Dr Babina among Academy of Medical Sciences ‘Emerging Scientific Leaders’
Published: 8 April 2025
The School of Infection & Immunity's Dr Arianne Babina has been awarded £125,000 Springboard funding from the Academy of Medical Sciences as part of its largest-ever funding initiative for early-career researchers.
The School of Infection & Immunity's Dr Arianne Babina has been awarded £125,000 Springboard funding from the Academy of Medical Sciences.
As part of the Academy's mission to help create an open and progressive research sector to improve the health of people everywhere, it has launched its largest-ever funding initiative for early-career researchers.
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.
Dr Babina will utilise the support to further her research seeking 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.
The 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 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.”
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.
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.”
Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk
First published: 8 April 2025