The Academy is proud to support early career researchers, with schemes such as Springboard offering critical funding to scientists in their first independent post. Now in its tenth year, the Springboard scheme has helped to launch the careers of over 350 researchers.
We recently caught up with Dr Florian Merkle, a senior lecturer at the University of Cambridge who was part of the very first cohort of Springboard awardees. He shared how the Academy’s support catalysed over ten years of impactful research into the neurological factors that can contribute to obesity and metabolic disease, and new ways to treat these conditions.
Over one billion people worldwide suffer from obesity, leading to countless excess deaths and making it one of the greatest challenges to global health today. Florian’s research hopes to alleviate the burden of this common yet deadly condition through combining his training in neuroscience with stem cell biology. His research focuses on creating cellular models to map the processes that happen within the hypothalamus to regulate many of our basic behavioural and homeostatic processes, including hunger. With the correct treatments, Florian says, it is possible to "regulate the regulators” within the hypothalamus and improve the lives of those living with metabolic disease.
Having completed his studies in the USA, Florian was keen to begin his independent research career in the UK but found it very difficult to establish himself without an existing fellowship. The Springboard scheme provided a lifeline, offering £125,000 over two years to be used towards research costs and professional development. “The Springboard scheme is one of the very few opportunities available to those in my position, and it played a large role in enabling me to establish my research group in the UK.”
For Florian, the award provided more than just financial assistance: “Another important factor for me was the reputation of the Academy. Having the support of such a well-known and respected institution has an enormous effect – it gives me more weight as a scientist when speaking elsewhere and makes it much more likely for me to get future funding.” He was also able to benefit from the Academy’s mentoring scheme, receiving advice on grant applications and interviews which had “a profound effect”. He is still in touch with his mentor today.
In the years since receiving the award, Florian’s team has flourished. Their work is now split into two strands, including using human-induced stem cells to generate millions of appetite-regulatory hypothalamic neurons and studying how they respond to genetic changes and drugs in a quick, ethical and cost-effective way. This has allowed them to assess the activation of these neurons at scale and demonstrate that appetite-suppressing drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic) produce a robust response, suggesting that these cells are one of the likely targets of these drugs. They are now testing for new factors that stimulate appetite-regulatory cells in the hopes of discovering new or more effective ways to treat obesity and diabetes.
Another area of Florian’s work focuses on the link between metabolic disease and neurodegeneration. Research has shown that those who suffer from conditions such as obesity and diabetes are more likely to go on to develop dementia later in life. However, this suggests that drugs used to treat these conditions may also have a neuroprotective effect. Florian’s team hope to uncover the common mechanisms between metabolic and neurodegenerative disease and thus develop more effective treatments, including the repurposing of existing drugs to treat new conditions.
Making a meaningful difference to people’s health is hugely motivating for Florian and his team. “What I ultimately want to do is look back on my career and say I’ve had a real impact on people’s health. It’s great to produce papers and earn prestige but, at the end of the day, my main measure of success is having a positive impact on patients. That’s why we’re focusing on these diseases.”
Florian believes that, with the path to securing early career research funding so narrow, schemes like Springboard are more important now than ever. “I want to express my gratitude for the impact that the Academy’s support has had on me and my career. I see it as part of my duty to make sure that the work you are supporting makes the greatest difference going forward.”
Ten years on from receiving his award, Florian is inspired by those who support the Academy. “Thank you for your generosity, but also your vision. The research happening now in the UK will have a tremendous impact on public health, but perhaps not for a few decades down the road. It’s a very commendable and worthwhile thing to recognise the impact that you can have on the science of the future.”
Support the Academy
The Academy’s support of individuals like Florian is a vital part of our vision of good health for all supported by the best research and evidence. Enabling outstanding early career researchers to launch their career in the UK will allow them to perform innovative research and drive discoveries that will benefit patients everywhere. If Florian’s story has inspired you, we hope you will consider investing in the future of medical science by making a gift to the Academy today.