Second semester of junior year is looking to be a busy semester, but it is definitely one of the semesters that I am most excited about at USC!
Class-wise, I am really enjoying BME 416 – Development and Regulation of Medical Products. This is a very unique class that focuses on everything that it takes to get a medical innovation to the public market. So far, we have been learning about the FDA, Intellectual Property, patents, and safety and efficacy testing. The whole class culminates in a team project where we have to come up with our own medical invention and determine the feasibility of it becoming marketable. I had no idea how many steps there were to the regulation of medical devices, and I think that the knowledge I gain from this class is going to prove invaluable when I start working in industry post-graduation!
Outside of class, I am furthering my research into the fetal pacemaker. The lab just finished its third animal test, and there is a lot to do before the fourth! Right now, I am doing literature research on how the fetal heart and chest cavity develop from the third trimester through a week after birth. I am also partnering with another undergrad in the lab to attempt to find a better way to recharge the packaged pacemakers while they are still on the shelf.
Another thing going on outside of class until next weekend is dineLA. dineLA is an event where hundreds of restaurants around the area participate by providing a fixed menu at a fixed price where people can sample some of the restaurant’s best dishes. A lot of new and upcoming restaurants participate, so this is the perfect time to find those hidden gems before they get crazy popular! Last weekend, I went to Gyu-Kaku with my roommate. Gyu-Kaku is a Japanese Barbecue restaurant where you cook your own food at your table. It’s a ton of fun, and the food was delicious!! I’m hoping to go to another restaurant, maybe two, before dineLA is all over next weekend – I’ll tweet about any restaurant that I make it to!
