Dr. Emma Kenyon, a lecturer in Neuroscience, has been included in a substantial £7.6 million initiative under the Springboard programme by the Academy. This programme is directed at supporting early-career researchers confronting urgent health issues.
A pressing concern involves certain life-saving antibiotics, which, although used to treat severe bacterial infections, can cause irreversible damage to the hair cells of the cochlea. This damage can lead to permanent hearing loss since these critical cells cannot regenerate.
Dr. Kenyon and her team will investigate how these drugs infiltrate and harm hair cells, aiming to develop solutions that protect these cells and preserve hearing. Dr. Kenyon shared, “Our project will explore how changing the expression of specific Rab GTPases, known to control transport in the cell (making sure things move to the right place at the right time), can improve hair cell survival after antibiotic treatment."
She further explained, “We will also examine whether compounds that are known to protect hair cells also alter Rab GTPase expression with the aim of preserving patients' hearing.”
This initiative is part of the most recent funding round from the Academy, which has been distributed to 62 notable scientists across 41 institutions in the United Kingdom. The funding has been provided with assistance from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Wellcome, and the British Heart Foundation. Since its inception in 2015, the Springboard awards signify a decade of support, accumulating a total of £43.8 million in investments.
Professor James Naismith, Vice-President (Non-Clinical) of the Academy of Medical Sciences, commented, “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."
Professor Naismith praised each award recipient, saying, “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.”
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance stressed the significance of this research, noting, "Research supported by the Springboard programme can help to address some of the most pressing health challenges, like antimicrobial resistance and cancer, by giving early-career researchers across the UK the opportunity to test their ideas."