The fellowship will support Dr Parker’s research into whether the gut microbiome could hold the key to protecting your brain and eyesight as you age.

Her fellowship is part of a £9million investment by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to some of the UK’s brightest and most innovative scientists to fuel groundbreaking bioscience research.

As we age, changes in our bodies’ cells and how they function lead to worsening vision and memory. These changes are associated with our immune system which in turn is influenced by the community of microbes in our gut.

Astrocytes cells (in yellow) in the brain. Image by Dr Aimee Parker & QIB Advanced Microscopy Facility

Recent studies have linked declining brain health with changes in this gut microbiome, and how the microbes alter signalling of the immune system – known as the gut-immune-brain axis.

Growing evidence also supports a role for microbial involvement in age-associated eye diseases.

This has led to the idea that altering the composition of our gut microbes could prevent or reverse these effects.

Recently, Dr Parker showed how transferring the gut microbiome from young to aged mice can reverse some of the detrimental changes of ageing in the gut, immune system, brain and eye.

Understanding how the microbial transfer leads to this protection could open up possibilities to modify the ageing gut microbiome to protect people at risk from dementia and sight loss.

This 2024 BBSRC Fellowship will help Dr Parker define whether this protection comes from the whole microbial community, certain species of bacteria, or the compounds the microbes produce.

This could then lead to new therapies to combat dementia and vision loss and help reduce the increasing social and economic cost of these age-related conditions.

“I’m thrilled to be awarded a BBSRC Fellowship.  Our gut microbiota has a huge influence on our health throughout life, and this research will ultimately help us understand how we can use that influence to maintain healthier eye and brain function as we age” commented Dr Parker.

With £9 million in funding, BBSRC’s prestigious 2024 Fellowships scheme is supporting 19 future science leaders on pioneering projects that address some of society’s biggest challenges. These world-class researchers are advancing medicine, agriculture, and bio-inspired engineering.

Read more about the other 2024 BBSRC Fellowships

The Fellowship programme empowers outstanding early-career scientists, giving them the freedom to pursue bold ideas with the potential for lasting impact.

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.”

Fundamental, discovery research provides the foundation for the next generation of scientific breakthroughs. While the ultimate impact of these projects is still unfolding, history has shown that major advances often emerge from the unexpected – from CRISPR gene editing to RNA-based vaccines.

These pioneering projects showcase the power of bioscience to transform industries, from healthcare and agriculture to engineering and environmental sustainability. Thanks to the support of UKRI’s BBSRC Fellowships, these researchers will have the resources and freedom to turn their discoveries into real-world solutions, shaping the future of science and society.