Thank you Heart Research UK

Thank you so much for supporting my scholarship through the Exsel@Leeds programme, it means so much to me and my family. My research interests include sickle cell disease research, improvement science as applied to clinical practice, and diversifying clinical research to improve clinical outcomes in ethnic minorities. I am also aiming to apply for the Academic Foundation Programme.

The research projects I’m currently working on have shown me the time and effort required in the very early stages of research and data collection, expanded my knowledge and equipped me with the skills of using software for systematic reviews. I have been working with a group at Leeds Beckett University to examine why people with cardiac disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions are less likely to come forward for cancer screening, when research shows that those with chronic diseases are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. I am also undertaking a scoping review on the combined impact of cardiovascular disease and related comorbidities in diabetic patients who are undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Through this research I have gained an understanding that the impacts of cardiovascular disease extend beyond their immediate effects on the circulation to affect every system in the body.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my clinical experience so far. The second half of my first year and all of my second year was online, so this year it's been great to actually go out on placement and learn in person amongst colleagues. My first rotation was general medicine in the renal department at St James's Hospital. This provided my first proper insight into the clinical environment with hands on experience, seeing in practice what we had been learning about in theory, for example the relationship between the kidneys and high blood pressure. I also really enjoyed my second placement in general practice, which allowed me to gain confidence by practising taking histories on my own.

This year I have also been able to get involved with societies. I am the 3^rd year rep for the Leeds Medics and Dentists Afro-Caribbean Society, and I am also Secretary and Vice President of the new Leeds Haematology Society. Haematology is at the heart of what first sparked my interest in research, so I have really enjoyed planning events to increase knowledge and awareness of haematology for the benefit of the student body and beyond. Outside of university I am on the research team of the VITA Network, which aims to advance the health response to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Thank you for your continued support of my development.

During 2021, I presented my first-ever international poster on the 'Association of CCL2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) expression with obesity in endometroid endometrial cancer’ at the 32nd Congress of the European Society of Pathology and 33rd International Congress of the International Academy of Pathology. Even though the conference was virtual, I benefited significantly from the expertise of world-class researchers, and I was awarded the winning 2020 Undergraduate Essay title by the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 

One of my proudest achievements, made possible by HRUK's support, was my first publication as a first author in Stroke journal. My paper titled 'Thrombus Composition and Efficacy of Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke' was supervised by Professor Robert Ariëns, a professor of vascular biology.

I have also secured a Pathological Society Intercalated Grant to fund my university fees, consumables and stipend while working on an intercalated Masters in Medical Research, using targeted nanoparticles to optimise fluorescent guided surgery. Taking a year out of medical training to focus on research has offered me exciting opportunities to develop and expand my skillset and improve my CV, based on which I hope to apply for the Academic Foundation Post following graduation. The MRes course has also fuelled my interest in pursuing a PhD later in my career.

Earlier in 2021 as a 3rd-year medical student, I had the opportunity to shadow the multi-disciplinary team on hospital wards in a vast range of specialties, which has confirmed my interest in exploring surgery as a potential specialty. During my intercalation I have been volunteering as a Community First Responder, delivering care in an emergency before the arrival of the ambulance service. I am also an intercalation rep for the Oncology Society, which promotes oncology within the Medical School, and I regularly volunteer for various widening participation organisations including In2MedSchool and MelaninMedics.

Through EXSEL, I was able to secure a lab-based research project under Dr Bon, with the aim of identifying potential therapeutic inhibitors of TRPC5 channels. TRPC5 channels have been implicated in cardiovascular disease, and are overexpressed in heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy. Under the supervision of the Bon research team, I have learnt practical experimental techniques including western blots, gel electrophoresis and tissue culture.

This project links nicely to the MSc Molecular Medicine programme I am undertaking in 2021/22, which has also given me the opportunity to learn new content in taught modules. For example, in Research Informatics and Dissemination, I have finally got my head around complex gene databases and in-silico models of genetic research. The Intercalated MSc does not meet the criteria for a maintenance loan, so your funding has enabled me to pursue the course.

In the last year, I have been published twice, including as first author on my EXSEL project from last summer. This process taught me much about the journal submission process and dealing with rejection, though thankfully both submissions were ultimately successful. As of November 2021, my EXSEL summer project publication has been cited 13 times – a fact that I am incredibly proud of!

