Travel story: Nikki Reyne

Nikki Reyne from the Robinson Research Institute travelled to the University of North Carolina to visit the Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Centre to Philadelphia to present a poster at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference.

This is what Nikki had to say about their experience:

What was a highlight of the travel?

Attending NACFC was a highlight of my travel. It was great to physically attend a conference, especially one that is so large and very much focused around our groups (Cystic Fibrosis) work. I really enjoyed all the talks or presentations I went to, particularly the plenaries.

Please provide details on any researchers or collaborators of significance that you met at the conference and why they are important to your work?

At UNC I meet a whole range of researchers who were significant to my work. In particular Dr. Alessandra Livraghi-Butrico who is currently doing similar work in establishing a bacteria lung infection model to mimic CF lung disease. She was happy to look further at my histology images and give her input. I hope in future to be able to share methods and bacterial strains for our infection model development.

How will the experience support you and your research going forward?

Going forward I have made many connections in the CF research world who were all very keen to provide any help I need along the way. I have many new ideas in which direction I want my projects in and now have those connections to assist in this.

What was the most exciting thing you learned/experienced as part of your travel?

The most exciting thing about this trip was attending NACFC and hearing about all the great research that is happening in the field. It was a really positive environment and everyone I engaged with was so welcoming and full of excitement for the future outcomes of this disease. Finding out that clinical trials for gene therapy using a lentivirus in CF are so close is very exciting for this field and those with CF.

What was the most interesting or unexpected moment of your travel?

For this trip I joined the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation team in the New York Marathon, there were 70 people on this team and we all had to fund raise with all funds going to CF research. We unexpectedly raised over $300,000 (US), which I really think is amazing and really topped off this amazing trip of all things CF. This team was full of carers of those with CF, family members and those with CF, it really was an experience that I will cherish.