Medical Research Foundation awards Emerging Leaders Prize to researchers working on COVID-19 vaccines

24th November 2021
Image
Image of woman in lab

 

Four scientists have been recognised for their vital work on COVID-19 by the Medical Research Foundation.

Each year, the Foundation’s Emerging Leaders Prize celebrates the achievements of researchers working on a specific research theme, and this year’s prize was dedicated to exceptional scientists whose research has made a significant impact in the fight against the virus. The prize funding is intended to provide a springboard for researchers’ careers so that they can continue to tackle key health challenges long into the future.  

This year’s awards were supported by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, and saw a total of £400,000 awarded to outstanding researchers who adapted their work to focus on COVID-19 when the pandemic began. Each contributed to shaping national and international responses to the pandemic, and the work of all of them has contributed to our understanding of the vaccines and how they can be used to maximum effect in the UK and elsewhere.

The winners, who will each receive £100,000, were announced in a prizegiving ceremony on Tuesday 23 November and are as follows:

  • Dr Rosalind Eggo, Associate Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • Dr Katie Doores, Reader in Molecular Virology, King's College London
  • Dr Antonia Ho, Clinical Senior Lecturer, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research
  • Dr Koen Pouwels, Senior Researcher, Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford

 

Image
Image of tweet from Medical Research Foundation

 

Dr Rosalind Eggo said:

My drive is in doing research that has a strong public health impact and uses scientific techniques to provide much-needed insights into the major health threats faced by society today.

I’m thrilled to receive this funding and excited for the opportunities it is going to provide. I’m going to use this prize funding for a new study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the health of people with pre-existing illnesses, such as people who were subject to the shielding policy in the UK.

This work will increase our understanding of how the shielding strategy - and the pandemic more widely - impacted the physical health of people at very high risk of severe COVID-19 infection.

Dr Katie Doores said:

In collaboration with researchers around the country, my research has helped to evaluate and establish the use of lateral flow antibody testing, to help us understand severe COVID-19 disease, and monitor how people with pre-existing conditions like cancer and psoriasis respond to the vaccine.

Using this prize funding, I will set up two new research techniques in the lab to try and identify antibodies and vaccines that could give broad protection against multiple viruses. Not only is this important in COVID-19, but also in ensuring we are prepared for the next global pandemic – if and when it arises.

Dr Antonia Ho said:

I feel extremely honoured to be awarded the Emerging Leaders Prize. I will use the funding to generate new knowledge about COVID-19 in African settings, including understanding if prior exposure to other viruses changes the way the immune system responds to COVID-19.

Understanding what factors determine the disease spectrum of COVID-19 in Africa is crucial to the fundamental understanding of the virus, and will also guide public health measures, optimise vaccination strategies, and inform the management of the next coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Koen Pouwels said:

In April 2020, I co-designed the UK’s national COVID-19 Infection Survey, the largest COVID-19 household survey in the world. Throughout the entire pandemic, we have been sharing weekly reports with the Prime Minister’s Office and key government advisory groups, which has informed vital policies such as the ‘rule of 6’ and the second national lockdown.

My analyses have also allowed us to monitor local trends in COVID-19 infections and antibody levels, vaccination uptake, and transmissibility of new variants. I also investigated how sewage samples could be used to track COVID-19 infections.

The Emerging Leaders Prize funding will help me to optimise the design of new and existing surveillance programmes, to make a real difference in how we do surveillance, not just for the current pandemic, but also future pandemics.

Dr Angela Hind, Chief Executive of the Medical Research Foundation, said:

We are proud to be supporting the next generation of research leaders to build on the knowledge and understanding of COVID-19. Investing in the careers of these outstanding scientists is helping to ensure we are better protected against emerging health threats, as and when they come our way.

Due to the high quality of applicants and the extent of their impact during the pandemic, coupled with the financial support from Pfizer Limited, we are delighted to have been able to double the prize fund this year to allow for four joint 1st place prizes.

Dr Berkeley Phillips, Medical Director at Pfizer UK, said:

Pfizer UK is proud to support the scientific leaders of tomorrow through this award. The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the impact of high-quality research to critical public health decisions. We owe a debt of gratitude to our four winners who dedicated their skills and tenacity to make such an impact to so many. We look forward to seeing their continued impact in the coming years.