Judy's busy first month

It has now been a month since I arrived in Ireland for my Immunology fellowship at the National University of Ireland Maynooth to work with the Combat Diseases of Poverty Consortium. I am a Ugandan working in Rwanda as a Pediatrician. So far I am doing well trying to get used to the Irish weather.

Working at home

 1^st Day at NUI Maynooth

I started off by attending the poster exhibition of outgoing Immunolology & Global Health Students, which I attended with Professor Noel Murphy who is my supervisor. I looked at the type of presentations and discussed the work of some of the outgoing students who were displaying their work. This really opened my mind and when I go back to Rwanda I will organise a similar activity for the 5 students who I supervise to display their work in a similar manner for the rest to see.

Lectures and other activities at NUI Maynooth

I have been attending the basic Immunology course under Dr Mahony and I have completed the course. During this period I had the privilege to study with about 21 students undertaking the Masters in Immunology and Global Health. I was able to share with them what I have been doing as far as my clinical work and research work is concerned. I have also completed the course on Epidemiology and Mathematical Modelling of Diseases course under Professor Steven Buckley. This was a very enriching course, and I utilised the statistics learnt to improve my ongoing PHD proposal writing. I also had the chance to present my PHD concept before the class which was critiqued and there were new ideas added as far as the statistics chapter.

I have now started my practical work at St James Hospital in the Immunology lab. It is really exciting. Under the supervision of Derek Doherty, I will be performing laboratory techniques like flow cytometry, PCRs, cell cultures, ELISAs and I will be looking at the NK cells, Vγδ T lymphocytes and their behaviour in HIV and Hepatitis B infections etc.

I have been writing my manuscripts for publication to scientific journals and also developing my PHD concept and proposal for a PHD in infectious diseases and Immunology. I am interested in studying Immune reconstitution Inflammatory syndrome in children initiated on HAART and develop this condition which may affect their adherence to ARVs.

I have been able to attend various seminars regularly organised by CDPC where academics at an International level have been invited to speak such. Areas include:

1.  Tuberculosis: A historian looks at TB and Grand challenges a scientific solution

2. Malnutrition: “Food for thought”

3. Neurosignalling by the Drosophila fly

The overseas exchange collaboration group from East Africa was able to attend the CDPC’s Irish AGM, where we were officially welcomed and each of us was able to talk about ourself, what we have currently been doing and what we hope to learn during our stay with CPDC. We attended poster exhibitions on the ongoing projects by CPDC and work done by Irish students who did their research in Kenya and other parts of east Africa.

In the Quadrangle in the University's south campus

School outreach

I was able to visit Colaiste Bhride School in Co Wicklow with Joseph Clowry and was part of the NUI Maynooth development education filming with the students. This has been the climax of my visit so far: it is great to see young children getting involved very early in their lives to try and fight poverty not only in their community but with a global emphasis majoring on developing a practical idea in halting starvation in Africa. The school’s project is called Food Security and Sustainable Living Project Allotment Community Garden and is being undertaken by the present Transitional Year students. This, if well developed and supported, may be one of the greatest ideas to help eradicate starvation for children. It was also lovely hearing the students introduce themselves in managerial-like positions! Some of the titles which struck me in the project group were the stratified around an administration like organogram. I was able to meet the two project managers of the group, financial controller, secretary, two research specialists, and this brought an idea to my mind: in developing countries we can borrow a page from Ireland’s book and introduce our children early to such positions so that they can be accustomed to such big titles. This might possibly reduce corruption in a way; as such big titles would be demystified and through early exposure to responsibilities this builds a sustainable and solid foundation in finance management.

With students from Colaiste Bhride, Carnew, Co. Wicklow.

 Some social activities

All work with out play does not make me a balanced lady! I was able to attend the Club Exhibition day at NUI Maynooth where I joined some clubs such as the International Society. This club usually has weekly activities such as a movie every Sunday evening, trips and here and there and I have made many friends. With the International Society I have been able to tour Glendolough and Galway. In Galway I went for the city tour and to a few organised siteseeing tours. I have been able to see some of the very beautiful Irish cultural sites such as the Aran Islands where I travelled by ferry, as well as Kylemore Abbey and many others. I am still looking forward to visiting more Irish tourist sites.

I have also decided to do some volunteer work at Mrs Quinns charity shop and the money raised goes to supporting the blind children.

Finally through CPDC I have been able to meet colleges like Mary, Neema, and James from Tanzania and Kenya respectively and this has led to fostering of horizontal relationships.

I will be having a lot to share with whoever reads my blog next time as I am looking forward to a very wet month with clocks reversed but still with a lot to accomplish. Cheers…