G Velmurugan is a scientist in the KMCH Research Foundation affiliated with Kovai Medical Center & Hospital, Coimbatore. He is one of the Young Investigators (YIs) selected for YIM 2020. In this invited article, he writes about the various unique aspects of doing science in a hospital instead of a research institute.

Charanya Ramachandran is a Scientist at the Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Stem Cell Biology Laboratory at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. In this invited article, she writes about her journey from the clinic to the laboratory and back, and some important lessons learned along the way.