Research Opportunity at University of Strathclyde for IMU’s Postgraduate Student

A postgraduate student from IMU, Mai Chun Wai, had the opportunity to be attached to the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland for six months. This allowed Chun Wai to work closely with an internationally renowned researcher, Prof Robin Pelvin and address the technical difficulties faced in his PhD project “Discovery, Structure-activity Relationship Studies of Benzylideneacetophenones and Methoxyphenols Targeting Toll-like Receptor-4 (TLR-4) and their Molecular Mechanisms in Cancer”. Prof Robin Pelvin specialises in the niche area of therapeutic molecular signaling of receptors in host defense and inflammatory response.

Commenting on the experience, Chun Wai said,

“The attachment has definitely fostered the international research collaboration with University of Strathclyde. I had the opportunity to work very closely with Prof Robin Plevin, who was very kind in sharing his expertise in molecular signalling. His laboratory is well organised and equipped with various cutting edge technologies for research.”

   

“Prof Robin Plevin introduced me to his team members: Dr Andrew Paul, Dr Kathryn McIntosh, Dr Juliane Schroeder Magdelena K Kurnik, Dr Gary Ho Ka Ho, Dr Swagata Roy, Ms Thikryat Neamatallah, Ms Emma Torrance and other researchers. I enjoy every moment in the laboratory and am very lucky to have a group of cheerful laboratory friends who supported me technically and emotionally during the long laboratory sessions. The weekly laboratory meeting with the team is definitely one of the activities that I looked forward to during my stay in Scotland.”

“I am very amazed with Prof Robin Plevin’s dedication and passion in conducting every research project and meeting. I am definitely inspired with his professionalism in research.” “At the end of this visit, I was invited by Prof Robin Plevin, to present my findings to the researchers in the University of Strathclyde. It was a fruitful and interactive session. Upon returning to IMU, the same presentation was given to the IMU community.” “This opportunity was made possible with the kind help and support from Prof Brian Furman and IMU. I sincerely thank you everyone involved directly and indirectly in providing me this opportunity.” Chun Wai graduated with a PhD in Medical and Health Sciences (By Research) from IMU on 14 June 2014.