Two Lancaster researchers have been awarded over £100,000 as part of the Academy of Medical Sciences’ highly competitive Springboard programme .

Dr Sana Hannan and Dr Katerina Gatsiou from the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences are among 62 exceptional scientists from 41 UK institutions to benefit from the Academy’s largest-ever funding initiative for early career researchers.

Each researcher will receive between £100,000 to £125,000 through the Academy’s Springboard programme, alongside mentoring and career development support to help establish their independent research careers.

Dr Hannan’s lab is focused on using advanced neurophysiological methods to understand brain network dynamics, in both health and disease states.

She said: “I’m really pleased to have received the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award. This support comes at a critical time in my early independent career and will be invaluable in helping me develop my research programme.

“This award will allow us to pursue an exciting project aimed at uncovering the complex neural mechanisms that underlie offline memory processing during sleep. We will use high-resolution recordings of brain activity to examine how sleep architecture supports memory consolidation in the human brain. Our goal is to deepen our understanding of the important role that sleep plays in brain function. Ultimately, this may inform treatment strategies for neurological disorders associated with sleep disturbances and memory problems.”

Dr Gatsiou’s lab focusses on RNA research.

She said: "By taking a holistic approach to studying intrinsic RNA traits, aided by cutting-edge biophysics, computational methods, and artificial intelligence, our research is unlocking new possibilities for treatments, including mRNA vaccines, that are safer, more efficient, and could radically transform how we fight diseases, respond to pandemics, and improve human health.

"Having recently joined the UK academic landscape as an international researcher, this award will greatly facilitate my integration into this vibrant academic community and allow me to interact with experts, learn from their knowledge and benefit from their mentorship. Seeing my laboratory's vision embraced by the Academy is a milestone, and the tailored support we receive during the award will be instrumental in further refining it. I would like to extend special thanks to my trainees, mentors, collaborators, the leadership team of my department, and my colleagues, including my departmental Springboard Champion, for their ongoing support."

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.”

UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “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.”

Michael Dunn, Director of Discovery Research at Wellcome, said: “The Academy’s Springboard programme is an excellent example of how we can best nurture early career researchers, with financial support and mentoring, to help deliver bold and exciting science across a hugely diverse set of research fields.”

Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We’re pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with the Academy of Medical Sciences and support more scientists to establish themselves as independent researchers.”

With generous 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 brings the total investment in the next generation of research leaders to £43.8 million since the scheme launched in 2015.

The application process for the next Springboard round has begun. Prospective candidates should contact their institution’s Springboard Champion for information on how to register their interest for the internal triage process. Each eligible institution will nominate up to four candidates by the end of April 2025, and selected individuals will then be invited to complete the Academy’s application form.