Oseiga Odafen | Master of Science in Clinical Research

When Oseiga Odafen, MBBS, began practicing as a general practitioner in Nigeria, she quickly found herself drawn to the unanswered questions at the heart of patient care, especially in pediatrics. “I wanted to know the scientifically proven approach,” she says. “I had so many questions, and I realized research was how I could answer them.”

A decorated scholar who holds both a bachelor’s in human anatomy and an MBBS from Bowen University, Odafen graduated as the overall best student and received the Vice Chancellor’s Prize and the Nigerian Medical Association Academic Award of Excellence. She arrived at Harvard Medical School ready for formal training that would equip her to design, conduct, and translate clinical research with precision.

Today, she is part of the inaugural cohort of the Master of Science in Clinical Research program. The experience, she says, has exceeded every expectation. She began the program in July with online coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology, and leadership, a foundation that made it possible to thrive in the fall semester’s more advanced and intensive curriculum.

“We take courses on clinical trials, developing new therapies, drug regulation, FDA approval, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and critical appraisal of the medical literature,” she explains. “It’s pretty intensive, but because of our preparation, it’s easier to understand and apply.”

Odafen is already looking ahead to her capstone, a systematic review and meta-analysis examining a biomarker for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns, a condition that can significantly affect neurodevelopmental outcomes. “My hope is that this work will help direct precision medicine in pediatrics,” she says.

Working with advisors Gearoid McMahon, MB, BCH, FASN, and Rachel Kelly, PhD, MPH, has been deeply meaningful for Odafen. “They’re very accommodating. I ask a lot of questions, and they always make time for me. It’s inspiring to learn from people who are so accomplished and still so humble.”

One of her biggest revelations has been how quickly she has developed technical skills she once found intimidating. “I wasn’t the biggest fan of biostatistics and numbers,” she admits. “Now I’m so good at it. I’m analyzing my own data. If someone told me I would be this confident in coding, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

For Odafen, these computational skills—central to the program’s training in data management, statistical programming, and reproducible research—have opened doors she never anticipated. Equally surprising has been the expertise of her instructors. “They casually mention developing a drug, and you realize—wait, I’ve prescribed this drug. It’s inspiring.”

As she looks toward graduation, Odafen hopes to pursue a research fellowship to gain hands-on experience in clinical trial design. “I really want to join a research team and contribute to developing clinical trial methodologies,” she says. “This program is giving me the tools to make that possible.” Through its focus on trial design, protocol development, regulatory science, and evidence synthesis, the Master of Science in Clinical Research curriculum has helped her see a clear path forward.

For prospective students, she offers simple but important advice: “Come with an open mind and be ready to learn at a fast pace. Don’t box yourself in with expectations. There is so much more to learn than you can imagine.”

Despite global challenges in research funding, Odafen remains steadfast in her conviction that clinical research changes lives. “Research is answering questions that improve health for people in and out of the United States,” she says. “It’s something we should continue—and something I want to continue personally. I’m open to collaborations with people across different research groups.”

Written by Bailey Merlin