Studying precision health and genomics in England has given my classmates and I some wonderful opportunities to learn from and connect with a number of professors in the Nursing and Public Health fields. As a molecular biology major, it was fascinating to learn about how scientific discoveries at the bench are being integrated into clinical practice in London and Pittsburgh alike, and it gave me a greater appreciation for the translation of basic science that can directly benefit patients at the bedside.
One of my favorite presentations on the trip so far was a guest lecture given by Dr. Tutie Bueser, who works both as a Clinical Practitioner Researcher at King’s College London and a Director for Nursing & Midwifery at the National Health Service in the Southeast Genomic Medicine Service Alliance. In her presentation, we learned about CASGEVY, the first FDA-approved CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy used to treat sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, and how it’s covered by the United Kingdom’s public healthcare system as long as patients meet eligibility criteria, despite its high sticker price of roughly $2.2 million per patient. In contrast, patients in the U.S. have to go through insurance companies to access this innovative treatment; it was especially interesting to delve into comparative healthcare as part of this lecture and gain some insight into how different healthcare systems operate.
I had previously learned about CASGEVY in a genetics course I took in spring of my freshman year, and it was really cool to see how this therapy I learned about in class was being championed by England’s national health system, and I appreciated tying in this scientific discovery to the practical application, as patients are now directly benefitting from this therapy to an otherwise highly devastating disease.
In another lecture with one of our nursing professors, we learned about the Generation Study led by the NHS, which aims to screen newborns for a larger number of childhood-onset rare genetic conditions using genomic testing. This approach of mapping an individual’s genome at birth, before diseases have a chance to cause significant disruption and pain, is a revolutionary advancement in preventative medicine that I hope the U.S. can follow.
In this time, I’ve also had the chance to attend several exciting social events at the Harlaxton Manor, including a banquet dinner and an afternoon tea party, and get closer with some of the other Pitt students studying abroad with me. For me, besides our exciting discussions about precision healthcare and genomics in the classroom, one of the best parts of studying abroad has been making new friends and connections, and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to meet and get close with some Pitt students I didn’t know before in a whole new country.
On the first weekend after we arrived, we took day trips to Scotland and London, which were truly memorable experiences. I absolutely loved going to Notting Hill and doing lots of shopping through the markets, and it was great to have some new friends who could give me their opinions on things before buying them. My favorite find would have to be a tea set that was only 12 pounds. When I look back on my first time being in London, I have fond memories, being surrounded by my fellow Pitt students who were also exploring it for the first time, and together, we navigated all of it.
I’ve been absolutely loving my time in England so far, and I can’t wait to reflect on my trip and update you all once more!