Congratulations to Dr Mathieu Bourdenx (UK DRI at UCL), Dr Sophie Morse (UK DRI at Imperial) and Dr Wioleta Zelek (UK DRI at Cardiff) who have today been awarded Future Leader Fellowships by UK Research & Innovation.
The Future Leaders Fellowship scheme provides long-term support to early career researchers to enable them to tackle ambitious programmes or multidisciplinary questions, and new or emerging research and innovation areas and partnerships.
The three UK DRI researchers join a cohort of 77 talented future leaders, awarded a total of £120 million, to lead vital research, collaborate with innovators and develop their careers as the research and innovation leaders of the future.
The three Fellows: Mathieu Bourdenx, Sophie Morse, and Wioleta Zelek (L-R).
Mathieu Bourdenx
Dr Bourdenx’s project 'Understanding neuronal vulnerability to ageing and neurodegeneration’ aims to better understand the diversity of brain ageing to identify resilience factors and design new therapies to promote healthy brain ageing and combat dementia, by linking cell biology and systems neuroscience.
On receiving the fellowship, he said:
“I am deeply honoured to have been awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. This funding will enable my group to tackle a fundamental question about dementia: what happens during brain ageing that makes it possible for dementia to develop?”
Sophie Morse
Dr Morse’s project titled ‘Therapeutic ultrasound against cognitive decline’, will pioneer a non-invasive approach to modulate the brain’s immune cells using therapeutic ultrasound, with the aim to promote healthy brain ageing by preserving cognitive function.
She commented:
“An amazing opportunity to develop a non-invasive, portable, and safe technology to delay cognitive decline and restore brain function. I am incredibly excited to be advancing new strategies for dementia treatment with this fellowship.”
Wioleta Zelek
Dr Zelek’s project ‘Complement in Alzheimer’s disease’ will focus on how our immune system’s inflammation response may contribute to Alzheimer’s.
Commenting on the news, she said:
“Dementia is a global health challenge that demands urgent action. I’m incredibly grateful that my research has been prioritised for funding, and I aim to generate new knowledge and therapies to prevent brain inflammation, bringing us closer to new treatments and offering real hope to people and families affected by dementia.”
UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, said:
“UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships offer long-term support to outstanding researchers, helping them turn bold ideas into innovations that improve lives and livelihoods in the UK and beyond.
These fellowships continue to drive excellence and accelerate the journey from discovery to public benefit. I wish them every success.”
Source: UK Research & Innovation