This image beautifully captures the early stages of my academic journey as a Principal Investigator at the Wolfson Centre, possibly the world’s oldest Biomedical Engineering department. It features a venerable Canadian canoe, a generous gift from a senior colleague, symbolising both legacy and potential, much like my newly renovated lab. This canoe, over fifty years old, reflects the lab’s possibilities and the pioneering spirit of the Andersonian Institute, now known as Strathclyde University. Both my lab and the canoe are ready to start, yet they lack critical elements: the missing paddles signify the equipment I still need for my research; the absence of a team—my PhD students and postdocs—leaves both the canoe and my lab in a quiet state of anticipation; and without life vests or the essential consumables for our work, our readiness is incomplete. Most strikingly, the absence of water represents the thrilling challenge of exploring new scientific frontiers. Setting out on this journey, especially without canoeing experience, symbolises a leap into the unknown and the excitement of discovery.
