Ready to buckle down: (from left) Ho, Ngu and Siow will focus on aldosterone signalling in their research.
Three UCSI medical students to embark on high-impact research in the US
FIONA Ho Jing Min was burning the midnight oil when an email appeared in her inbox.
It wasn’t just any email – the correspondence had come from Harvard University, alerting the 22-year-old to the news that she had been selected to participate in high-impact research at Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the United States.
“I feel so honoured to be selected and given the chance to engage with the research community at Harvard,” she told StarEdu.
Joining Ho on her one-year research journey, which will begin on Sept 15, are Clarice Siow Jing Rou and Ngu Hui Ling, both 21.
The trio, who are Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme students at UCSI University, have been presented with the opportunity as part of the varsity’s Star Trek programme – an initiative that sees the world’s best universities selecting UCSI students for high-impact research.
They are among 13 participants from the varsity who have been offered the Harvard opportunity since 2014.
The trio will be focusing their research on aldosterone signalling in which they will study factors that lead to aldosterone changes and its impact on the human body.
For the uninitiated, aldosterone is a steroid hormone secreted by adrenal glands. Its primary role is to regulate salt and water in the body, thus influencing blood pressure.
The trio explained that their research is a means to further understand the hormonal mechanism that affects cardiovascular diseases, as they are the leading cause of death globally.
Citing figures from the World Health Organization, Siow said an estimated 17.9 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2019, representing 32% of all global deaths that year.
“Aldosterone plays an important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure,” she noted.
It is also one of the hormones that play a significant role in controlling hypertension, which indirectly affects the health of one’s cardiovascular system, Ho added.
Through the research opportunity, Siow hopes she will be able to make valuable contribution to the team. She is also looking forward to gaining new insights and improving human lives with the new information gathered.
Ngu, meanwhile, expressed her hopes of publishing a research paper.
In counting down to the start of their research at Harvard, the trio had been sharpening their skills.
“Our university provided us with a 14-day laboratory training to equip us with basic laboratory skills,” said Ho.
The medical students did not forget to credit their tertiary education with equipping them with the right skillset.
“My lecturers aided my journey by showing passion for the subjects they teach. They are willing to help students improve their academic performance,” said Siow.
Both Ho and Ngu attributed their soft skills to extracurricular activities at the university.
“I actively participate in our Medical Students’ Association events which allow me to improve my skills, such as leadership, organisational skills, and problem-solving abilities,” Ho said.
For students who wish to follow in their footsteps, Ngu said: “Never be complacent about what you have now, and keep working hard to achieve what you want.”
She, however, added that there is no need to be too stressed out, and that it is also important for one to enjoy the process of working towards one’s calling.
Siow, in turn, urged students to step out of their comfort zones, in order to make room for growth.
“Participate in events held by your university. This allows you to meet new people and gain new experiences,” she said.Ho pointed out that it’s about having a positive mindset.
“I always treat everything that happens to me as a gift, a lesson, or both, and that made me who I am today. Do not be afraid to fail; be afraid of not trying,” she said.
Charis, 19, a student in Kuala Lumpur, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. To join Star-NiE’s online youth community, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
