Over three consecutive nights on RTÉ One, Future Island will examine scientific innovations from all around the world, as well as profiling the work of Irish scientists Hamilton and Tyndall, who have left profound legacies.
Presenter Anna Daly will be joined on the series by a panel of experts, among them Dr. Shane Bergin, physicist and Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD's School of Education, and Dr Jessamyn Fairfield, an American physicist who researches biocompatible nanomaterials and neuromorphic devices at the University of Galway, and who is also a stand-up comedian.
On Thursday's episode, viewers were introduced to an Irish woman who had been diagnosed with CLL. Watch the clip back above.
Annmarie Byrne was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia two years ago. CLL has traditionally been treated by chemotherapy, but not always effectively. Historically, one in ten people who developed the disease would die within five years.
Professor Patrick Thornton is currently running clinical trials in Beaumont Hospital, and Annmarie is one of the 83 Irish patients on the trial.
Following a bone marrow biopsy, Annmarie was ready for treatment and began taking the trial drug in tablet form at home once a day. Aside from some nausea and headaches, Annmarie reported few side effects and said that within two weeks of taking the targeted drug, her lymph nodes had visibly gone down.
At the time of filming, Annmarie had finished the trial six weeks previously and said that there was no CLL in her blood, meaning that she is in remission.
Tune into Future Island tonight on RTÉ One at 7pm.
