7th December 2025
The ScienceonScreen team were delighted to host a screening of ‘Imperfect Days’, produced and directed by filmmakers Laura Qualter and David Qualter of Prospect Films at the Pálás Galway Cinema on Sunday December 7th.
CÚRAM Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices at University of Galway and Ardán partnered with the Diabetes Collaborative Clinical Trial Network to produce this year’s documentary to tell the story of how clinical trials are used to advance innovations in healthcare.
The resulting film, funded through the Health Research Board (HRB), is a brilliantly woven emotional insight into the lives of its participants, both the researchers, and the individuals who share their lived experience of diabetes, heart disease and participation in clinical trials. It included a beautiful original soundtrack by Elma Morris.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion involving Karen and Faye Burke, Wendy Landers, Prof Fidelma Dunne, Dr Christine Newman Prof Matt Griffin and filmmaker David Qualter. The panel was moderated by Claire Riordan and discussed the filmmaking process and the importance of storytelling in explaining how research impacts our lives, as well how to participate in clinical trials and more broadly with research and researchers.
A huge thank to you all of our contributors and audience members who took part to make it an interesting and engaging conversation, and to the Pálás, Galway City Council and to all of the volunteers who helped make it a memorable event
About the Diabetes Collaborative Clinical Trial Network
The Diabetes Collaborative Clinical Trial Network (DC-CTN), funded by the Health Research Board, is an all-island collaborative network uniting leading researchers, clinicians and patient advocates from across Ireland to accelerate clinical trials and improve outcomes for people living with diabetes. Through active trial portfolios, robust public and patient involvement (PPI), the DC-CTN ensures that research is conducted with – not just for – patients, targeting real-world priorities and advancing treatment and care in diabetes, chronic conditions and other related conditions.
About Science on Screen:
Science on Screen scheme was founded by CÚRAM Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices and Ardán to explore the stories behind science and to facilitate, promote and increase the inclusion of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) content in Irish film and TV production. Over the last ten years the films and animations produced through Science on Screen have been screened in 30 different countries and reached almost 2 million people through broadcasts, film festivals, through community, academic and clinical screenings and via online platforms and public exhibits.
Past recipients of the Science on Screen Documentary Commission have included Mia Mullarkey, Alice McDowell, James Ryan, Paul Webster, Anna and Hugh Rodgers, Zlata Filipovic, Ronan Cassidy, Luke Brabazon, Karen Coleman, Leeona Duff, Ciaran O Connor, Maria O’ Neill and Tiernan Williams.
CÚRAM’s public engagement programme aims to provide opportunities for collaboration with patient or public audiences interested in or affected by its research and a key aspect of the Science on Screen Programme – that is co-managed with Ardán (previously Galway Film Centre) – is the collaboration between filmmakers, researchers and those with lived conditions of chronic illness.
Ardán is a non-profit talent development organisation that supports creatives in the audio-visual industry, in film, TV, games, and animation, through funding, training, and events, and by providing opportunities for entry, emerging, and established individuals working in the screen sector.
Find out more about the Diabetes Collaborative Clinical Trial Network at https://diabetestrialsctn.ie/
Find out more about Ardán at www.ardan.ie
ENDS