This year has also given me valuable volunteering opportunities, with insight into positions of responsibility. Under the banner of Leeds University Union I founded a Leeds Haematology Society, and also led the Leeds StreetDoctors team - a social action group that aims to reduce the impact of violence affecting young people through First Aid. These positions have had a welcome impact on my personality, as I notice myself mellowing and working to put situations into perspective.

I have also joined The Phoenix Project, a social outreach charity which provides medical English support to refugees and asylum seekers from medical backgrounds. This immensely rewarding work has given me an intricate appreciation of language both as a barrier and as a medium for change, and has inspired me to begin studying Czech as a second language. Thank you for your support this year.

When I began planning my first EXSEL summer project, I had little research experience outside of university teaching. I was able to join a still ongoing study with Dr Brüning-Richardson to characterise novel anti-migratory drugs for glioblastoma – a devastating brain tumour with just a 5% 5-year survival rate. While working in the lab I learned to grow and maintain human tumour cells on flat-bottomed wells and as 3D spheroids. On these I performed multiple experiments, including invasion assays and immunofluorescence, which taught me to use a range of common apparatus and techniques. I also gained valuable broader skills such as initiative, communication, record keeping, planning, and working as part of a large team.

I was elated when I was accepted for both a poster and oral presentation at the British Neuro-Oncology Society conference. My nerves turned to excitement as I saw my work was not dissimilar to that of more experienced scientists, and this experience greatly accelerated the development of my confidence, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

The Leadership Ambassador Programme (LAP) week gave me insight into other avenues available to explore and I was inspired by established researchers and leaders from various fields as well as other scholars. I led the EXSEL Journal Club for a year, heading discussions about various research topics, and became more active in student societies, eventually serving as President for BrainLeeds where I gained experience of organising conferences and events. I designed and delivered neuroanatomy teaching sessions for students, and took groundwork and leadership roles in public outreach projects such as Restart a Heart, teaching members of the public CPR. Today I am continuing to give lectures on my current research projects surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in neuro-oncology.

Further funding from EXSEL directly facilitated my intercalation for a year on the Master of Research (MRes) in Medicine course here at the University of Leeds. My MRes project was a feasibility study investigating the clinical use of vagus nerve stimulation to manage chronic constipation. I took an active role in designing the study resources, including information, consent and data collection forms, and I visited clinics to identify and recruit suitable patients. Unfortunately, the study was paused due to Covid restrictions and is yet to be published, but I was able to complete my degree by analysing the data I had collected so far. I learned much from the statistics and qualitative research modules, as well as the challenges of working on research with real patients - cells in a flask are not so likely to miss an appointment or to be lost to follow-up!

For my final year medical research project I am exploring the use of AI in neuro-oncology, for example the feasibility of using machine-learning algorithms to triage patients from neuro-oncology MDT referral forms. I am also writing a systematic review which I will be presenting at the British Neurosurgical Research Group Annual Meeting. Now we are exploring potential corporate collaborators for further research. Looking beyond the completion of my studies at Leeds, I have applied for the Academic Special Foundation Programme and, if accepted, this will allow me dedicated research time during my foundation years as a doctor.

In 2020/21 I undertook an Intercalated Master of Research year looking at cardiovascular outcomes in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Not only was I able to experience excellent tuition from my supervisor, Dr Marc Bailey, an Associate Professor of Vascular Medicine, but I was able to publish my work as a first author in the Annals of Vascular Surgery. This review summarises the current best medical therapies for these patients, and also makes recommendations for future research in this high risk cohort - who have even higher rates of death from heart attacks than patients with existing cardiovascular diseases!

I have also had major conference success nationally and internationally which has challenged and encouraged me to produce my best academic work. I had two posters accepted at the European Society of Vascular Surgery virtual conference in September 2021 in the Netherlands, and you can watch my recorded international poster presentation here. I have also had three abstracts accepted at the Vascular Societies’ Annual Scientific Conference in December 2021.

I want to end by truly appreciating the stability you have provided for me during university, which has kickstarted my academic career. The EXSEL scholarship has given me a massive boost, and I feel significantly more confident in being able to complete a research project from start to finish.

I have further studies which are currently in development, including a national study into vascular education in medical students, which could potentially improve the management of patients with vascular disease by future clinicians. I now intend to become an academic surgeon thanks to your early support during my career. Thank you!