanation behind it is what drives the nature of a biomedical scientist and it is what also drives this particular field of medical science. The world of biomedical research has always been of particular interest to me because of the promise that it holds for the future of our society and the world. The nature of the work dictates that biomedical scientists shall be at the forefront of medical and viral research in order to stay one step ahead of the various developing viruses, infections, and genetic illnesses that seem to be overtaking our world. The nature of our work is to predict the cause of the illness, the possible outcomes of the viruses discovered, and how to prevent the development of the virus before it actually becomes a problem for any country or society. The nature of our work includes analysing cell cultures grown from tissue samples and identifying whatever specific groups are required for particular experiments. This is done via the use of complex computer systems, sophisticated automated machinery, microscopes and other top of the line, ultra modern laboratory equipment. We use this information to accurately record and analyse data so that we can writer reports and share data with others in the field who can then use the information to effectively treat and diagnose patients in the field. It is through the results of these experiments and research that we will be able to help the medical world conquer or control diseases and illnesses such as the common cold, anemia, cancer, AIDS, and cardiovascular problems. Biomedical research may one day discover the cure to dementia and Alzheimer's. The results of the experiments in this particular field of medical science as cannot be fathomed for this research and experiment holds the key to the longevity of mankind. We may not conquer death but, thanks to biomedical science we can slow down the effects of illness and time in order to live longer than the previous generations. Our work in the biomedical research field of the utmost importance to hospital departments because we help their various departments operate effectively in the treatment of patients. This is because we work on challenging illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, AIDS, malaria, food poisoning or Anemia. We also try to discover new ways by which doctors can diagnose their patients without becoming too invasive in nature. I was privileged enough to be allowed to work with the experts of biomedical science over at the Biomedical Sciences Research Center located at St. George's University in London. Our facility concentrates on the field of molecular cell biology research. Our research includes work on transmembrane signalling through ion channels, receptors and transporters, and the particular processes that control the development and reproduction on a cellular level. The centre advocates the advancement of research and procedures that can benefit the scientific and medical community in many ways. We work together with other relevant public and private agencies in the quest to develop new drugs, drug therapies, and safe diagnostic approaches aimed at creating the prevention and / or cure for cancer, as well as the control infectious diseases and the prevention of its proliferation across the globe. Biomedical Sciences is also one of the most notable front runners in the field of cardiovascular research. Most of these cardiovascular experiments are done on laboratory rats and the observations are being done on key major tissues and aortas that are highly similar to the human species. These experiments have resulted in potential methods by which a heart attack may be successfully predicted prior to its occurrence in the future. Being one of the most modern and adaptable research facilities in the country today, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre employs the most current and up to date research techniques in our quest for answers to the nagging scientific questions that face our medical community. The facility draws its most current experiments and research data from genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular virology, bomics, electrophysiology, chemistry, and structural biology researches conducted in our controlled laboratory environment. I was drawn to the facility because of its world class reputation and the opportunity to study with some of the most well known names and faces in the field of biomedical research. These research procedures are made possible by our partnership with the cell Imaging Unit of the Medical Bomics Centre at St. George's and regular seminar programs in coordination with other facilities through our well supported programmes and project grants. The successful implementation of our research protocols and advanced research processes are aided and amply funded by the likes of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the British Heart Foundation, and Cancer Research UK to name but a few of our strongest financial supporters. Due to our close links with St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust, our centre has been given the privilege of advancing medical research through collaborations with other similar institutions in order to provide patients with the highest national and international standards of care and clinical outcome. The collaboration between St. George's and St. George's Healthcare NHS trust has resulted in a highly successful integrated program of research and teaching to inform clinical practice. Our particular centre concentrates on medical microbiology and clinical chemistry. We have dedicated departments and scientists