Recently, Megan Vierhout, a postgraduate student from the Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health, McMaster University of Canada, successfully completed a three-week visit to the SKLRD for exchange.

Megan Vierhout arrived at the SKLRD on July 24 and joined the research team on ILD organized by Professor Luo Quan and Han Qian for cooperation and exchange. The exchange mainly involved the study of the transcriptomics characteristics of CD14 + monocytes in the blood of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and in-depth exploration of such cell characteristics and their role in promoting fibrosis in IPF. Megan successfully completed the cooperation and exchange in the SKLRD under an unfamiliar language and environment, communicated with the students in the SKLRD and achieved good learning effects.

Megan and the postgraduate students in Professor Luo Quan’s team jointly conducting experiments

In addition, during the exchange, Megan also participated in the ward rounds, learned the unique academician rounds in the SKLRD and the international joint clinic, and gained a lot.

Professor Luo introducing the clinical work for Megan

Megan communicating with Academician Zhong, Professor Ivan, Professor Luo Qun, and Professor Han Qian before the ward round

Megan attending international clinic

At the end of this visit and exchange, Megan also shared her research projects in Canada and her experience of exchange and cooperation in China with the postgraduate students of the SKLRD on the afternoon of August 13. Megan said that she benefits a lot from the three-week visit, albeit short. Megan said, being an insider in an institution such as the SKLRD has broadened her horizon and allowed her to get a peek into the scientific research done in Chinese laboratories ands to experience the food culture in Guangzhou. Megan is looking forward to another visit to the SKLRD for further study and communication.

Megan introducing scientific research and study life in China