Translational Medicine: combining bioinformatics and life science with robust theory

Published: 06 April 2020

Felix Effah is a current PhD student and graduate of the Translational Medicine MRes at St George’s, University of London. The course focuses on using the latest research findings to develop new medicines, diagnostic tools and community practices.

Felix discusses what attracted him to this rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field, the reality of life studying translational medicine and his background prior to coming to St George’s.

“Prior to coming to St George’s, I had completed high school in Italy and a Pharmacology BSc (Hons) at the University of East London, where I graduated with first-class honours.

“I applied for the Translational Medicine MRes at St George’s because it has been designed to enhance the application of scientific knowledge in solving challenges facing healthcare and medicine. I won a scholarship to study the course - what I love about St George’s is its merit-based criteria for awarding prizes.

“The programme embodies the scientific way of thinking, combining bioinformatics and life science with robust theory. It aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the latest drug developments, genomics and how bioinformatics skills are essential in the analysis of big data.

“All of this is achieved while leaving the student enough time to conduct a nine-month research project under a selected supervisor. The course develops all the skills needed to work as a research scientist.

“Since completing my Master’s, I’m now studying my PhD at St George’s, working under the supervision of Dr. Alexis Bailey in the laboratory of neuropharmacology. I am investigating the pharmacological effects of long-term exposure of e-cigarette vapour and its constituents (e.g. nicotine, flavourings) on neurochemical parameters, organ toxicity and gut and lung microbiota composition.

“The possibility that e-cigarettes may induce negative health effects that take decades to show is a concern of many public health organisations, given the popularity of the devices. There is an absence of data from long-term human studies because e-cigarettes have only been around for a relatively short time, and users are predominantly current or former smokers.

“I chose St. George’s, University of London because, apart from its incredible 250-year history of providing healthcare, it offers excellent teaching facilities and staff. Having the opportunity to study under the supervision of prominent professors and researchers is very exciting. The teaching staff are amongst the highest quality scholars, and the international recognition of research at St George’s as 'world-leading and internationally excellent' has fostered my research ambitions even more.”

You can watch a short video further explaining the Translational Medicine course offered at St George’s here.