Today was the beginning of our second week! We first met with Dr. Kopf, the director of research and development for the Contraceptive Technology Innovation Department. He explained his work in college, researching reproduction in sea urchins as well as phototropism in plants. It was fascinating! He then described how his work with sea urchins initiated his interest in reproduction, leading to his current job in contraception. With his contraceptive work, he explained the way in which hormonal contraception can release at different rates in different depths of the skin. Depo-Provera, a common injectable with hormones, lasts for three months. However, with the new micro-needle patch that FHI is helping to produce, injections can access a shallower layer which could make the drugs last for a longer time of six months with a shorter peak. Rather than a large surge of hormones right after insertion and then a quick decline, a new access point would allow for a slow and steady release. For lunch, we went to Basan, a local sushi restaurant where there was the BOGOHO special– it was delicious! In the afternoon, we talked to Dr. Torjesen who worked as a pediatrician and now leads many projects as she loves problem solving. Afterwards, we attended a meeting of about twenty people from FHI with someone from the National Institute of Health about funding. Before leaving, we joined went to a retirement party and ate some sweets on the way out.
At Basan!