So long, Joan!

Another one of our students finished up recently, unfortunately just missing out on the peak of Scottish summer. Joan is in the 4th year of his Biomedical Sciences undergraduate degree at the University of Barcelona and has a passion for human biology and the immune system. A recommendation from an advisor brought him here into the open arms of the CRG at the beginning of the year for his Erasmus placement.

During his time here, Joan worked alongside Doug on CXCR2, a homeostatic chemokine receptor probably best known for its not-particularly homeostatic role in cancer development through angiogenesis and recruitment of immunosuppressive leukocytes such as neutrophils. A lot of current chemokine research focuses on their role in the context of inflammatory diseases, because much of inflammatory disease research is directly translational. A serendipitous observation by Doug during one of these models led to Joan’s main project: the role of CXCR2 in adipocytes in both the steady state and during inflammation.

Joan worked tirelessly and was one of the most enthusiastic undergraduates the CRG has seen in a long time, and I’m happy to say he tackled Glasgow with the same enthusiasm he did his science. Since we’re based in the GBRC, one of the last university buildings before Byres Road, we’re well-placed to go out for lunch, or dinner/drinks after work; as well as to take part in events run by the university or local cultural hubs like Òran Mór. One of his favourite events was the MVLS ceilidh* back in April. Joan also speaks highly of the international nature of the university, which immediately introduced him to other visiting students.

We wish him all the best in the future, but I'm sure he won't be away for long!

*ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is a wild and barely-controlled form of Scottish group dancing.