Resilience in Research: Lessons From a Challenging Project

Early in my career, I embarked on what I believed was a groundbreaking project: exploring molecular and genetic biomarkers of Moyamoya disease and leveraging artificial intelligence to identify predictors of clinical outcome. The vision was ambitious—combining advanced techniques including omics with machine learning to improve prognostic accuracy in a such a rare and complex cerebrovascular disorder. Our team invested months in designing the study, building collaborations, and drafting a comprehensive grant proposal. I was confident this project was successfully funded allowing to improve personalised medicine in Moyamoya.

The outcome, however, was not what I expected. The funding application was rejected. The initial reaction was a mix of disappointment and self-doubt. When a project you deeply believe in is turned down, it feels like a personal failure. But after the first wave of frustration, I realised that resilience in research is not about avoiding setbacks—it’s about transforming them into stepping stones. I carefully reviewed the reviewers’ comments and understood that the main concern was the proposed team strenght and feasibility. In fact the proposal lacked preliminary data to support the integration of AI models with biomarker analysis.

Instead of abandoning the idea, we shifted strategy. We started creating an Italian network of centers involved in clinical and reaserch of Moyamoya disease to collect a dataset of clinical and biological data and evaluated molecular markers in a smaller cohort. This process not only strengthened the scientific foundation but also expanded our network of collaborators, including data scientists and bioinformaticians. Months later, we resubmitted a revised proposal—and this time, it was funded. Today, the project is generating insights on molecular biomarkers of Moyamoya disease and we are working on the prediction model development that may help predict outcomes and guide treatment decisions in Moyamoya disease.

What did I learn? First, rejection is not the end—it is feedback. Second, resilience is not passive endurance; it is active adaptation. In research, flexibility and persistence are as important as innovation. Finally, collaboration is key: complex challenges require multidisciplinary approaches and open minds.

As Chair of the ESO Education Committee, I often remind young researchers that science is rarely a straight path. It is a journey with detours, and those detours teach us how to navigate better. Embrace setbacks, learn from them, and keep moving forward—because resilience is the true engine of discovery.