Sanger researcher wins IBSA Foundation Fellowship for pioneering dermatology study
Masami is one of six global winners of the 2024 IBSA Foundation Fellowships, and her dermatology research titled, “A single cell and spatial transcriptomic atlas of human skin Schwann cells in health and disease,” was selected from a record-breaking 259 submissions worldwide across five therapeutic areas. These are dermatology, endocrinology, fertility/urology, pain medicine/rheumatology/orthopaedics, and healthy ageing/regenerative medicine.
Masami’s work focuses on the role of Schwann cells – the most abundant glial cells in the peripheral nervous system – in skin health and disease. While these cells are known for their role in tissue repair, their involvement in skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and keloids remains unclear. Her project aims to create a comprehensive atlas using advanced spatial and single-cell transcriptomic techniques to map cellular diversity.
The IBSA Foundation Fellowships programme, now in its twelfth year, champions early-career scientists whose projects have the potential to drive innovation in lesser-explored areas of medical science. Each fellowship provides €32,000, and since its launch, 58 research projects have been supported with a total of €1.6 million in funding. Overall, since its inception in 2012, the Fellowship programme has attracted 1,645 applications from 60 countries.
“I am honoured to be one of the 2024 IBSA Foundation Fellows, and I am excited about the research that this will enable. Using the latest genomic techniques to map the role of specific cells, such as Schwann cells, can help uncover what their roles are in healthy skin as well as in the development of conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and keloids.”
Dr Masami Ando Kuri, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
“Behind every medical breakthrough, there is a scientist with a big idea and someone who believed in them. Funding research isn’t just about science; it’s about giving bright minds the chance to make a real difference for patients.”
Marco Menabrito, Medical Director at IBSA UK
“Supporting the talent of young researchers is a strategic investment that drives scientific progress and helps shape a society better equipped to tackle future challenges. In a time when access to scientific careers is increasingly complex, our Fellowships offer a concrete way to recognise merit and promote innovation.”
Dr Silvia Misiti, Director of the IBSA Foundation
More information
Apply for the 2025 Fellowships here, by the 31 January 2026: https://www.ibsafoundation.org/en/fellowship/call-2025
