In 2024, the BSRA awarded 3 Small Research Grants, 4 Travel Grants and 2 Summer Studentships. One of the Summer Studentships went to Phoebe Bedford at the University of Oxford – and this is what she had to say about the experience:
‘Having just completed my second year studying Biology at Oxford, I was lucky enough to be awarded a BSRA Summer Studentship to gain six weeks of hands-on experience in ageing research. I worked with Dr. Chiara Herzog at Twins UK (part of King’s College London) to carry out computational analyses of epigenetic data. This experience was a fantastic insight into the world of ageing research; I gained new skills, met a range of researchers, and was inspired to continue pursuing work in this field.
The aim of my project was to investigate the potential for saliva samples to be used to characterise the epigenome (instead of tissues like blood, which are more commonly used). This involved looking at the ability of the saliva data to reflect epigenetic features associated with smoking, breast cancer and ageing, using previously developed scores for these traits. The epigenetic age measured in saliva samples showed a strong correlation with chronological age – revealing that saliva samples show promise for measuring epigenetic age in a meaningful way.
During the studentship, I spent a significant amount of time working with R Studio, learning how to make the most of the computational tools and techniques used to carry out epigenetic analyses. I also met researchers working in a range of fields related to human health, ageing and genetics, gaining valuable insight into the world of research. At the end of the studentship, I presented my work to a group of colleagues, developing my public speaking and presentation skills.
Overall, this studentship was an excellent opportunity, allowing me to gain skills from bioinformatic analysis to public speaking, and I loved being able to make a contribution to ageing research. I’d like to thank Dr. Herzog for supporting me through the project, and the BSRA for providing the funding which enabled the studentship to go ahead.’
Phoebe’s research revealed that saliva samples show promise for measuring epigenetic age in a meaningful way.
Why are we doing this?
Small grants start big careers, and there’s so much we don’t yet know about the biology of ageing. We will only find out by funding more science. Please help the BSRA support promising young researchers like Phoebe by contributing to our Six for 2026 fundraising campaign. Your donation will allow the BSRA to provide more grants that can shape a career. Find out more, tell people, or donate here: https://bsra.org.uk/supporters/
Thank you!