One of the benefits of study abroad
programs is the chance to take advantage of unique opportunities that are not
normally offered in the classroom. Not
only do you learn in the classroom: you get to experience new cultures, learn
how to become a professional traveler, and even learn about the different
academic cultures in research and medicine across the globe. This semester I
was able to have some of these unique experiences though the Honors VTPP 435
and BMEN 400 classes.
As
part of my honors experience I was fortunate enough to be able to visit two
very interesting research settings in the realm of neuroscience. My first
experience was at the Bonn Uniklinikum with neuropsychologist, Dr. Catherine
Windmann in which she gave insight into her daily research and how it can
affect patients. The second opportunity to experience research abroad was at
the Center of Advanced European Study and Research (CAESAR) Institute where
cutting edge technology and research was explained and displayed.
The
experience at the Uniklinikum with Dr. Windmann was a good way to be introduced
to the practices in clinical research. Dr. Windmann was kind enough to give us
a background on herself and her lab before actually performing some of the
neuropsychological tests on myself and the accompanying honors student. The
tests primarily targeted the learning and memory processes of the brain. The
patients are subject to learning new patterns with various tasks, recalling
long-term information such as types of animals, as well as short term tasks
such as remembering words and numbers after a few minutes and even immediately
after their introduction. Dr. Windmann primarily does research on patients with
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. From her data she
can interpret which brain structures may be damaged. My fellow student and I
got to see Dr. Windmann’s research in action by observing an interview with an
elderly patient. The interview turned out to be a very interesting case, and it
provided a great window into the field of clinical research in general and the
types of patient interactions that might occur.
The
visit to the CAESAR Institute was a very rewarding and eye-opening
experience. The CAESAR institute is
affiliated with the Max Planck Society, one of the most prestigious research
organizations in Germany. A fellow
student and myself were fortunate enough to learn about the Brain and Behavior
Organization Department at CAESAR from the department head himself, Dr. Jason
Kerr. The research they perform is absolutely exquisite and on the cutting edge
of neuroscience. One of the researchers in the department, Dr. Jürgen Sawinski,
has developed a cutting edge two-photon microscope that weighs only 8 grams.
The small size of the microscope allows it to be placed on the top of testing
animals to monitor cortical activity during free-roaming experiments. The lab
has focused their attention on analyzing the eye movements of rodents in
conjunction with analyzing their cortical activity to understand the primitive
decision making processes associated with predation and other stimuli.
During our visit
we were fortunate enough to get to tour the entire facility and learn about
CASEAR as a whole before going to the Brain and Behavior Organization Department.
The experience really put a perspective on international research and its
differences from the traditional academic research setting I have been exposed
to. Within the Brain and Behavior Organization Department we got to speak with
Dr. Kerr about the purpose and goals of the lab and the different technologies
they have developed. We also got to see some of the research up close with 4
different scientists explaining their specific research and showing us the
individual lab set-ups.
The experiences at
the Uniklinikum and CASEAR was undoubtedly some of the most rewarding
experiences this semester. Not only was I able to see first hand what clinical
research with neurodegenerative patients looks like, but I also learned so much
about international research culture and the technologies other countries are
developing to contribute to science. I have walked away from these experiences
having learned so much and with a heightened motivation to pursue a career in neurological
research, whether that be in America or abroad.
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