My name is Isabel Mateus Arsénio Valentim, senior technician and researcher at Centro de Investigação Saúde de Angola CISA. I am currently working on projects for sickle cell anemia patients in Angola.
In November I started my training at the School of Health Technology in Lisbon, made possible by the Arise program.
A one-week theoretical preparation through a mandatory online course on the following topics was required to enter the training:
– good clinical practice;
– DNA extraction;
– molecular biology and Conventional and Real-time PCR.
After finishing the online training, I was welcomed to the lab by Drs. Catarina Ginete and Mariana Delgadinho, who gave me an introduction to the lab. We began our training on isoelectric focusing (IEF): I was guided from sample preparation, to gel preparation, use of IEF equipment, gel staining, and reading the result. After some time observing the procedures, I became familiar with the techniques of electrophoresis, DNA extraction, conventional and real-time PCR.
The internship was positive from the moment I was welcomed into the lab to the execution of the techniques and the interpretation of the results. I feel very satisfied with the autonomy I have achieved and the improvement in my performance.
I was able to achieve all the goals I had set for myself, and for that I would like to thank all the staff for their teachings. In particular, I would like to thank the Lisbon School of Technology for welcoming us with an open mind, Dr. Miguel Brito for his support, my supervisors for their professionalism, and the entire Arise project team for their support: thanks to Mr. Baba Inusa, Serena, and Landim.
