“Unravelling mysteries in the origins of neonatal brain injury in the low resource setting:”

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - C.S Lewis.

Like the countless doctors who followed the dream of their parents and got themselves indulged and thrilled in the field of medicine, I was one among them. Setting new goals and working harder to attain them is not something new; the race began soon after schooling, clearing competitive exam to secure a merit seat in MBBS followed by a post graduation in Pediatrics from the institute of my choice was a dream come true. However, the craving for more continued. I had set for myself another milestone to pursue the sub-speciality in neonatology from one of the busiest level III NICU in India.

Reading and listening to all famous neonatologists intrigued me of their passion and in-depth knowledge in their field of excellence and their craving for ongoing learning. This was somewhere sowing a seed of my new desire. But the common myth of "A career in Clinical research is something too ambitious to dream", and inadequate resources, lack of opportunity without reasonable remuneration in India made me hold my feelings and plunge into corporate clinical practice for the next two years.

Attending a well-baby clinic and seeing sick newborns in NICU was almost part of my daily chore when I received a message about an opening for clinical researcher from my friend. The programme was mentored by none other than Prof Sudhin Thayyil from Imperial College London. I was given an opportunity, and since then, there is no looking back. The team I work with are experts of their respective fields, eager to teach and learn, and with each passing day, I have something new to imbibe.

With a long journey ahead, I start my career in research focusing on one of the most critical topics in neonatology: erythropoietin and its role as a neuroprotectant after neonatal encephalopathy. My research will focus on serial gene expression in infants treated with erythropoietin after neonatal encephalopathy. Understanding the gene expression changes would probably give insights into understanding the timing of brain injury and changes imparted by erythropoietin. With the help of gene expression, it also possible to devise a biomarker, so the treatment of neonatal encephalopathy is individualised.

What I have gathered is that success is not a destination but an ongoing journey. And excellence can never be an accident. What I have yet to explore is what I work for.

Words of Robert Frost is fondly remembered:

"The woods are lovely dark and deep

But I have promises to keep

And miles to go before I sleep."