Early career researchers backed by flagship AMS funding scheme
Four University of 51福利社 early career researchers have been backed by the Academy of Medical sciences as part their flagship 拢6.7 million
Dr , Dr , Dr , and Dr join the 55 early career researchers at 38 institutions across the UK, backing new research that can transform our understanding of Parkinson鈥檚, Alzheimer鈥檚, infectious diseases and chronic pain, among other pressing health challenges.
The grants support curiosity-driven, discovery-stage research 鈥� the foundational science that underpins future treatments and interventions. The awards support researchers to take their first steps as independent group leaders, testing bold ideas with the potential to improve lives, reduce health inequalities and strengthen the UK鈥檚 long-term research base.
Now in its eleventh year, Springboard supports researchers at a critical point in their careers, when many are establishing laboratories for the first time and need the freedom to explore ambitious questions.
Having recently marked a decade of impact, the programme has now supported 471 early career researchers at 68 UK higher education institutions, expanding institutional and regional reach with researchers at the University of Lincoln and the University of Greenwich funded for the first time this year, and more than 拢50.5 million invested since it鈥檚 creation in 2015.
With support from the UK Government鈥檚 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Wellcome and the British Heart Foundation, this year鈥檚 awards span the full breadth of biomedical and health research. Together, these projects aim to help people to live healthier lives, reduce health inequalities and strengthen the UK鈥檚 ability to prevent and respond to future health emergencies.
Professor James Naismith FRS FRSE FMedSci, Vice President (Non-Clinical) at the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: 鈥淭he transition to research leadership is one of the most challenging stages in a research career, yet it is also when creativity is often at its strongest. Springboard invests in people at the moment when bold ideas begin to take shape, providing the freedom, confidence and backing researchers need to strike out on their own and ask big questions. The projects announced today show the impact this approach can have 鈥� demonstrating how early support can translate into meaningful benefits for patients, communities and the wider health system.鈥�
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance FMedSci said: "To tackle cruel diseases like Alzheimer鈥檚, Parkinson鈥檚 and chronic pain, and ultimately save lives, we must help researchers to take their ambitious discovery-stage work to the next level. This support is backing researchers at a stage where attracting commercial investment can be a challenge and builds on the Government鈥檚 record investment in research 鈥� unlocking more discoveries that benefit people across the UK and beyond."
Professor James Leiper, Director of Research at the British Heart Foundation, said: 鈥淭omorrow鈥檚 medical breakthroughs start with today鈥檚 innovative ideas. Programmes like Springboard give early career researchers the backing and belief to take risks, follow their curiosity and ask questions that can change lives. We鈥檙e proud to support this work which has the potential to unlock new insights into heart and circulatory diseases, and open doors to better prevention and treatments, strengthening the UK鈥檚 research talent for years to come.鈥�
Ben Murton, Head of Early Careers and Career Development Researchers at Wellcome, said: "Early career researchers need time and resource to establish their research identity, benefitting from larger and longer grants, which we鈥檙e committed to providing through our Discovery Research programme at Wellcome. Springboard provides an opportunity to launch into a research career and establish a research group, encouraging researchers to ask the big questions and pursue the bold ideas that lead to cutting-edge, curiosity-driven discoveries. The diversity of areas and approaches supported through Springboard is essential for a healthy pipeline of future research leaders.鈥�
The application process for the next Springboard round has now opened. Prospective candidates should contact their to register interest for the internal triage process. Each eligible institution may nominate up to four candidates by the end of April 2026, after which selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application to the Academy.