Intern Marlon conducted research into the disease that she suffers from herself: “I was very happy when I got results.”
During her internship, student of Biology and Medical Laboratory Research Marlon Warnaar conducted research into endometriosis. She attained a 9 for her research work and the research team has decided to further develop her research. “I suffer from endometriosis myself and because of this I was very highly motivated to make a difference. It made me want to go the extra mile to produce results for this research project .”
Hi, Marlon. You did your internship at the Maastricht University Medical Centre. How did that come about?
“I got in touch with the Endometriosis Foundation and asked if there were any research projects on endometriosis in the Netherlands because I suffer from endometriosis myself. Then I found an internship position with the Maastricht Endometrium Research Group of the University of Maastricht working in collaboration with the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC).”
Can you tell us some more about endometriosis?
"Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which the endometrium (the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus or womb) is present outside of the uterus. This tissue can spread throughout the entire abdominal cavity where it can implant itself and grow. The condition affects about 10% of all women. The most common symptom is abdominal pain and endometriosis can even lead to infertility.”
What aspect of endometriosis did you research?
“It is well-known that this disease is dependent on oestrogen and that there may be a possible failure in the metabolism of the hormones. Steroid metabolic enzymes are the enzymes responsible for the production and breakdown of the female reproductive hormones, progesterone and oestrogen. My research project investigated the enzymes involved in this metabolic process using colourings to examine the endometriosis tissue, the tissue where the disease is found. I looked at the relationship between the pain and the colours of these enzymes. An increase in one particular enzyme seemed to correspond to a lower pain score."
Are you going to continue this research when you have finished your internship?
“No, The group where I did my internship, the Maastricht Endometrium Research Group, is going to conduct further research based on these results with a larger group of patients. After that, it could be helpful to investigate whether administering a medicine that influences this enzyme can reduce pain symptoms."
And if that is the case? How could it impact the disease?
“If this turns out to be successful they could investigate the feasibility of using specific pain medication for women suffering from endometriosis. This could improve the patient’s quality of life and reduce the financial burden caused by women having to take sick leave.”
Endometriosis is relatively unknown in spite of the fact that one in ten women suffers from this disease. I would like to play a role in raising public awareness on this subject.
Fantastic! I hear that a gynaecologist has asked you questions about your research. Is that right?
“That’s true! A gynaecologist at the Maastricht University Medical Centre asked me to give a presentation on my research and its clinical application to a group of doctors and interns. Of course, it was fantastic that they asked me to do this!”
What did you hope to learn?
“I hoped to discover something new. I suffer from endometriosis myself and because of this I was very highly motivated to make a difference. It made me want to go the extra mile to produce results for this research project.”
What did you like best about your internship?
“It was very challenging but I enjoyed it a lot. I spent about three weeks analysing data before I found anything that could actually be useful. I was very happy when I got results.”
What are you going to do next?
“I would like to start working. I hope to work with another research team that is conducting research on endometriosis. The subject is gradually attracting more publicity and awareness and I hope that this will lead to more research being carried out. Endometriosis is relatively unknown in spite of the fact that one in ten women suffers from this disease. I would like to play a role in raising public awareness on this subject.”
Do you have any tips for students who are still trying to find an internship position?
“It is very difficult to find an internship, particularly now after the corona pandemic. In my field of study it was particularly difficult: many labs didn’t have places due to the pandemic or they did not have enough personnel to supervise interns. Just keep on sending e-mails and don’t give up!"