I'm standing in front of my meticulously crafted poster, surrounded by brilliant minds from around the globe, and with tears in my eyes all I can think is, "I wish Pappa (my father) was alive to see this moment; I knew he would be proud". After all, I was the first girl from my family to travel internationally alone for a professional meeting.
I prepared my first scientific project abstract on 'Clinical and Biochemical Spectrum of Propionic Acidemia' and applied for the Roche International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) grant to attend the XXVI IFCC WorldLab in Dubai from May 26 to 30, 2024. I am thrilled to have received the scholarship as the only scholarship recipient from Pakistan. The IFCC Young Scientists Forum was a transformative experience for me, offering young scientists like me a platform to network, learn from experts, and explore collaborations. Looking back, presenting at IFCC was a game changer. It was like presenting your science project to a room full of the brightest minds from around the world. I received excellent feedback, made friends from various countries, and returned with many fresh ideas! Together, we can shine a light on rare diseases in Pakistan and make a difference.
