Young, new, homegrown researcher in CRN North Thames
Elizabeth Fagbodun works at the CRN North Thames and at just 21 has been published in the British Pharmacology Society journal.
She has worked as part of the North Thames team for the last year and is a strong advocate for the North Thames Graduate Trainee Scheme.
Elizabeth first discovered research whilst studying for an undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at St George’s University. There, she learned about preclinical research and took an interest in the brain’s processes. As part of her dissertation project she investigated the effect, on rats, of exposure to a broken down protein found in cow’s milk, finding that it can affect the brain areas responsible for emotion. This same protein has been associated with autism and schizophrenia.
Following her first degree, Elizabeth was keen to learn more about how these preclinical findings applied to a clinical setting and human patients. She started searching for jobs in clinical trials and discovered the educational NIHR CRN North Thames Graduate Trainee Scheme and learned that clinical trials were conducted within the NHS. Elizabeth applied for the role, as she wanted to have a real impact on improving healthcare for patients through clinical trials.
A year later, and a successful candidate on the CRN North Thames Graduate Trainee Scheme, Elizabeth’s dissertation project was published in the British Pharmacology Society journal. She hopes that the recognition of her work will open the door for future research into the protein and potentially inform future health policy. She thanked her dissertation supervisor, Dr Alexis Bailey, for his support during the project.
During her first year in the role Elizabeth has completed rotational placements within the CRN North Thames office covering everything from study set-up, business intelligence, industry, patient and public involvement, communications and primary care, and completed the first year of her part-time MSc in Clinical Trials at University College London (UCL). For the next year she will complete two study delivery placements within stroke, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease and finish her Masters degree, including another dissertation project.
Looking towards her future, Elizabeth is keeping an open mind about her career opportunities, but has a keen interest in the scientific community, and is considering working for an academic sponsor helping with study development and design.
The abstract for her research project “Effect of A1 versus a2™milk exposure at an early developmental age on the endogenous opioid system of the rat brain” can be found on page 13 of Conference Abstracts at British Pharmacological Society Online Publications
