New Perspectives: March 2023
TKS x Switch Health Challenge, Researching @ Science World, Photography/Videography, Using an Electron Microscope, Internalizing new mindsets
Hey everyone!
If you’re new here, my name is In-Woo, and I’m a 17-year-old bio-researcher, pharmacy assistant, and TKS Innovator based in Vancouver, BC. I’m incredibly passionate about extending the human health span by at least another 10 years, and improving the quality of life for people around the world.
Currently, I am focused on tackling one of the most pressing issues of our time: antibiotic resistance. With the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections, it is critical that we find new interventions to tackle this global threat. That is why I am committed to making a difference in this area and being part of the solution.
The month of March gave me the opportunity to take a breather and recharge for what’s to come in April. It was a month filled with memorable moments, both big and small. From spending quality time with loved ones to achieving personal milestones, there was much to be grateful for. With several projects completed and new ones initiated, I am incredibly excited for what’s to come.
Researching @ Science World 🧪
For those of you who have been following my newsletter for awhile now, you may recall my previous mention of a research project I’ve been working on for around 7 months now.
I’m excited to announce that I may have discovered a synergistic interaction between the antibiotics tetracycline and ampicillin when put against Escherichia coli! I’ve recently drafted up a research paper to communicate my experiment design procedures and the results yielded. Here is a hint of what it might look like:
Near the end of April, I will be presenting my findings at the FSL program Spring Showcase at Science World! Once that’s done, I plan to take some time to reflect on my experience and share a short write-up of my journey with this research project. This has been an intensive journey filled with both highs and lows. I've encountered numerous obstacles along the way, including unexpected setbacks and challenges that have tested my patience and perseverance. However, despite these challenges, I am extremely proud of the progress I have made and the knowledge I have gained through this research project. It has been an incredible learning opportunity, and I am grateful for the skills and insights that I have gained.
TKS x Switch Health Challenge 🎯
At The Knowledge Society (TKS), students in the Innovate program were presented with three multi-billion dollar companies, each with their own unique challenge: Amazon Alexa, Mastercard, Switch Health.
Our team (shoutout to Preston Davis, Tina Mai, and Opemipo Ọdúntan!) had decided to tackle the Switch Health challenge, with the problem statement:
Pitch a new product that uses biomarkers at home to diagnose and help manage patient conditions with the goal of dramatically reducing healthcare costs.
During our ideation process, we asked ourselves, “What poses a threat to us right now and will progressively get worse towards the future?” The answer to that question lies in bacterial infections + antibiotic resistance. To give you an idea of the magnitude of this problem, by the year 2050, antibiotic resistance is projected to cause 10 million deaths annually and cost the Canadian economy alone anywhere from $13-$21 billion a year. Furthermore, what makes this worse is that Canada’s current healthcare system is struggling to respond to these threats. Doctors profoundly prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics based off of symptoms and assumptions, which is one of the driving factors that lead to the inappropriate use of antibiotics, thereby contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance.
Thus, we see a huge opportunity for Switch Health. And that is to create an efficient ecosystem of bacterial infection test kits, seamless laboratory processing, and quality-driven aftercare. If we can provide the option for patients to receive scientifically-validated diagnoses and prescriptions at the comfort of their homes, there’s no doubt that we can take the pressure off of traditional hospitals and clinics so that more people can receive the quality care they deserve. Additionally, the use systemic biomarkers provides doctors to make informed treatment decisions based off of the patient’s own data.
Click here for the full slide deck
Photography/Videography 📸
This month I took full advantage of Spring Break to pursue a new hobby of mine. A few months back, I picked up the Sony ZV-E10 mirrorless camera, but never had the chance to create anything cool (at least in my mind) up until now. Over the break I’ve experimented with many different picture profiles, learned how to shoot in SLOG3 (despite this being an 8-bit camera), and picked up on some colour grading skills! And the cool thing about this is that I’ve never taken a single photography or a film course ever in my life. I utilized YouTube and Google to learn and train these skills, which really goes to show how determination and will can get you pretty far.
Here are some shots + a video I took with the Sigma 35mm f.14 contemporary lens:
In regards to the short film, there are things I’ve done well and things I can improve on. I’ve noticed a lot of rolling shutter (image distortion from motion) in the footage and some inconsistencies in exposure that I can improve on for next time! But as for now, I’m incredibly excited to make more of these short films soon.
Additional Highlights 💡
Near the end of March, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to attend a dinner with Navid Nathoo (Co-Founder of TKS), Pranav Menon (TKS Director), Ziyana Amershi (TKS Innovator), Matt Stokes (TKS Alumni), and educators in the lower mainland area of British Columbia. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of TKS, and help create a better understanding of what the program entails. For myself, the event also served as practice for my networking and communication skills which I aim to improve.
The very next day, I got to use an electron microscope in-person with professor Elaine Humphrey from the University of Victoria! I learned how to load samples into the machine and was able to look extremely closely into the membranes of diatoms and moss! At her lab, there is an even more impressive electron microscope that can identify nanoparticles below 10nm (DNA is roughly 2.5nm!). Pretty cool IMO!
Mindsets of the Month 🧠
Authenticity — This isn’t the first time I’ve brought up this mindset in this newsletter, but authenticity really struck me this month. I’d often find myself expressing a persona that isn’t true to myself It’s important to realize that everybody is different. No surprise there. What makes some people uncomfortable may not make you uncomfortable, and that’s okay. Be true to yourself and identify realistic action items that’ll push you to become the best version of yourself.
Kaizen — A philosophy that emphasizes the importance of making small incremental changes on a regular basis to create a habit of continuous improvement. Over time, consistency compounds and develops to have a big impact on yourself.
Upcoming 🚀
Full Review Paper on Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms + Quorum Sensing
Presenting Combination Antibiotic Research Project @ FSL Spring Showcase Science World
Publishing Combination Antibiotic Research Project Paper
TKS Moonshot Project