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Khadija Ahmed reflects on her placement at the UCL Ear Institute

14 August 2023

Second-year Medical Sciences student Khadija Ahmed reflects on her placement with the EvidENT team within the UCL Ear Institute.

Khadjia

My name is听Khadija Ahmed and I am a second-year Medical Sciences student听at the University of Exeter. When the opportunity to join the In2research听programme听came my way, it felt like a perfect fit for my ever-growing interest in scientific research.听

I've听been fascinated by medical research since year 12, when I听undertook some work听experience at听the听UCL Child Health Institute through In2science. Working on a study of Neuroblastoma using CRISPR technology was a听thought-provoking experience.听This led听me to听further听explore听related听fields such听as听Cancer Research, Neuroscience, and Medical Technology.听听Ultimately, these听experiences have led me to the In2research听programme听where I aimed to further develop my research skills.听听

My 8-week In2research placement was with the听'EvidENT'听team听and the NIHR UCLH BRC Hearing Health Theme, co-directed听by Professor Anne Schilder and Mr Nishchay Mehta,听at the UCL Ear Institute from June to August 2023. The two projects I took part in were:

  • Ototoxicity:听A听study听which involved patients undergoing a specific chemotherapy which is known to have a potential toxic effect on their hearing.听The study explored blood sample analysis looking at two inner ear biomarkers听(Prestin and Otolin-1).听My involvement in this project听included听reviewing听the听current听healthcare pathway for these patients听therefore听creating听an听infographic on this,听scoping听related research听on the听mechanisms of hearing loss听biomarkers听and听undertaking听data听analysis.听I was also fortunate to have hands-on experience with ELISA testing at the UCL GCLP laboratory.听This project formed the basis of my In2research poster which I am looking forward to presenting at the showcase in September.听
  • Dementia and Hearing Loss:听A key topic for the BRC Hearing Health program.听Working closely with Diya Vaid, a PhD student听funded by the BRC, I assisted in the screening process for a narrative review on hearing loss and dementia. This gave me the opportunity to delve into database selection, systematic searching, and to understand the comprehensive methodology behind writing such a review.听

Aside from these projects,听I gained听experience in conducting听Patient and听Public听Involvement听(PPI)听actions听during听research, I took part in a meeting which inducted new PPI members to the NIHR UCLH BRC Hearing听Health Theme PPIE听panel.听I met patients with lived experience of hearing-related symptoms, and this made me听realise听the tremendous听impact PPI can have on research outcomes.听I also听completed听courses in Good Clinical Practice, PPI, and Artificial Intelligence after which I received certification.听听

Some of听my听most enjoyable experiences听as part of my placement included a听memorable听visit听to the UCL GCLP lab听where听Dr Helen Lowe听introduced听me to听CAT-19 T cell culture.听At the lab, I听had the听opportunity听to present my ototoxicity research findings to the team.听I also enjoyed my trip to the Royal National Ear Nose & Throat Hospital with Marina Forbes,听a听research听audiologist, where she听tested my hearing through Pure Tone Audiometry and Tympanometry.听This gave me a perspective on what it would be like for a patient attending听an听audiology clinic听in terms of how a typical hearing appointment goes.听听

Overall,听my听experience听in the听EvidENT听team and learning听from a BRC funded project听has allowed me to gain valuable insight into the day-to-day听running听of a clinical research team. My experience听helped in听shaping听my听career prospectives听where I听am now considering further academia as听an option.听The knowledge,听skills听and听personal听development听I've听gained through听this听In2research听placement will be useful as I embark on听the final year of my degree.

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