NTU researchers secure university’s first-ever fellowships from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Nottingham Trent University has been selected as the host institution for two prestigious BBSRC Fellowships, awarded to Dr Martina Gabrielli and Dr Yuri Kawaguchi. This marks the first time NTU has received these fellowships, reinforcing its position as a centre for pioneering scientific research.
By Julia Head | Published on 17 April 2025
Categories: Press office; Research; School of Science and Technology; School of Social Sciences;
The BBSRC Fellowships scheme, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), supports early-career researchers in undertaking independent research while gaining leadership experience. The scheme helps transition researchers to fully independent research leaders, contributing to the UK’s pool of highly skilled scientific professionals.
Dr Gabrielli and Dr Kawaguchi are two of only 19 individuals selected from over 180 applications submitted nationwide in this highly competitive annual round.
Dr Gabrielli, an international applicant and neuroscientist who previously worked at the National Research Council of Italy’s Institute of Neuroscience in Milan, has been awarded a three-year fellowship to continue her research at NTU. As a Research Fellow in the Department of Biosciences, she will focus on understanding the mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction in the ageing brain.
Her project, Unveiling novel mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction in the ageing brain employing human models, will conduct independent research within NTU’s world-class laboratory facilities. The research will explore the biological processes behind cognitive decline in ageing, studying how astrocytes—a type of brain cell—use extracellular vesicles to communicate at synapses, the connections between nerve cells.
During her fellowship she will work within the School of Science and Technology using human brain tissue and lab-grown human stem cell models to deepen understanding of these processes.
Dr Kawaguchi, a Research Fellow in the Department of Psychology at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, will focus on understanding parenting behaviour in a species of monkey, rhesus macaques, through her project Enhancing welfare through cognitive assessment of parenting skills in captive managed animals.
Her research explores why some monkeys parent differently from others and whether simple, non-invasive cognitive tests can predict their parenting style. By identifying these patterns, her work could help improve how captive monkey groups are managed, ensuring better welfare for the animals. It also supports the principles of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction and Refinement—which aim to make animal research more ethical and efficient.
We are thrilled that the BBSRC has acknowledged the outstanding research at NTU by awarding these two early career fellowships. These fellowships will empower two remarkable researchers to advance their careers and contribute groundbreaking research in human and animal health.
Professor Richard Emes, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research & International
Dr Karen, Lewis, Executive Director, Capability and Innovation at the Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), said: “Groundbreaking, cutting-edge discoveries in biology happen because we empower talented researchers to ask bold questions and push the boundaries of knowledge. By supporting future bioscience leaders and investing in fundamental bioscience today, we are laying the foundation for tomorrow’s innovations. BBSRC’s latest Fellowships exemplify the power of bioscience research, to unlock new discoveries that have the potential to provide bio-based solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges and bring positive benefits to the lives and livelihoods of citizens around the world.”