Dr Rosie Walker of University of Exeter Honored with £125K Award to Advance Dementia Research

Dr Rosie Walker of University of Exeter Honored with £125K Award to Advance Dementia Research

(IN BRIEF) Dr Rosie Walker from the University of Exeter’s Psychology department has been honored as an emerging scientific leader under the Academy of Medical Sciences’ largest funding round for early-career researchers, part of a £7.6 million initiative tackling major health challenges. Her research, which investigates dementia risk factors and aims to develop preventive intervention strategies, will be supported by a £125,000 award from the Springboard programme, along with comprehensive mentoring and career development support. This initiative, supporting 62 scientists across 41 UK institutions and backed by major funding bodies, represents a significant investment in addressing urgent health issues and fostering future research leadership.

(PRESS RELEASE) EXETER, 8-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Exeter is proud to announce that Dr Rosie Walker, a researcher in the Psychology department, has been recognized as an emerging scientific leader through the Academy of Medical Sciences’ largest-ever funding round for early-career researchers. Part of a £7.6 million initiative aimed at addressing urgent health challenges—ranging from Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and obesity to addiction and the health impacts of climate change—Dr Walker’s research focuses on identifying dementia risk factors and developing intervention strategies to prevent or mitigate its onset.

In her new role as a lecturer, Dr Walker will receive £125,000 from the Academy’s Springboard programme. This award not only provides vital financial support but also includes mentoring and career development resources to help her establish an independent research group dedicated to exploring the molecular mechanisms of cognitive function and their link to dementia risk. “I am thrilled and very grateful to receive this award,” Dr Walker commented. “This funding is instrumental in building a research program that can contribute to preventing or delaying the onset of dementia.”

This record funding round, which supports 62 promising scientists across 41 UK institutions, has been made possible with the backing of the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Wellcome, and the British Heart Foundation, totaling an investment of £43.8 million in research leaders since the Springboard awards were launched in 2015.

Media Contact:

pressoffice@exeter.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Exeter