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Institution
Rhein.
Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Host
Institution(s)
Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Experimental Hematology
Mentor: David T. Scadden, MD
The overall focus of my research is to examine the impact of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) p27 on the human hematopoietic cell compartment. Blood cell production requires preservation of a quiescent, multipotential stem cell pool, which is able to proliferate into progenitors with robust proliferation potential in order to sustain the high blood cell turnover. It has recently been demonstrated that in absence of p27 progenitor proliferation and pool size is enlarged without affecting stem cell number, stem cell cycling or self-renewal in a knock out mouse model.
To determine if reduction of p27 expression level leads to an expanded progenitor pool also in human hematopoietic cells, we transduce CD34+ cord blood cells with a lentiviral vector containing p27 antisense. The transduced cells are assessed for the p27 impact on differentiation of hematopoietic cells in vitro by quantifying the functional populations of progenitor cells and of stem cells in cell assays and in vivo by a NOD/SCID mice repopulation assay.
Boston and Cambridge are very nice cities. The cities are not too big and are well connected by the subway (T). I personally recommend buying a bike, because most places are pretty close, and the T closes at 12.30 am, which is very early (especially at the weekend). From Boston you can do a lot of weekend trips to New York, Maine, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, or even Canada. The best trip I had was hiking and watching the colors of the trees in the White Mountains during the fall foliage season.
I really enjoyed working in the research lab with international colleagues from all over the world. It is a unique experience to meet so many competent researchers from so many different places. The laboratory has good conditions and outstanding team spirit. It was a good place for me to learn new methodology and to follow a project of my own.
The greatest difficulty for me was getting my visa on time. Before you are able to apply for your visa you need a document from the host institution, in my case an IAP-66 document. Receiving this document took me a while, and I had to make several phone calls to the International Office before I finally got it.
It is also very hard to find a reasonable, well-located place to stay in the Boston area. This is especially difficult in September, when all the students (and there are many in Boston) start their classes.
The most humorous incident was going to a typical American Halloween party with everyone dressed in traditional (and some more outrageous!) costumes.
After being accepted to the BMEP program you should first contact your mentor at the host institution in order to get your IAP-66 or the appropriate document. During the waiting period, keep asking the International Office for your document because, if you don't, they might forget about your application.
There are some good web sites such as www.boston.com, www.matchingroommates.com and the Harvard housing office on the site of Harvard www.harvard.edu which might help you to find a reasonable place to stay. Colleagues in your laboratory may also be able to help you with your apartment search.