Secondment alert!

Chiara Puccinelli (DR1) moved to Barcelona, Spain between between March 3rd and 24th

During this period, she joined the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), working in the Electron Microscopy Unit under the supervision of Dr. Belén Ballesteros.

At ICN2, she gained foundational knowledge in electronic microscopy and electron diffraction and had the opportunity for her first hands-on work with a transmission electron microscope, a crucial tool in nanotechnology research. This allowed to record high-resolution images of iron carbide nanoparticles and analyze their morphology in great detail, while electron diffraction techniques were used to identify the phases of these nanoparticles.
This project provided valuable insights into the structural characteristics of iron carbide, contributing to a deeper understanding of its properties, fundamental for potential applications in the nanomedicine field.

Ayush Shukla (DR10) moved to Turku, Finland between March 24th and April 24th.

He served as a visiting researcher at Misvik Biology under the supervision of Dr. Juha Rantala. Misvik Biology, a notable biotech startup and beneficiary partner of Melomanes, specializes in toxicology assessment and cancer drug screening.
During his tenure at Misvik, Ayush engaged deeply with the research and innovation processes, as well as the routine practices carried out by laboratory scientists. Leveraging his background in social science, Ayush’s ethnographic research on the laboratory floor fostered a collaborative dialogue on critical topics such as bio/chemical waste disposal, access to innovative treatments, and the role of patents in biomedical innovation.

Thibault Leray (DR9) moved to Paris, France between May 13th to July 5th.

His time in Paris was spent in Institut Cochin under the supervision of Dr. Emmanuel Donnadieu. During this period, his goal was to learn more about tumor slices imaging and calcium influx experiments using fluorescence microscopy. These techniques are another way to monitor modified T cells’ behavior in presence of target cells and/or within the tumor microenvironment. Tumor slices imaging allows to observe live images of T cells’ reactions and migration inside the tumor and improve illustration of T cells responses. On the other hand, calcium experiments are another way to follow and measure levels of activation of modified T cells. When a T cell is activated, intracellular calcium concentration increases and can be followed with a calcium sensitive colored dye. We then correlate this information to the activation levels of T cells. It can also be used to monitor the amount of responding cells.

This secondment in Paris was a great opportunity to benefit from Dr. Donnadieu’s lab expertise and gain new experience on these microscopy experiments that are relevant in the MELOMANES project to deepen our understanding of engineered T cells’ responses in different contexts within melanoma tumors!