"Hello, my name is DECHEN FENG. My journey of interest in science and health started from a very unexpected place — a construction site.

While learning about the risks of exterior wall coatings, I realized how everyday materials can contain hidden dangers. For example, the chemicals inside paints may slowly harm workers’ lungs, skin, or internal organs, even if the effects are invisible at first. This experience opened my eyes: sometimes the most serious health problems are not immediately obvious, and people may not realize they are being affected until it is too late.

This understanding became my motivation to explore the world of rare diseases. Just like with toxic chemicals in coatings, rare diseases are often invisible in daily life — most people never notice them, but for the patients and families involved, they bring enormous challenges. Both situations share something in common: the problems are hard to detect, often overlooked, and require persistence and awareness to address.

I am fascinated by how science, medicine, and society can work together to uncover these hidden issues and bring real change. My goal is to learn, research, and contribute to solutions that can improve people’s lives — whether by raising awareness, supporting patients, or promoting safer environments."