A Fruitful Internship in Shanghai for Two IMU Biomedical Science Students

2 December 2019 to 17 January 2020 – Two International Medical University (IMU) Biomedical Science students, Loh Ming Jun and Su Zhi Yi, had the opportunity to undergo their Phase I internship at the Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine (SCSB), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in China. The laboratory actively pursues basic research in systems biology, and encourages its application in biomedical research and clinical medicine. It is accredited by the Ministry of Education as the Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (KLSB) in early 2009. The two students were attached to a research group led by Prof Huang Liyu, which investigates the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma and its related signalling pathway. The objectives of this learning experience include the development of practical skills and expertise specific to the disciplines of biomedical science, and to prepare themselves to work effectively in a work-based setting. They relate their experience here. “Throughout the internship programme, we learned fundamental cell culture techniques, DNA extraction, PCR, and Western blot, amongst other laboratory skills. During the internship, the postgraduate students designed some simple experiments so that we can familiarise ourselves with the laboratory setting. For instance, we had to demonstrate the protein interaction using immunoprecipitation. We performed transfection on cell lines to stimulate the overexpression of specific proteins, followed by cell harvest, protein isolation and identification of protein-protein interaction by immunoprecipitation and Western blot. Furthermore, we experimented on protein suppression using siRNA and planned to proceed with the cell proliferation assay. Regrettably, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the university was closed and we had to end our internship two weeks earlier. Nonetheless, we were glad to be acquainted with the laboratory staff and postgraduate students, who were kind and patient in explaining each test principle and clarifying our questions.” “We are grateful that the IMU Biomedical Science programme provided us with the golden opportunity to undergo our attachment in a completely different environment. Despite initial challenges in adapting to the new setting, this is indeed a fruitful experience for both of us. The IMU programme had certainly prepared us well with the basic knowledge and laboratory skills. Other than that, the communication skills which we had gained during presentations and PBLs was also useful in this internship.”

Written by Loh Ming Jun and Su Zhi Yi