This July UCLan funded eight students from the Biomedical Science course to travel to Kansas, USA and visit their university and medical centre. The students were selected out of a number of applications based on how they felt the trip would benefit them and their learning.
The students met a wide range of biomedical scientists including: a urology research team investigating the effect of drugs on signalling pathways relevant to prostatic cancer and were privileged to observe a surgical team in action; two of these were neurosurgery and a third group were able to view the anatomy of the intestinal cavity during a hysterectomy operation. They also spent time with the MRI research group looking at the principles and application of advanced imaging.
There was a fantastic look at orthopaedic reconstruction techniques and the students were fortunate to chat with a surgeon regarding the latest knee replacement techniques in what was more akin to a woodworking studio than a research lab, and had a go at simulated at keyhole knee surgery.
During the week they also met with several post graduate research students to discuss their work and found out about the fully funded international post graduate research programmes that KUMC offer.
All in all it was a fantastic educational experience for the students.