Name: Ifrah Taqdees 
            National Taiwan University

Visiting Period: June 10^th (Tue), 2025 - August 8^th (Fri), 2025

Country: Pakistan

Lab: Laboratory of Developmental Morphogenesis

Q1. Summary of the internship (Description of the research conducted, aim, introduction of lab, and things you learned)

I had the opportunity to work in the Developmental Morphogenesis Lab under the supervision of Prof. Guojun Sheng for a duration of eight weeks and it was an amazing learning experience.

My research is primarily on two subtypes of ovarian cancer - High Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (HGSOC) and Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma (OCCC). My lab has been using the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a model for tumor studies. CAM model has gradually gained popularity over the years due to its high reproducibility, time efficiency, low cost and ability to support the rapid assessment of tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastatic potential in a physiologically relevant microenvironment.

During my internship, I worked with paraffin embedded CAM samples grafted with HGSOC cell lines. The objective was to investigate differences between control and experimental groups in terms of tumor size, progression, metastatic spread, and phenotypic changes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). I optimized and performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) protocols, with particular attention to antigen retrieval, an essential yet challenging step, in FFPE tissue analysis to unmask epitopes and improve antibody binding. Staining with mesenchymal markers helped validate preliminary observations on EMT dynamics within the tumor grafts.

In addition to tumor sample work, I gained hands-on experience in in situ hybridization (ISH) to localize specific gene transcripts in chicken embryos, and I learned embryo collection techniques for downstream developmental and molecular analyses. These skills not only strengthened my technical expertise in histology and molecular localization methods but also enhanced my understanding of host-tumor interactions in the CAM system

Q2. What did this experience do for you with respect to your specific career development directions?

I joined Professor Sheng's Lab with the primary goal of gaining a deeper understanding of the host component in our tumor-CAM model. The lab's expertise in chicken development and embryology offered an ideal setting to strengthen this aspect of my research. My decision to come to IRCMS was also driven by the desire to broaden my perspective, both in terms of scientific topics and experimental approaches as well as to observe how different laboratories design and execute similar experiments with distinct methodologies. IRCMS fosters an environment that encourages such cross-disciplinary learning, with its open, collaborative culture and access to diverse research fields. By interacting with researchers from various backgrounds, I was able to refine my research questions and gain fresh ideas for experimental design.

Japan is an amazing country to live in, whether for research, tourism or simply enjoying the convenience of daily life. During my stay, I had the chance to visit cities like Kyoto and Shimabara, and I was impressed by how easy it was to commute, find safe and comfortable accommodations, and explore without stress. People are generally helpful and kind. Public transport is very intuitive, and you can easily navigate your way around. If you're someone who's interested in historical architecture, shrines and natural landscapes, Japan is perfect for you - even better if you're a foodie.

Kumamoto, in particular felt like home to me, and I love how accessible everything is whether you want to go shopping, eat out, movies, arcade, anything. Personally, as someone who enjoys nature and scenic escapes, visiting Mount Aso or taking short trips to the outskirts of the city quickly became my favorite pastime. I appreciated the calm, slow-paced lifestyle in Kumamoto, which made it an ideal place for a peaceful and enriching summer, both personally and academically.

Photo1: Visited Mount Aso volcano

Message to prospective students

I highly recommend all students to apply for IRCMS internship whether you're a bachelor's student, master's or even a PhD looking for prospective post-doctoral positions. IRCMS is an incredible institute equipped with top-notch facilities and capable professors. From administrative staff to professors and students, everyone contributes to a warm, collaborative atmosphere and is willing to help with anything you may need. You can easily approach any of the PIs and schedule meetings with them to further discuss your research or simply have a better understanding of their work and personal experiences. The institute is also remarkably diverse, fostering an inclusive culture where people from different backgrounds can easily connect, with English as a common medium of communication. Lastly, IRCMS is very intern friendly, and I had the privilege of working with people who genuinely looked out for me, ensuring I gained as much learning, exposure, and enjoyment as possible during my stay. I am sure you will love it here as much as I did.

Photo3: Farewell dinner with lab members