Impressive exhibition of medical students’ degree projects
Approximately 120 medical students at the University of Gothenburg recently presented their degree projects, showcasing impressive posters in long rows at Conference Center Wallenberg. These projects are valuable contributions to research and are often published in scientific journals.
It’s easy to be impressed by the breadth of work displayed during the poster exhibition. The topics cover the entire medical field, ranging from pregnancy and ADHD to public health and cancer.
Twenty-two of this semester’s medical students conducted their degree projects abroad, in places such as Hawaii (USA), Indonesia, Rwanda, the UK, South Africa, and Zanzibar.
Positive side effects
Hifaa Al Remani has investigated immunotherapy for malignant melanoma. The treatment involves medications that activate the immune system, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, which boost the body’s natural immune response against tumors. In recent years, this treatment has revolutionized cancer care, but for advanced malignant melanoma, it works for only about half of the patients. Together with her supervisor Max Levin, Hifaa Al Remani examined the hypothesis that patients experiencing significant side effects are also the ones who benefit most from the treatment.
Experiencing side effects seems to be a good sign, Hifaa explains: “When the immune system is activated, you can experience severe side effects, some resembling symptoms of autoimmune diseases, such as muscle and joint pain. There are also side effects detected in blood sample analyses. We see a correlation between side effects and treatment response.”
The research group is currently working on a manuscript to publish the study in a scientific journal. Following her graduation this spring, Hifaa Al Remani hopes to continue working in oncology. Her dream is to secure a research internship at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Toward simpler diagnostics
Muhammad Kader’s degree project focuses on the cancer type MPNST (Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor). It is a rare cancer that falls under the category of soft tissue sarcomas. Currently, a pathologist must examine a tissue sample to determine if
a sarcoma is MPNST, which it is in up to 10% of cases. Under the guidance of Pawel Szaro, a senior consultant in radiology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Muhammad investigated whether MR images could reveal signs to distinguish MPNST, potentially enabling simpler diagnostics.
“We see some indications suggesting that an imaged sarcoma could be MPNST, particularly in its growth patterns and how the cancer infiltrates other organs. This work lays a strong foundation for conducting multicenter studies to analyze a larger patient group,” says Muhammad Kader, whose work is currently being prepared for publication in a scientific journal.
Award-winning projects
As part of the poster exhibition, four awards were presented:
- Karl Åberg (Gothenburg Medical Society’s Prize): Timing of PCL-reconstruction as a predictor for concomitant injuries
- Oskar Ladfors (Course Committee Prize): Operation for endocarditis – beneficial for patients in Skåne?
- Mustafa Alojel (Students’ Choice Award): Brain Training Against Trauma
- Simone du Plessis de Richelieu (Global Health Award): The healthcare workers’ perspective on involving fathers in postpartum family planning in Zanzibar
Text: Elin Lindström