MBBS Enrichment Year 2018-19

1 Research Attachment SEMESTER Book Chapter Writing: Title: Cancer Management by TKIs: efficacy, limitation and future strategies Project 1: Project 2: Individual Research Project Title: Network pharmacology-based investigation on the anti-lung cancer effect of GG herb Major Takeaways... What I've learnt 1. gained practical skill involved in developing a research as well as mindset and soft skills 2. acquired much better understanding in areas of my projects 3. Met lots of really smart people who are very passionate in research 4. Learned how scientific and systematic TCM can also be 5. Learned about Network Medicine, a new genre of medical research I submitted a book chapter on a review of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, a large class of targeted anticancer drugs. After doing extensive literature review on the drug, I concluded that although TKIs have high clinical efficacy upon initial use, rate of acquiring resistance is too high that it does not improve overall survival. Strategies to overcome include multi- targeted approach, combination therapy, improving patient selection, improving drug effect monitoring and making adaptations to treatment plan according. the GG herb is used to treat lung cancer in TCM. My research project aims to uncover its mechanism of action by using network pharmacology approach. I first identified the active components in the herb, then find out the potential target proteins they act on. Finally, I compare these target proteins with those involved in NSCLC and their respective pathways through plotting a network diagram. SEMESTER 2 Exchange Programme Courses: 1. History of Philosophy 1: Antique 2. Ancient Moral Psychology 3. Neoplatonism in Late Antique Christianity 4. Metaethics of AI and the Self-Learning Robots 5. Introduction to Metaethics 6. German Besides Studying... (JAN) Research at Pharma Boehringer Ingelheim (FEB) Heart Surgery Department in Heidelberg (Mar) Oncology Winter School in Munich and TRAVELING!!! Study Progress: The summer semester in Germany runs from April through end of July. I have chosen Philosophy as my Major here, not simply because Germany is famous for their philosophers, but also because I love the logical approach to all these questions we have, hidden deep in our minds, that we are normally too busy to notice or ponder on. I believe what I have learned this year will greatly shape my ethic values and provide me with new insights to life. In January, I was lucky enough to find a research internship at the pharmaceutical company BI. I attached to the target discovery research department and my department specialized in drug repurposing. I learned about computational biology, ie using programmes to produce large amount of lab data. Then I attached at the heart surgery department in the university clinic of Heidelberg. There I learned a lot of practical clinical skills, but my greatest takeaway, is observing the cultural difference between medical systems in Germany and in Hong Kong. I participated in the winter oncology school, organized for medical students by my exchange university. We had ward rounds in the mornings and seminars in the afternoon. I also get to meet medical students from all around the world as well as local LMU students. It was extremely rewarding. One great thing about exchanging in Germany, is that it is right in the middle of Europe. I have thus been seizing this opportunity to travel around. So far, I've been to most of the big cities in Germany and have been to Belgium, UK, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, etc. Traveling has taught me so much. And it has provided me with a much more comprehensive world view. Ho Wing Tung Venice 78