RVB Translational Medicine Book

“My involvement with Apollo Society makes me think critically
about the topics of my projects and what the contribution is to
the health of patients”
Gautam Kok and Remi Stevelink, Utrecht University students, and Board members of Apollo Society Utrecht
Apollo Society is an active international network of
likeminded students with an interest in Translational
Medicine. It was founded in 2014 by four medical students
from Utrecht. Gautam explains, “There was a lack of
courses on Translational Medicine in our curriculum so we
decided to teach ourselves. We gather once a month to
discuss topics related to Translational Medicine. These
discussions tend to be very lively. Everyone chooses a
topic, and we look at these topics from multiple
perspectives, including medical, ethical and political
points of view.” Following the example of Utrecht, the
University of Toronto started an Apollo group as well.
“We are currently writing an article in collaboration with
the Apollo group in Toronto on Translational Medicine
about the role of students in promoting Translational
Medicine globally. In the future, we want to expand Apollo
to different hubs: the universities of Miami and Arizona,
and University College London.” Why is Translational
Medicine important to them? Gautam reflects, “I was
doing lab research, trying different kinds of drugs on cell
lines. I was tucked away somewhere in a lab and did not
know what I was doing exactly and what I was doing it for.
That was the moment when I decided to become a doctor
as well, and combine research with patient care.” Remi
says, “Actually, a similar story applies to me. I found out
that many researchers, including myself, had never met a
patient. I did research on autism, but I had never met
someone with autism. And I think my professor had never
met any patient with autism either. I realised that this was
not the way to go forward and I decided to study
medicine as well as doing research to actually make a
difference on the health of patients.” Remi continues,
“My involvement in Apollo makes me think critically about
the reasons for choosing a particular project and the
contribution to health in general. Currently, I am doing
research on epilepsy. I use genetics to predict treatment
outcomes, eventually leading to personalised medicine.
The parents of my epilepsy patients fund my research.
Since the parents are involved in the questions I try to
answer, I actually produce something that is relevant to
them. That keeps me motivated.”
UMC Utrecht 77