Dr Janin Lautenschläger, a scientist whose pioneering research into Parkinson's disease was initially funded by a local hospital charity, has been awarded a prestigious national fellowship. The major award includes £300,000 in flexible funding over five years to advance the vital medical project.
National Recognition for Early-Stage Research
Dr Lautenschläger is one of only eight biomedical researchers across the country to be recognised by The Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine this year. Her work investigates the earliest signs of the progressive brain condition at a microscopic level, aiming to speed up future diagnosis and treatment. With more than 173,000 people in the UK expected to be living with Parkinson's disease, which severely impacts movement, balance, and coordination, the research is critically important.
Expanding Research Operations
The funding boost will allow Dr Lautenschläger's team to expand their operations across laboratory sites in both London and Cambridge. Paul White, director of communications and impact at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), said: “Supporting early-stage research is vital; as in this case, it can lead to breakthroughs in our understanding and treatment of disease.” He added: “Thanks to our generous supporters, ACT is able to invest in projects like this which have genuine potential to change lives.”
From One-Person Lab to Growing Team
Dr Lautenschläger previously received two separate grants from ACT when her research lab was just starting out five years ago. This early financial backing allowed her to hire extra staff and expand her scientific testing. She said: “The funding also meant I was able to hire a post-doc, so I went from a one-person lab to having someone else working with me, which was huge at the time.” She continued: “We started small, so to have that support really helped us to grow as a lab and in our science – it really, really contributed to where we are now in our research. It’s so important to have funding like this to lift research up.”
Charity's Role in Pioneering Research
The official hospital charity funds cutting-edge equipment, specialist staff, and pioneering research beyond what the standard NHS budget can provide. Anyone who wishes to support the organisation can find donation details on their website.
