Today, we visited the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB). One of the most interesting research areas was in Dr. Zuzana Keckesova’s lab, which focuses on identifying and characterizing tumor suppressor pathways. She had the idea to study genes in organs that rarely develop cancer, such as the heart. After conducting research, she selected one gene for further study and found that it functioned as a tumor suppressor in mice. She discussed how this promising development could potentially lead to cancer treatments in humans within the next year or so.
In the afternoon, I visited a new bakery and tried a traditional Czech dessert called indián, which was filled with a whipped egg white mousse—it tasted amazing! I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and gave it a try.
At the end of the day, we went on a river cruise, and it was a wonderful experience. We sang “Happy Birthday” to Chris and enjoyed the stunning views of castles and architecture along the river. At one point, we passed under Charles Bridge, and it was really cool to see it from below. I especially appreciated the arches and the historic stonework.
Swanson School of Engineering 