who pursue studies and experiments in the identification of micro-organisms that cause diseases and their possible antibiotic treatments as well as the analysis of body fluids and toxicology studies. My particular interest was actually in histiopathology or the microscopic examination of diseased tissue samples. Our molecular biology research team takes an in-depth look at the mechanisms behind the possibility of regulating biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentation and senescence, including cellular responses to viral infection and DNA damage. Of particular interest to our team is the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis with particular concentration on sencescence and melanocyte biology, DNA enymology, and viral evasion of innate immunity. Our research in Reproductive and Developmental Biology focuses on ovarion functions in relation to maternal and fetal events in early pregnancy. This study is done in relation to embyronic development and its cardiovascular aspect. Research being done in our facility on Pharmacology and Cell Physiology is focused on ion channels, membrane transporters and receptors along with their regulatory pathways and cell types helps us understand the recognizes strengths in smooth muscle control, respiratory diseases and neurobiology. As a research centre, St. George's takes pride in developing new, pioneering methods and treatments meant to help further improve public health on an international scale. Its objective is to be able to help cure illnesses and diseases even in the poorest regions of the world. It is because of our exemplary staff, mission, and objectives that our research facility has come to be recognized globally as a leader in quality biomedical and clinical research. St. George's actually houses six research centres within three divisions. Each centre and division is staffed by highly talented researchers who conduct a wide range of basic, clinical, translational and practice-based research. As an active member of the research team, I was directly involved in the research of Cell Pharmacology and Cell Physiology. My job was to research on focused ion channels, membrane transporters, and membrane receptors and their association with regulatory pathways in a number of cell types. I helped research and recognize the strengths in smooth muscle control, respiratory diseases, and neurobiology. One of the key techniques that I used in researching was electrophysiological recording alongside confocal imaging, molecular and proteomic approaches in the dissection of functional outcomes. As a group, we investigated the properties and function of canonical transient reception potential (TRPC) channels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), with Ca2+ being a pivotal mediator of vasoconstriction and cell growth, proliferation and migration. We discovered that inappropriate TRPC channel activity could have contributory factor in the existence of cardiovascular diseases. This is because the TRPC channel protein, and signal pathways involved in regulating these channels are potential therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of diseases such as hypertension, angina, and stroke. On a more individualized scale, my primary focus was on the role played by the Transient Receptor Potential Channel (TRPC) 1 and 5 in relation to the rhythmic contractions of smooth muscle cells in mice portal veins. I recorded all of my observations and inquiries into a log which our group referred to whenever the need arose. It was important to me that I actually find an answer to the questions that I had in my logs and more often than not, I successfully found the answers that I sought. I was privileged enough to have been given an opportunity to train in various experimental approaches which helped me develop my skills in measurements, observations, and analysis. There were actually three typed of experimental approaches that I was exposed to while working with the facility. I completed all of these experiments using various methods in order to complete my research on the isometric tension in an isolated mice portal vein. My main objective was to do a comparative study of wild type TRCP 1 and 5 mice. The first of these experimental approaches that I used was the Western Blot Analysis technique. This was a method that I used in order to detect one protein in a mixture of any number of proteins. I had to accomplish this task while also gathering information about the size of the protein involved. This method does not have any specific requirements so it did not matter of the protein was synthesized in viv or in vitro. The only problem with this particular method is that it depended on the use of a high quality antibody directed against a direct position. Therefore I had to produce a small portion of protein from a cloned DNA fragment. It was this antibody that I used as a problem to detect the protein of interest. Thanks to this method, I was able to detect the presence of the TRCP1 protein expression in mice portal veins and the expression of Kv 7.4 protein in the rat brain and heart. I learned how to do the Whole Cell Patch Clamping method in order to measure the average current across the entire surface area of a cell. I did this by moving a pipette to the surface of the membrane and applying suction in order to achieve a gigaohm seal between the glass pipette and the membrane. The membrane then ruptures and equilibrium is obtained between the pipette solution and cell content. By discovering the ion concentration on both sides of the membrane, I was then able to calculate Nernst potential