Meet our alumnus Izabella Smolicz

1. Why did you choose to intercalate?

Having gained an initial insight into research through INSPIRE, I felt the intercalated BSc in Clinical Sciences would allow me to further develop core research skills, ranging from scientific writing to analysis. The broad curriculum offered by the intercalated BSc covered multiple specialties and provided the opportunity to learn about the different types of research methods.

2. Tell us about your project...

My project focused on investigating the effect of temperature on anaesthetic-induced apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in developing brain. I completed my project under the supervision of Dr Hannah Gill and Professor Tony Pickering. Many anaesthetic drugs have been associated with neurotoxicity in the developing brain in animal studies although no causative link has been found between anaesthetic exposure and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes in humans. In the animal studies, the temperature of the environment during anaesthetic exposure varied, which may have impacted the level of cell death observed in the immature brain.

Therefore, the aims of my project were to study the effect of temperature on anaesthetic-induced apoptosis and the expression of different cell type markers, in an animal model of anaesthetic-induced apoptosis in developing brain. Sevoflurane was used as the anaesthetic agent, commonly used in paediatric anaesthesia. Two brain areas were studied and anaesthetic-induced apoptosis occurred in the hippocampus (CA3 region) but not in the cortical layers II/III of the immature brain; temperature had no effect on anaesthetic-induced apoptosis. Sevoflurane possibly accelerated the maturation of neurons and increased the numbers of supporting cells in the white matter although further investigation was needed. Two human clinical trials have since shown that short exposure to anaesthetics is not associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates and children. However, there are still further questions to be addressed, including whether there are harmful effects related to longer anaesthetic exposures. Alongside clinical trials, preclinical studies with animal models may lead to a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to anaesthetic-induced apoptosis.

3. What skills and knowledge have you gained?

The intercalated BSc in Clinical Sciences allowed me to fully appreciate the concept of translational medicine and introduced many different studies that have led to changes in clinical practice. I have often referred to these studies since completing the intercalated BSc and during clinical placements, such as the study by Smith et al. (2012) that analysed data from the National Joint Registry to compare the survival of different implants used in hip replacements. In addition, the research studies investigating the potential of GDNF as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease highlighted to me how initial failures do not necessarily end an attempt to create a new medical technology or treatment.

4. Any highlights during your intercalation year?

There are so many! I enjoyed delving deeper into topics and learning about the research in rarer diseases that are not always focused upon during medical school. In addition, having a dedicated period of time to complete the research project was appreciated, especially with a project where consecutive days of lab work were required. On completion of my research project, I presented the work at a national meeting in London and at my first international conference in Serbia. The course leads, my project supervisors and members of the lab I worked with during my project were extremely supportive. I enjoyed being in a smaller cohort for a year and met good friends I remain in regular contact with, despite being placed across the country and being at different stages in our medical careers.

5. What was the biggest challenge?

There were two main challenges. Having not written scientific essays under exam conditions prior to the intercalated BSc, this required practice. Secondly, remaining optimistic when experiments or analyses were not working was (and still can be!) a challenge. However, once progress has been made, the challenge is then deciding when to stop in a project!

6. What advice would you give potential students?

Firstly, choose the intercalated BSc that interests you and in a topic that you feel you would really like to learn more about. An intercalation is challenging, and not to be viewed upon as a year off! Think about what you would like to accomplish in that year and set achievable goals for yourself, whether it is producing work to present at a national conference or learning new lab skills.

7. What’s next in your career?

After the intercalated BSc, I transferred to UCL to join the MB PhD programme to integrate a PhD within my medical degree. I am currently in the final year of PhD at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, investigating the biology of paediatric brain tumours, with a focus on the unique insights that can be gained from clinical and molecular post-mortem investigations. I return to medical school next year to complete the final two years of medicine.