Prize-winning student loved being a part of cutting-edge research
Year 5 student Alice Ismail reflects on the benefits of an intercalated Pharmacology degree after receiving a prize at the Pharmacology 2020 international conference.
Student Doctor Alice was awarded the clinical undergraduate poster prize after presenting at the British Pharmacological Society’s Pharmacology 2020 international conference. Her poster entitled “Does the hypomethylating agent decitabine activate innate immune signalling in myeloid leukaemia?” was based on work carried out during her intercalated BSc Pharmacology degree at the University of Liverpool.
She explains, “At Liverpool, every intercalating student studying BSc Pharmacology gets the opportunity to complete a lab project even if you have no previous experience in the lab."
They teach you all the necessary skills. It’s a fantastic opportunity.
She decided to dedicate her laboratory project to study the activation of the innate immune signalling in acute myeloid leukaemia. The University nominated her for the national clinical undergraduate prize and she was invited to submit an abstract to the British Pharmacological Society’s international conference, Pharmacology 2020.
“I produced an iPoster with a narration which was published in the iPoster library and available throughout the week, as well as answering questions from a panel of judges on one of the conference days.” View the iPoster on the Pharmacology 2020 website.
Alice also used the opportunity to attend a variety of interesting talks, including one by Sir Patrick Vallance, and network in the digital networking hub. Take a look at highlights from the conference on the official website.
Reflecting on her intercalation year she says, “I learnt invaluable research skills which I can carry throughout my career, as well as developing a greater understanding of drug development, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, which I have found to be beneficial background knowledge for my clinical placements.”
You get involved in current, cutting edge research and are welcomed into active research teams.
"All the members off staff in the Pharmacology department are incredibly supportive to intercalating students and want to help you make the most out of the year”.
Congratulations Alice! And shout out to co-author PhD student Fiona Healy and supervisor Dr John Woolley for their help and support with the project.
Discover more
Interested in following in Alices footsteps and earning an intercalated degree? Take a look at the School of Medicine’s Intercalation area for information and more student experiences.