Why did I choose DIY Diagnostics? Easy. I wanted a chance to help revolutionize the way people view medical care. When first introduced to the stream, I was told they were aiming to create at-home tests (like pregnancy tests) for all sorts of conditions and diseases. This immediately piqued my interest. As a pre-pharmacy/biology major, I immediately saw a way that I could make my own impact in the science field. I was even more excited to find out that we would be able to come up with our own diagnostic ideas and conduct research on our own time. One of the first ideas I had for a diagnostic test was inspired by my mother, who currently lives with a heart arrhythmia. She has always wished that she could have an at-home device that would test her heartbeat and notify her if it was racing at the dangerous speed that would signify an attack. The medics use a similar device when they arrive in an ambulance, though an at-home option is not widely available, if available at all. Though the accuracy of such a machine would be questionable and the mechanics outside this streams’ reach, I do hope it can one day become a readily available diagnostic. I hope that my time in DIY Diagnostics will lead me to be involved in this research sometime in my future.
Through DIY Diagnostics, I have been involved in many interesting projects this last semester. These projects range from creating apps designed to test for a disease to the FRIome project, which is essentially trying to make connections between bacteria in your mouth and certain medical/personal characteristics. Working on these projects has taught me a great deal about coding and useful lab techniques. Being involved in this lab has also helped me in other labs that my major requires because I have already been introduced to proper lab etiquette and common skills. In addition, working independently has shown me how often I rely on other people’s guidance in my life. This stream has opened my eyes to true independent work and the importance of establishing relationships with those around me. Though the work is independent, there is an amazing team of mentors to help you when you truly need it. I am tremendously thankful to be involved in such a terrific stream.
Over this summer, I have had the privilege to continue my DIY Diagnostic experience through a mini fellowship. I was involved in trying to create an app that will identify a pill based on taking a picture of it. Over the summer I also worked in a pharmacy and got to experience hands on how this app could affect a Pharmacist’s everyday life. There were several times when I would be counting pills only to realize that there were two different kinds of pills in the same bottle. Though it was usually just a smaller size of the same medication, the Pharmacist would have to look it up and identify the two types of pills before it could be used to fill a prescription. With my app, however, it would only require a picture to be taken. However, my app is still a work in progress, though I am excited to see how it will end up.