Experiencing science at first hand: MHB medical students present 12th poster session

Brandenburg an der Havel, 13 March 2025

Medical students at the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB) traditionally conclude the scientific internship at the end of term with a poster session. The 12th event of this kind took place at the Brandenburg/Havel location of the MHB on 14 February, with awards for the best posters.

The scientific internship is part of the Brandenburg Medical Model Curriculum and scheduled for the 7^th semester. It introduces students to the methodology required for scientific projects, critical analysis and evaluation of specialist literature, and the compilation and presentation of research results. Internships are organized in consideration of students’ individual preferences for a specific discipline and/or a scientific facility. These periods of practical training may be completed in an in- or outpatient department or an academic institute or research facility. They require a clearly defined work assignment which can be dealt with within a period of eight weeks.    

Having completed the internship, students write a paper and prepare a poster for presentation to university members at the official poster session. In a setting comparable to a scientific congress, students present their posters to an expert audience and are available to answer questions. The internship is deemed to be passed with success as soon as the written paper has been submitted with the mentor’s approval and the poster has been presented. Mentors give structured feedback on both parts of the test performance.

The morning meeting with poster presentation to the MHB experts was followed by the actual poster session in the early afternoon. The DFW (department of science and research) started with an overview of research funding options at the MHB. Subsequently the FGW (Faculty of Health Sciences) described the opportunities which the MHB offers for doctoral studies. Students made use of the chance to ask questions and get answers. Prof. Dr. Stephan Gretschel, professor of general and visceral surgery, took charge of the event moderation. The posters were then set up in the lecture hall and ensured a lively exchange between students, researchers and instructors. The MHB sponsors association presented awards to the authors of the best posters, represented by Prof. Gretschel and Nadine Shalala, who chairs the association.

Here are the winners:

• Julie Runge „Hereditäre Alphatryptasämie bei Patienten mit chronisch spontaner Urtikaria“
• Hans Klose „Einfluss der Expression der long-non-coding-RNA NEAT1 auf die Sensitivität von MCF-7 und MCF-TAM Brustkrebszellen gegenüber Tamoxifen“
• Vivien Greiner „Guts N´Noses – Effekte der neuen Elexecaftor/ Tezacaftor/ Ivacaftor Therapie auf sinonasale und abdominelle Symptome bei Patient:innen mit zystischer Fibrose und deren Korrelation“
• Anna Koberstein „Conceptualization of an interactive database for personalized dietary recommendations in the context of preventing cardiovascular diseases by using longevity approach“
  
  All posters are currently exhibited in the upper hall of the university building at Nicolaiplatz, Brandenburg an der Havel. You also find them on the MHB website under Forschung im Studium.

The plan for the next poster award ceremony in the winter term 2025/2026 is to exhibit the posters on the MHB campus in Neuruppin. Our thanks go to all staff members at the departments of curricular and student affairs and of research and academic affairs, to reviewers and the MHB sponsors association; their support has been essential in establishing the poster session as a regular meeting and valuable opportunity for students to prepare for active participation in scientific events.