This workshop was organised by Professors Ming Liu and Shihong Zhang and their team from the West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. It took place the day before the Tianfu International Stroke Conference and attracted over 100 clinicians and nurses (all in the early stage of their research careers) who were interested in clinical stroke research. The WSO Faculty members were Professor Ming Liu, Professor Craig Anderson, Professor Valery Feigin and the other Faculty were Professor Zhengming Chen, Professor Hugh Markus, Professor Shihong Zhang, and Dr Deren Wang. The focus of the workshop was on epidemiological and clinical (bedside) research and the topics were: ‘How to get started in clinical research?’, ‘Understanding GBD methodology and estimates’, ‘Developing systems for collecting, managing and analysing big data’, ‘Genetics of stroke’, ‘Establishing large biobanks in diverse populations’, ‘Carotid and vertebral dissection and related disorders’, ‘Scientific writing - what does the journal expect?’, and ‘How to write a grant application and some practical tips’. The workshop involved very active discussion of each topic, with Faculty members being asked supplementary questions during the breaks. Feedback on the course was very positive.