News from the first ALN scholarship students

Alex Barasa, MSc Clinical Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki

“From this course I am appreciating a comprehensive view and understanding of tropical medicine which is advancing my career through equipping me with more skills and knowledge to share with my colleagues, seniors and juniors. Studying at NEKKEN has made me appreciate that there is much more to be done in the field of medical epidemiological research than I previously perceived, and this has modified my career perspective through acting as a spring board and fine-tuning my focus in the medical field. The most recent research findings from the different departments are so fascinating and inspiring. My mind is now more open to the vast areas that we need to focus on in order to help larger numbers of people especially in resource limited settings.  I have also come to appreciate that team work is much more than just working together but accomplishing specified tasks which comprehensively fit into each other to fulfill particular team and multi-team goals. Currently, I am looking forward to acquiring much more skilled to hopefully add more knowledge to disease control through molecular epidemiological research.”

Limangeni Mankhambo, MSC Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) London

“The courses at the school are of high standards, I have learnt a lot and I am about to complete the summer term. During the first term, I took Extended Epidemiology and Statistics of Epidemiology and Public Health modules. In the second term, the compulsory courses were Study Design and Statistical Methods in Epidemiology. For the optional modules, I chose the Epidemiology of Communicable Disease Control and Spatial Epidemiology modules. Currently, I have just completed the Advanced Statistical Methods in Epidemiology and AIDS modules.”

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Augustin  Zoungrana, MSc Clinical Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, (NEKKEN) Nagasaki

“My studies commenced immediately with introductory and orientation classes for two weeks before embarking on my thesis project under the supervision of Prof. Osamu Kaneko and Assistant Prof. Richard Culleton at the department of Protozoology. My topic was A genetic approach to an investigation of strain specific immunity in Malaria parasites. The superb mentorship and friendly laboratory environment accorded me provided a great opportunity and I was able to acquire knowledge and learn many skills in the course of my experiments.”