iAM-ADHD
Improving the lives of young people with ADHD and multiple long-term conditions
iAM-ADHD
Improving the lives of young people with ADHD and multiple long-term conditions
Check out our podcast on Spotify which explains the work we’ve been doing and our Team Science approach!
This may be of interest to you if you want to learn more about how research is aiming to improve the lives of young people with ADHD, if you’re a GP or health professional wanting to expand your understanding of ADHD and its management, or if you’re a researcher wanting to know about the NIHR Team Science awards and the approach we’ve taken.
Sena Sert, 3rd Year Medical Student, University of Exeter
My name is Sena, and I am a third-year medical student at Exeter University. During the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to complete a 140-hour internship under the supervision of Dr. Tamsin Newlove-Delgado as part of the NIHR-funded IAmADHD project. This experience gave me the chance to deepen my understanding of ADHD in young people, explore related long-term conditions, and gain first-hand experience of what research in child and adolescent mental health involves.
One of my main tasks was carrying out literature searches on scientific databases to find up-to-date papers on ADHD in children and young adults. This helped me develop skills in using research databases and sharpened my ability to identify gaps in existing evidence.
I was also involved in participant recruitment for a Zoom workshop, where young people and families were invited to share their lived experiences of ADHD. This was one of the most rewarding parts of the internship. Setting up these workshops meant reaching out to the public, sending emails, and sharing short surveys. From these, we gained a much clearer picture of under-researched areas and the day-to-day challenges individuals face.
The internship was hybrid, so I split my time between remote work and office days. In the office, I had the chance to meet other staff working on children’s mental health projects and learn about a variety of ongoing studies. I also attended a Research Café, a collaborative event bringing together researchers from different institutions to share their work with the public. Seeing research communicated so openly and accessibly highlighted for me just how essential public engagement is to public health.
Regular check-ins with Dr. Tamsin and Rebecca provided a strong sense of support throughout the internship. Their guidance helped me feel less stressed and more confident about my contributions. The flexibility of the internship also meant it fitted perfectly around my summer schedule.
Another highlight was getting involved in Rebecca’s systematic review, which led to me being included as an author. This is an incredible opportunity for a medical student and one I am extremely grateful for.
Overall, this internship has been such a valuable experience. I learned practical research skills, from literature searching to participant recruitment, and I developed a deeper appreciation for the role of lived experience in shaping meaningful research. It also allowed me to connect with a network of inspiring researchers and professionals dedicated to improving child and adolescent mental health.
I am so glad I applied for the IAmADHD internship. Not only has it given me new skills and confidence, but it has also strengthened my passion for pursuing a career that integrates medicine, research, and public health.
