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The University �鶹��ѡ’s College of Medicine and Health has announced the recipients of its pump-priming Springboard Fellowships for 2025. Open to both internal and external candidates, the scheme received 40 applications and from these Dr George Ronson and Dr Juma el-Awaisi have been awarded the fellowship. 

The Springboard Fellowship is a competitive and open scheme supporting early career researchers in developing their independent research programmes, facilitating them preparing proposals for prestigious awards such as the NIHR Advanced Fellowships, MRC/Wellcome Career Development Fellowships, the ERC Starter grants or UKRI Future Leaders Scheme.  

Dr George Ronson said, “I’m a postdoctoral research fellow here at the University �鶹��ѡ investigating DNA repair mechanisms and their relevance to cancer. Recently, I have particularly focused on the role of the understudied small protein modifier UFM1 in altering protein function and regulating DNA repair processes.

I am delighted to have been awarded a Springboard Fellowship, and I look forward to the opportunities it will provide to advance my research interests, build new collaborations, and develop my career within the vibrant research community here at the College of Medicine and Health.”

Dr Juma el-Awaisi said “I am a postdoctoral research fellow in the field of cardiovascular sciences, with a particular interest in understanding the mechanisms driving heart damage. My research focuses on identifying novel thrombo-inflammatory pathways that can be targeted therapeutically to reduce cardiac injury and improve patient outcomes. Recently, I have developed a keen interest in respiratory diseases and their impact on the heart, particularly in relation to chronic lung diseases such as COPD.

I am thrilled to begin my Springboard Fellowship, which I will use to explore innovative approaches to understanding heart damage caused by COPD. The fellowship will enable me to establish interdisciplinary collaborations and develop tools that will form the foundation for future applications to competitive fellowships, such as the UKRI Future Leaders and ERC Starter grants.”

Both Dr Ronson and Dr el-Awaisi will begin their Springboard Fellowships in May.