Fifth batch completes internship at RMI

PESHAWAR: Seven students selected from different high schools across the country have graduated as part of the fifth batch of the six-week summer internship programme at the Precision Medicine Lab of Rehman Medical Institute (RMI).

A ceremony was held on Monday, attended by RMI Chief Executive Officer Shafiq Rehman, Prof Shehzad Bakhtiar Zahid, Dean Naheed Begum, Principal of Peshawar Model School Hayatabad Campus Salman Ahmad, and other academicians, journalists and students and their parents.

Speakers said that Precision Medicine Lab was one of the country’s leading biomedical research laboratories, funded by the federal government and operated in collaboration with RMI and Success University, US.

They said the lab engaged in various clinical studies and research projects including the country’s first precision medicine pilot in cancer.

Dr Faisal Khan, director of the lab, said the lab hosts an annual summer internship programme where high school students work on original research projects in biomedicine and related fields.

He said they received thousands of applications from dozens of cities across the country and shortlisted a few students and later chose only seven candidates after interviews and a selection process.

Dr Faisal Khan said the selected students worked on research projects in areas such as biomaterials, artificial intelligence, cancer models, 3D bioprinting, and protein semiconductors.He said the aim of the research lab was to provide the students with early real-world research experiences. He said they learned scientific methodologies, faced challenges in executing rigorous research projects and experienced the moments of discovery and success when things start to work out.

Ayaan Amjad of Pak-Turk Maarif, Peshawar, Talha Khan of Pak-Turk Maarif, Peshawar, Romeesa Malik of Peshawar Model Degree College for Women, Zeena Bakhtiar of Peshawar Model Degree College for Women, Maahir Raza Qureshi of Cadet College Kohat, Majid Shakoor of Pak-Turk Maarif in Lahore and Ahmad Ali Abdullah of The City School.