UM’s Laboratory Work Experience Programme deepens Macao youth’s understanding of biomedical research

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the University of Macau (UM) continues to organise its Laboratory Work Experience Programme. This year, under the guidance of various research teams in FHS, five local young people from different higher education institutions and secondary schools participated in research projects in fields including precision oncology, bioimaging, and structural biology, gaining hands-on exposure to biomedical research.

Through mentorship from FHS professors and research team members, participants had the opportunity to operate advanced scientific instruments and take part in ongoing research projects in the faculty’s laboratories. These experiences helped nurture their interest in science and build a strong foundation for their future academic and career development.

Ip Wai Cheng, a secondary school student from Macau Anglican College, described her experience at FHS as stepping into the frontier of science. Under the supervision of FHS Associate Professor Dai Yunlu and doctoral student Feng Yuzhao, Ip learned to operate precision pipettes, analytical balances, and temperature-controlled storage systems, and completed basic experimental skills training. She highlighted the advanced equipment at FHS and said that the opportunity to witness the research process first-hand significantly enhanced her interest in science. 

Another participant, Lei Si Wan, a student from the Royal Veterinary College, worked under the guidance of FHS Professor Luo Qian and doctoral student Hu Yue on a project investigating the effects of lung cancer in rats. Lei practiced techniques such as cell culturing, intravenous injection, and orthotopic lung xenograft surgery. She shared that her mentors’ patient guidance and encouragement helped her learn new skills quickly. She described the experience as eye-opening and said that she was deeply inspired by the mentors’ precision and professionalism.

Ip Wai Cheng (right)

Lei Si Wan (left) and Luo Qian