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Rising fifth-year CCLCM student Maria Gorenflo had little knowledge of Japan when she first learned of an opportunity to conduct research there.
“I had been interested in perhaps doing my research year outside of Cleveland Clinic,” Gorenflo says, “but I never imagined leaving the country.”
Gorenflo is the inaugural CCLCM research fellow at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Okinawa, Japan. The fellowship, which lasts a year, covers travel, living costs, health insurance fees and research expenses for one CCLCM medical student or Cleveland Clinic graduate medical education trainee. Cleveland Clinic Education is currently recruiting for a 2026-27 fellow.
From her first day in Okinawa, Gorenflo immersed herself in the culture of the island. She spent her free time learning Japanese and talking to locals. Outside of the lab, she hiked, snorkeled and relaxed on the island’s many beaches. Okinawa is also short flight away from major Japanese metropolises like Osaka and Tokyo.
“Walking around big Japanese cities, you see how different the culture is from the United States,” explains Gorenflo. “There are so many new things to try.”
Back in Okinawa, Gorenflo took part in cutting-edge research under Paola Laurino, PhD, an assistant professor at OIST, and Erika Fukuhara, a senior PhD student at the institute’s Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit. Gorenflo’s thesis project involved conducting kinetic studies on two enzymes to gather evidence for a novel protein regulation mechanism within the urea cycle. Such evidence, she notes, could change the way that physicians look at metabolic disorders and some cancers. Gorenflo expects her research to be published in the coming months.
OIST has a strong international presence. Over half of the institute’s faculty and students come from outside of Japan, with recruitment taking place across the globe. All classes and programs are conducted in English. By being part of such an international community, Gorenflo experienced how different cultures approach healthcare.
“Japan has its own unique approach to medicine,” she explains. “For example, antibiotics are prescribed much more readily for upper respiratory infections there than in the United States. Even the most seemingly simple clinical decisions can vary among societies.”
CCLCM students can now apply to follow in Gorenflo’s footsteps. Those interested should submit a letter of interest, letter of support from their program director, current CV and brief (maximum 500 words) research proposal to loweb@ccf.org by Nov. 30, 2025. Questions should be directed to Linda Graham, MD.
“This has been the best year of my life,” Gorenflo says. “I have learned so much and been exposed to so many perspectives I would never have experienced otherwise. If you’re a CCLCM student looking for an adventure, come to Okinawa.”
Image content: This image is available to view online.
View image online (https://assets.clevelandclinic.org/transform/89b36a42-bdec-4882-9a11-94742cff8c5b/OIST-collage)
Pictured left to right: Maria Gorenflo, Paola Laurino, PhD, and Erika Fukuhara
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