The twenty first edition of the European Students’ Conference (ESC) took place on 13-17 October, and was attended by three students of our Faculty, who presented research works carried out at the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM). This conference is targeted at undergraduate and postgraduate students in the field of biomedics, and was attended by over 500 students from 60 countries.

“This journey to Berlin was unexpected … I succeeded to submit my work about 30 minutes before the deadline. It was a race against time, since I did not even know about the conference, and when I was advised to attend, I went to the site and the deadline was almost expiring. This was an excellent opportunity I was given by Professor Susana Constantino who, on the telephone with me at 11 pm, helped me submit the research work we developed at the Angiogenesis Unit, in the field of oncology.

This experience had many unexpected features, ranging from the arrival in Berlin, with almost zero temperatures, although it was still October, to the visit to the Faculty of Berlin, the “Charité”, with its impressive history and buildings. However, the most unforeseen moment was actually the outcome of the European Students’ Conference, an event attended by representatives from over 60 countries, and where all the top prizes were given to Portuguese students. The best oral presentation, the best poster and the research grant were all attributed to Portugal!! Two of the prizes were awarded to the faculty of Medicine of Oporto University, and I won the Zondek Award, a money prize for the best oral presentation, and was also nominated by the Universitätsmedizin Berlin to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 2011.

I was particularly surprised, in two ways, as I was not expecting to receive the award, and also due to the fact that my work was given a prize to the detriment of other world renowned universities, such as Imperial College London or Yale University, among others. This moment was extremely important to me, as I was able to demonstrate that our country produces scientific work of the highest level, in addition to having taken the name of our Faculty and of IMM beyond national borders.

Finally, I would also like to thank the financial support that FMUL gave me to attend this conference, the indispensible camaraderie, support and knowledge that I have received in my collaboration with the Angiogenesis Unit. I would also like to encourage all students to carry out scientific work, whether basic or clinical, and to share their work at conferences and meetings” (André Rocha, student in year 4 of the Integrated Master Degree in Medicine).

“Despite knowing about this congress for some years, this was the first time I had the opportunity to attend and present a work carried out at the Clinical Oncology Research Unit as part of the 13th edition of GAPIC, titled “Effect of RANK-RANKL signalling pathway on MMP1, OPG and PTHrP gene expression of breast and prostate cancer cell lines in vitro”. The oral presentation was done at the Haematology/Oncology session, and it came second.

In overall terms, this was a very positive experience, given that it allowed me to develop my competencies and acquire new knowledge, as well as meet students from many different countries who are equally interested in research. I intend to continue to be involved in research projects and to develop them regardless of the choice of speciality. Accordingly, postgraduate experiences such as this one are particularly important for my training.

I believe that the encouragement given by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon to students enabling them to carry out research projects has been remarkable, and in my own case, I must highlight the financial support given to me by GAPIC, which allowed me to develop this project and participate in this conference.

Finally, I would like to thank my supervisor, Doctor Sandra Casimiro, who gave me her unconditional support during the project, and with whom I acquired much theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of Oncobiology”. (Sofia Ribeiro, student in year 6 of the Integrated Master Degree in Medicine).

“Following my previous participation at international conferences for undergraduate students, I am fully convinced that the 21st European Students’ Conference concentrated the highest number of students from various biomedical sciences at one single place and date. The students who actively participated in the congress represented three continents. The importance of this kind of event must be stressed, as it enables exchange of knowledge, of ideas, and of distinct ways of making science.

In my personal experience and as a speaker at the paediatrics session with the paper “Mechanisms of patent ductus arteriosus after gestational exposure to indomethacin , and with regard to the previous paragraph, I believe that a higher number of students does not necessary translate into better students and better oral sessions or posters. If, on one hand, it is important to give the opportunity to many to share their work at the congress, on the other hand, the excessive number of students made the event’s logistic a laborious process, and made it difficult to apprehend the contents that, otherwise, we could have absorbed.

Nonetheless, in my opinion, meetings such as the one in Berlin are praiseworthy, as they give students who wish to contribute towards the actual state-of-the art of science an opportunity to get together and, accordingly, expand their horizons and future perspectives.” (David Sousa, student in year 4 of the Integrated Master Degree in Medicine).

André Rocha, David Sousa e Sofia Ribeiro
andrerocha@campus.ul.pt,  davidscsousa@gmail.com,  sofiaribeiro@campus.ul.pt