The Academy of Medical Sciences funds IRR Group Leader proposal for research on targeting senescence (cell ageing) in cardio-renal disease. Dr Mylonas has beaten tough competition and has been selected as one of sixty-two promising scientists from across the UK who are pioneering innovative approaches to improve human health and wellbeing. Dr Mylonas’ will receive £125,000 over two years through the Academy’s ‘Springboard’ programme, alongside mentoring and career development support to help establish her independent research career. The scheme is supported by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Wellcome and the British Heart Foundation and will drive progress in critical health areas. I’m thrilled to have received this award which will enable me to study senescence as a link between kidney and heart disease. Disease of the kidney can lead to disease of the heart and vice versa- known as cardio-renal disease. I hope to make important discoveries about kidney and heart senescent cells, which will lead to better treatments for patients with cardio-renal disease. Dr Katie Mylonas IRR Group Leader IRR’s Dr Katie Mylonas will explore whether targeting ageing cells could be a new way to treat heart and kidney diseases. With more people living longer, age-related illnesses, including kidney and heart diseases are becoming more common and is a major cause of death in the UK. Many patients with chronic kidney disease or ‘CKD’ also develop heart disease, a condition known as cardio-renal disease, which can cause serious health problems and death. When we age or with certain diseases, some of our cells stop working properly and can become ‘senescent’, meaning they no longer help repair tissues. These senescent (ageing) cells release harmful secretions that can lead to inflammation and scarring in organs including the kidney and heart. Dr Mylonas’ previous work has shown that using drugs to remove senescent cells in mice before kidney injury, helped reduce scarring and improve kidney function. She also found that CKD can speed up the process of senescence and scarring in the heart, suggesting that these ageing cells could play a key role in the pathway from kidney disease to heart disease. This research aims to fill a big gap in our understanding of how kidney disease can lead to heart disease and how to prevent this. By studying how senescent cells cause scarring in multiple organs, Dr Mylonas’ research could lead to new treatments for patients with cardio-renal disease, potentially saving lives and improving overall human health. Dr Mylonas is exploring senescence as a link between kidney and heart disease. This image shows collagen (green) of a kidney section with a heart shaped tubule This record investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting the next generation of research leaders. By backing these talented early-career researchers, we’re not only addressing today’s urgent health challenges but also strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in medical research. Professor James Naismith Vice President (Non-Clinical) at the Academy of Medical Sciences Dr Mylonas will be hiring a postdoctoral researcher over the course of the project, so if interested, please get in touch by email at kmylonas@exseed.ed.ac.uk. Katie Mylonas research groupThe Academy of Sciences Springboard Programme Tags CIR Publication date 03 Apr, 2025
