As part of FutureNeuro’s Clinical Training and Experience for Basic Scientists programme, researchers Dr Hamidah Ghani, Ifeolutembi Fashina, and Dr Mona Heiland recently joined clinical teams at Beaumont Hospital for a week-long placement. 

By shadowing epilepsy specialists across outpatient clinics, epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) rounds, and neurosurgery case reviews, our researchers observed how complex care decisions are made and how clinicians work together across disciplines to support patients. 

Now in its second year, the programme gives early-career scientists an opportunity to see how their research connects to real-life diagnosis and treatment. 

Connecting Research to Clinical Reality 

Dr Hamidah Ghani, who is investigating epilepsy gene discovery, took part in the placement to better understand how genetic research is applied in practice: 

“I wanted to gain field experience on how clinicians manage individuals with epilepsy — deepening my understanding of monogenic epilepsies, the complexities, and treatment strategies.” 

During the week, the researchers saw how genetic testing is increasingly shaping clinical outcomes, particularly for individuals with complex or treatment-resistant epilepsy. 

“It was encouraging to see genetic testing making a real difference for patients — sometimes leading to treatment changes within months that improve seizure control and overall outcomes,” Hamidah said. 

Understanding the Patient Perspective 

The placement also highlighted the broader challenges faced by people living with epilepsy — from stigma to restrictions on daily life — and how accurate diagnosis and timely treatment can help improve quality of life. 

Hamidah reflected: “It’s a valuable reminder of the human impact behind the science and why translational research matters.” 

Strengthening Translational Research 

Seeing how research directly informs care reinforced Hamidah’s focus on translational goals. 

“This experience strengthened my commitment to research that reaches the clinic. My next steps involve increasing the diagnostic yield in undiagnosed cases using long-read sequencing and optical genome mapping.” 

She believes this type of clinical exposure is essential for early-stage researchers:

“It’s a brilliant opportunity to connect with the people our research is ultimately for.” 

Encouraging Collaboration 

A key takeaway from the week was the importance of close collaboration between researchers and clinicians — particularly in areas like epilepsy genomics, where aligning discovery with clinical needs can speed up progress and benefit patients sooner. 

Building Clinically Aware Researchers 

FutureNeuro’s Hospital Placement Week is part of a broader effort to support the next generation of neuroscience researchers — ensuring their work remains focused on patient needs and can translate into meaningful advances in care.