- The Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard fund supports early career scientists pioneering innovative approaches to improve human health
- Dr Dan Ma received £125,000 to develop a novel 3D model to better understand the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and to develop treatments for it.
- Dr Charlotte Pennington received £123,000 to study the brain mechanisms behind teenage drinking behaviours
Aston University’s Dr Dan Ma and Dr Charlotte Pennington have both won a share of the Academy of Medical Sciences £7.6m Springboard programme, its largest-ever funding initiative for early career researchers tackling urgent health challenges.
The record investment will support 62 promising scientists across 41 UK institutions who are pioneering innovative approaches to improve human health and wellbeing, from Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and obesity to addiction and climate change impacts on health. Each researcher will receive £100,000-£125,000 through the Springboard programme, alongside mentoring and career development support to help establish their independent research careers.
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 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.
Dr Dan Ma, a lecturer at Aston Medical School, has received £125,000 to develop a novel 3D model to study Alzheimer’s disease. Her research focuses on understanding how certain brain cells called oligodendrocytes, and their precursor cells, help repair the protective coating membrane around nerve fibres in the body, known as myelin. This repair process is crucial for treating diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease, where myelin is damaged. By using the new model to study how the precursor cells contribute to myelin repair, Dr Ma aims to develop new treatments that can restore brain function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Ma said:
“I am thrilled to receive this award. This grant provides me a great opportunity to explore the complex mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and develop models that could lead to breakthroughs in treatment. I am immensely grateful to Aston Medical School and Aston University’s College of Health and Life Sciences for their great support and encouragement throughout my journey to this.”
Dr Charlotte Pennington, a senior lecturer in Aston University’s School of Psychology, has received £123,000 to study the brain mechanisms behind teenage drinking behaviours. With alcohol misuse costing the UK economy £27bn annually and affecting 44% of teenagers, her research uses advanced brain imaging to understand why adolescents who pay more attention to alcohol in their environment may develop drinking problems. Working with local schools and alcohol charities, her findings will help develop practical prevention tools.
Dr Pennington said:
“I’m really excited to have received this prestigious award that will enable me to conduct crucial research into the psychological processes that underpin adolescent alcohol consumption. Alcohol is the leading cause for ill health, disability and mortality within the United Kingdom. Determining the processes that drive consumption behaviours at any early age will lead to targeted prevention and intervention strategies to improve population health.”
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.
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.
- Notes to editors
About Aston University
For over 130 years, Aston University has been making our world a better place through education, research and innovation. Our history is intertwined with the remarkable city of Birmingham, once the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and now the thriving base for an innovation ecosystem of global significance, which Aston is co-creating.
Our vision is to be a leading university for science, technology and enterprise, measured by the positive transformational impact we achieve for our people, students, businesses and the communities we serve.
Aston focuses on high-quality, exploitable research that has an impact on society through medical breakthroughs, advancements in engineering, policy and practice in government, and the strategies and performance of business.
The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as continuing professional development solutions.
Thanks to its focus on delivering excellent outcomes for students, Aston University's reputation continues to grow. It was recognised as the Daily Mail University of the Year for Student Success 2025, is second in England for social mobility (2023 HEPI Social Mobility Index), and is top 20 for graduate salaries (2024 Longitudinal Education Outcomes).
Aston University is now defining its place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Helen Tunnicliffe, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7827 090240 or email: h.tunnicliffe@aston.ac.uk.
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