In the days between May 12th and June 13th this year, I had the opportunity to carry out a five-week secondment at the Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), of the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) in Spain. During my stay I was working under the kind supervision of Prof. Román Fernández‑Pérez.
My work involved an in vivo murine study to evaluate the calcemic effects of novel vitamin D receptor agonists, synthesized by Prof. Andrzej Kutner from the Department of Drug Chemistry, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis at the Medical University of Warsaw. The compounds were administered over several weeks, with animal weight monitored regularly to assess potential toxicity. At the end of the treatment protocol, serum calcium levels were measured to determine the physiological impact of the analogs. In addition to the calcemic assessment, I harvested bone marrow samples for downstream analysis of vitamin D‑related gene expression in healthy animals.
Outside of the lab, I had the chance to enjoy the vibrant culture of Santiago de Compostela—from the many celebrations around Ascension Day, to exploring the historic old town and sampling the region’s excellent local cuisine. It was a unique opportunity that combined meaningful research with an engaging experience of life in Galicia.