IUPS 2013: Perspectives from SAS Award winner Damilola. D. Adingupu (Exeter)

Damilola has recently been awarded her PhD in Vascular medicine from the University of Exeter, she was awarded a BMS Students Assisstance Scheme (SAS) travel grant to attend the IUPS 2013 in Birmingham. Here Damilola discusses how attending the conference has benefitted her research as an early career researcher.

An opportunity to be at a conference that has in one location early career scientists and world leaders in Microcirculation and Physiology in general was afforded to me by the British Microcirculation Society travel grant. Presenting a talk on ‘microvascular regulatory response to ischaemia and association with cutaneous oxygen saturation’ to an international early career scientist audience on Saturday was a privilege. Having Prof Michael J. Joyner in the audience, with him stimulating discussions around the talks presented was a privileged experience.  

Manning the BMS stand for two hours at the IUPS gave me the opportunity to encourage other early career colleagues and PhD students to join the BMS and enthuse them about the advantages of being a member. Whilst doing this, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr Paul Fraser who explained the imaging technique used to image the microvessels on the BMS website and stationeries that elegantly represents the microcirculation. Meeting Prof.  Akos Koller provided an opportunity to discuss microvascular reactivity techniques and mechanisms involved, and to evaluate the potential of translating simple techniques to clinical use. Sitting in the Malpighi Award Lecture given by Prof Steven S. Segal inspired me to challenge my own hypothesis and assumptions, and I was reinvigorated to get back to Exeter to test and test my hypothesis again. 

The international Union of Physiological Sciences conference July 2013, Birmingham UK was full of learning, networking and social opportunities. Early career scientist and experienced scientist presented elegant scientific research, put forward new ideas and motivated me to continue to pursue a career as an Academic Researcher. I am grateful for the BMS travel grant that to made my attendance possible.