Siyin Liu

Blog written by Siyin Liu, Ophthalmology Registrar currently doing a PhD with a MRC fellowship at UCL IoO and Moorfields

I chose a clinical academic career to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and patient care in ophthalmology. My passion for genomic medicine and personalized healthcare, coupled with my clinical knowledge, drives my ambition to lead groundbreaking research. From a career perspective, a clinical academic career means a varied and flexible path that allows me greater autonomy over my work to my interests. My dual role means the working week is never 'just' lab work or ward shifts.

My training involved a comprehensive blend of clinical and research experiences in ophthalmology. I pursued an intercalated Master of Research degree, which provided valuable laboratory experience. Subsequently, I undertook the Academic Foundation Programme and NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow positions, where I continued to enhance my academic portfolio alongside my clinical training. The protected academic time and support offered by ACF allowed me to join my host laboratory, focusing on repeat expansion biology and inherited eye diseases. This experience led to me securing the MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship, enabling me to fully immerse myself in learning new skillsets in genetics, bioinformatics, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence, free from the constraints of clinical duties.

The most exhilarating aspect of my training is the opportunity to delve into cutting-edge research, integrating these new skills with research ideas derived from my clinical experience. Throughout this journey, I've embraced the chance to explore genomics deeply and anticipate its transformative impact on patient care.

Applying for a grant to fund research is one of the main obstacles in turning a 'great idea' into a 'great research program.' This was particularly challenging for junior trainees without much prior experience in grant applications. Fortunately, I have an excellent team of supervisors, mentors, and friends who generously supported my application. In addition to having a high impact but feasible research proposal with sound scientific evidence, possessing the soft skills to convince your funder that your project is a worthy investment is vital.

A clinical academic career is demanding and competitive, balancing the responsibilities of both clinical work and research. In addition to clinical commitments, we have to worry about many deadlines, ethics, grant applications, etc. While challenging, the outcomes of these efforts are incredibly rewarding. The best advice I've received, and what I would pass on to future clinical academics, is to “Never let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game.” My overarching career goal is to become a world-leading clinical academic in ophthalmology, bridging the gap between scientific discoveries and genomic-informed eye care.