My first day in Australia typified my entire experience, a busy, exciting, and stimulating time. After arriving to Brisbane International Airport, I was met by Dr. Jiri Neuzil, a brilliant and well-published Czech cancer researcher in Griffith University in Gold Coast, Queensland, whose lab I was soon to be warmly accepted into. After a whirlwind tour of their laboratory, I was taken to watch a graduate student perform 3-D ultra-sound images of mouse tumors using a sophisticated, new machine that accurately determines tumor size, and after several hours I was given the opportunity to try performing the procedure myself!

Dr. Neuzil's laboratory, "The Apoptosis Research Group" is composed of an international group of researchers who focus their studies on a vitamin E derivative known as alpha-TOS and its anti-cancer properties. While the laboratory researches everything from the drug's molecular mechanism in the cell to developing novel derivatives with improved modes of action, my research objective was to determine alpha-TOS's effect on angiogenesis (or the formation of blood vessels) that leads to tumor progression.

I focused on comparing the drug's impact on angiogenic genes and proteins under hypoxic (oxygen-deficient) versus normoxic conditions. It seems that alpha-TOS has the greatest anti-angiogenic effect when used under hypoxic conditions, which closely mimics the state of most tumors. Moreover, alpha-TOS seems to have an inhibitory effect on proliferating endothelial (blood vessel) cells, which would also indicate an anti-angiogenic role.

However, I feel that the greatest benefit obtained from my experience in Australia was forging a connection between our two laboratories. Few laboratories work on this precise anti-cancer research, and to have had the opportunity to go to a lab where such similar work is being performed, but through such a different perspective, was truly eye opening. I hope that our laboratories will continue to collaborate in the future.

I found Australia to be a beautiful country with some of the most diverse flora and fauna I have ever experienced. The people were laid-back and very friendly, and everyone I encountered in my laboratory went out of their way to make me feel welcomed and to show me around. During my stay I became friends with the graduate students in the lab, and together we traveled to Melbourne, to "the bush" (inland) and around coast. I learned to enjoy fish and chips, but never quite acquired a taste for Vegemite (a salty spread used on bread). Toward the end of my stay, I also had the opportunity to visit Sydney as well as spend nine days in New Zealand.

I would like to thank Dr. Jiri Neuzil, as well as the kind members of his lab, Ruth, Lan-feng, Lubo, Fang, and Emma, for warmly incorporating me into their lab during my short stay. I would also like to thank my mentors here, Dr. Akporiaye and Dr. Hahn, for helping me prepare for this trip, and a special thank you to Carol Bender for making it all possible.

Mikhal Gold, UBRPer in Dr. Emmanuel Akporiaye lab, Microbiology & Immunology