UofG researchers among Academy of Medical Sciences ‘emerging scientific leaders’
Published: 7 April 2025
Two researchers from the University of Glasgow’s College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences have been awarded Springboard funding from the Academy of Medical Sciences as part of its largest-ever funding initiative for early-career researchers.
Two researchers from the University of Glasgow’s College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences have been awarded Springboard funding from the Academy of Medical Sciences as part of its largest-ever funding initiative for early-career researchers.
Dr Arianne Babina, from the School of Infection & Immunity, and Dr Jennifer Malcolm, from the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, have each been awarded £125,000 as part of investment to tackle urgent health challenges.
Dr Babina’s research will seek to understand how bacteria evolve in response to environmental changes, a critical issue given the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and the broader impact of microbial adaptation on public health. Her work will improve our ability to predict and manage bacterial adaptation, support the development of new antibiotics, and aid efforts to combat emerging pathogens.
Dr Malcolm’s research seeks to develop new antigen-specific immunotherapies to prevent rheumatoid arthritis. Her work focuses on the impact of the oral bacterial pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis on immune cells. Porphyromonas gingivalis is most commonly known to be involved in infection of the gums, leading to periodontitis. Through her work, Dr Malcolm aims to identify the immunopathogenic mechanisms and MHCII neoepitopes linking Porphyromonas gingivalis infection of dendritic cells with the activation of autoreactive CD4 T cells.
Dr Babina’s and Dr Malcolm’s awards are part of the largest-ever funding initiative for early-career researchers by the Academy of Medical Sciences, totalling £7.6 million. The awards are made to help tackle urgent health challenges, from Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and obesity, to addiction and climate change impacts on health.
This year the record investment will support 62 promising scientists across 41 UK institutions who are pioneering innovative approaches to improve human health and wellbeing. Each researcher receives £100,000-£125,000 through the Academy’s Springboard programme, alongside mentoring and career development support to help establish their independent research careers.
Dr Babina said: “I am honoured to be selected as a recipient of the Springboard Award for this round. This invaluable support will provide a strong foundation for launching the activities of my new research group in the School of Infection & Immunity. As a new researcher in the UK, I am also excited about the mentorship and networking opportunities the programme offers, and I look forward to seeing where my science takes me over the next two years and beyond.”
Dr Malcolm said: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive a Springboard Award to develop my independent research programme. My goal is to develop novel approaches to track, monitor and target arthritis-provoking CD4 T cells. This work will support the development of better diagnostics and antigen-specific tolerising immunotherapies to prevent rheumatoid arthritis, a joint destructive autoimmune disease.”
With support from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Wellcome and the British Heart Foundation, this year’s record-breaking funding round marks a decade of Springboard awards and brings the total investment in the next generation of research leaders to £43.8 million since the scheme launched in 2015.
The programme supports researchers across the full spectrum of biomedical sciences, from molecular biology to public health, with an impressive geographical spread across the UK. Projects funded this year will drive progress in critical health areas, including antimicrobial resistance, fertility, ageing and artificial intelligence (AI) applications for disease prediction and prevention.
Professor James Naismith FRS FRSE FMedSci, Vice-President (Non-Clinical) at the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “This record investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting the next generation of research leaders. By backing these talented early-career researchers, we’re not only addressing today’s urgent health challenges but also strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in medical research.
“The breadth and ambition of projects funded by the Academy’s Springboard programme is remarkable – from understanding teenage drinking behaviours to investigating why women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Each Springboard awardee brings fresh perspectives and innovative approaches that will ultimately translate to improved health outcomes for patients and the public.
“The Academy is proud to provide the financial resources and career development support needed to help these outstanding scientists establish their independent research careers.”
The Springboard programme exemplifies the Academy’s work to support greater security and career development opportunities for health researchers, as highlighted in its Future-proofing UK Health Research report. By providing substantial funding and access to mentoring over two years, the programme has been helping emerging research leaders establish their independent research careers and contributing to a sustainable pipeline of research talent in the UK for the past decade.
Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk
First published: 7 April 2025