for each ion. This procedure then helped our team understand which ions contribute to a particular measured current. The solution used for this experiment was chosen depending on which particular mixture would enhance the main ion channel of interest. This was the method that I mainly used on the mice portal vein in order to detect the TRCP1 and 5 activities. Finally, I also used the Organ Bath and Myography method of experimentation. In this particular instance, I measure isometric tension in an isolated vessel segment from mice. Vessels such as the thoracic aorta, pulmonary artery, portal vein, and the like are excised and cleared of fat and adherent tissue before cutting each into individual ring segments of 2-3 millimetres in length. I would them mount the rings on either a wire tension myograph or an organ bath depending upon the diameter of the vessel. Both methods required me to bathe the systems in Krebs-Henseleit buffer which is a physiological solution which is equilibrated with 95 percent oxygen and 5 percent carbon dioxide in order to come up with a PH solution of 7.3 to 7.4. I needed to hold the temperature constantly at 37 degrees Celsius. This was my technique of choice whenever I needed to measure contraction or relaxation on a whole tissue or main portal vein. When I was called away from my individual participation in the research, I was often requested to work as a laboratory assistant. In this capacity, I assisted in experiments by preparing solutions and aliquots. Some of the solutions that I was tasked to prepare included the physiological solutions such as Krebs, dissecting physiological salt solution (dPSS), and the K+ free solution. As for the anti body aliquots, I prepared T1E3, T1E5, Kv 7.4, and drug aliquots such as CPA and Nicardipine. I also made sure that all the laboratory equipment and instruments were sterilized in an autoclave. Since we worked in a highly sterilized and controlled environment, it was imperative that all of our equipment was properly autoclaved in order to prevent bacterial of viral contamination of our experiment and research results. An autoclave is a machine which sterilizes medical equipment by steaming the instruments at a very high temperature that cannot be withstood by any virus or spores that are attached or currently developing on the instrument. I was also entrusted with the duty of filling pipettes and ordering the much needed laboratory supplies such as ordering lab chemicals and drugs. I did these tasks alongside my duty of calibrating the pH meter in the laboratory once a week in order to ensure calibrated and accurate pH readings by the machine. Due to my specific research assignment, I was also a part of regular team meetings where I was given the opportunity to present my findings and engage in an animated discussion with the other researchers pertaining to the possible mergers of our research information for further investigation. Part 2 One of reasons that I enjoyed my time working at the Biomedical Science Research Centre was because I worked with professional scientists. These scientists welcomed me into their world enthusiastically and were never selfish with sharing their research work with me. They were always very patient with me and happy to answer any questions I might have in to the task I was assisting in or a task that was assigned to me. Working with such friendly people provided me with a stress free working environment that allowed me to enjoy every second I spent at the centre. The research facility taught me a lot of things not only about research but about myself as well. In terms of research work, I learned to develop my patience and accuracy when performing experiments and analysing data. It was important for me to learn that not all experiments go as planned and there would be times when I would have no choice but to keep repeating an experiment until I get the results that I want. It is not easy to get those results but you can only fail in the experiment if I let impatience get the better of me and I give up on the experiment in total. My fellow scientists helped me understand the importance of research work. More importantly, that research work is a very expensive part of our work so it should never be done in a haphazard manner. I remember that I hoped to apply for a grant in the future for an experiment that I have been developing in my mind over the past decade. However, working at the facility and seeing how hard they have to work to gain funding and keep that funding has helped me realize that not all of my dreams as a scientist may come true due to lack of funding or disapproved fund requests. I learned a lesson in working with whatever materials and money that I have currently at my disposal in order to develop the best experiment and research that I could come up with. Working at the facility opened my eyes to the fact that the world I have chosen to work in is no ordinary world. It is not a punch in - punch out kind of job. It has nothing to do with 9-5 and instead, has everything to do with dedicating my life to the work that I believe in. It is an emotionally taxing job that requires me to sacrifice a majority of my personal time and weekends in order to see an experiment to its completion. It is always a long work day at the office and nobody leaves before 6:00 pm. It's about sacrifice. This placement challenged me on an emotional, spiritual, and physical level that I have never had to overcome before. Rather than losing heart and changing career though, it instead gave me a renewed drive and love in my pursuit of a career as a research scientist. Read More