King's College London wins Biosciences and Biotechnology Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Doctoral Focal Award (DFA) and Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (ILDA) to deliver training programmes for the next generation of researchers in cutting-edge biomedical technologies for diverse careers.
The BBSRC Engineering Biology for Biomedicine Centre for Doctoral Training (DFA) and BBSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Awards (IDLA) with Unilever, both led by King's College London, will provide funding to recruit and train more than 40 doctoral students in biotechnology and biological sciences, over the next seven years.
King's College London is also partnering to deliver an IDLA in Advancing Translational Oral Health Research led by Glasgow Caledonian University, and industrial project partner Haleon.
King's College London is excited to be working in collaboration with a number of academic and industry partners across both BBSRC funded awards to contribute to the government and societal priorities around economic growth and jobs creation. It is these doctoral research training partnerships that will ensure that our doctoral students have opportunities to develop real world solutions to these inter-disciplinary challenges in biosciences, biomedicine and engineering biology.
Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi, Vice President (Research & Innovation) King's College London
Engineering Biology for Biomedicine Centre for Doctoral Training
Engineering Biology for Biomedicine (EB4BM) is a transformative doctoral training programme bringing together King's College London, the University of Leeds, and the National Physical Laboratory with eighteen industry partners to train the next generation of engineering biologists.
Engineering biology applies systematic design principles to biological systems, creating programmable molecules, cells, and materials that can revolutionize how we treat disease, from designing therapies that target previously "undruggable" proteins to engineering cells that sense and respond to their environment.
EB4BM will train more than 40 doctoral researchers across three cohorts over seven years aligned to the UK's National Engineering Biology Programme.
EB4BM is part of the TechExpert pilot offering stipends of £31,000 for doctoral students who will start in October 2026 and are eligible for home fee status.
This initiative aims to grow the UK's national capability in engineering biology, as part of the UK's modern industrial strategy.
This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key part in deliver a new generation of engineering biology researchers equipped to bridge fundamental biological design principles with real-world challenges of biomedicine delivery and scale-up.
Professor Mark Wallace, Director EB4BM Centre for Doctoral Training, King's College London
Engineering biology is redefining what is possible in medicine, and we are delighted to join forces with King's and the National Physical Laboratory on this pioneering interdisciplinary PhD programme. EB4BM brings together world-class expertise in engineering biology, biomedical research, and metrology to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare.
Professor Bruce Turnbull, Co-director EB4BM Centre for Doctoral Training, University of Leeds
Unilever Industrial Doctoral Landscape (UniDLA) Programme
The Unilever Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award, led by King's College London and Unilever, will deliver doctoral training in partnership with the University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, University College London and other higher education institutes for the next generation of bioscience researchers.
This training partnership aims to identify and address short and long-term skills challenges faced by the bio-industry sector and foster interdisciplinarity between industry, academia and other employers.
BBSRC and Unilever funding will enable broad and flexible opportunities, supporting talented doctoral students to contribute to a vibrant, internationally attractive and world-leading research and innovation system.
We are delighted at King's to be leading the national Unilever-centred IDLA programme for the BBSRC. This award sustains our long-standing relationship with Unilever - one of the UK's biggest companies - in training PhD students in the bioindustry area, developing pre-commercial projects and outstanding training opportunities for students. We have superb partners in Liverpool, Manchester and UCL and will build the programme to foster academic-industrial collaboration across the UK.
Professor Jeremy Green, Director, Unilever Industrial Doctoral Landscape Programme
Studentships will span Unilever's Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, and Home Care divisions, as well as their Centre of Excellence in Safety, Environmental and Regulatory Sciences.
We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with King's College London through the Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with BBSRC and continuing our long-standing partnerships with the University of Liverpool and the University of Manchester. Together, we will inspire, nurture and support the next generation of science leaders.
Dr Samantha Samaras, Head of Science & Technology for Personal Care, Unilever Research & Development:
Advancing Translational Oral Health Research Doctoral Training Programme (ATOHR-DTP)
King's College London is a key academic partner for the IDLA in Advancing Translational Oral Health Research, led by the Glasgow Caledonian University, and industrial project partner Haleon.
Doctoral students will investigate some of the biggest challenges in oral health, including gum disease, and tooth decay and sensitivity, and will work closely with experts from academia, clinical practice and industry.
We are delighted to contribute to this doctoral training programme alongside such strong collaborators, and to help cultivate a new generation of scientists equipped to address the global burden of poor oral health. Poor oral health affects billions worldwide, diminishing quality of life, contributing to systemic disease, and widening health inequalities.
Professor Owen Addison, Head of the Centre of Oral Clinical and Translational Sciences, King's College London
By connecting leading universities with industry expertise, the programme will equip emerging researchers with the skills needed for careers in science, healthcare and innovation, while supporting advances that can improve oral health around the world.
Oral health plays a critical role in overall health. As a consumer company which focuses on better everyday health and the largest industrial funder of PhD dental research in the UK for over a decade, Haleon is committed to advancing oral health research in collaboration with leading academic institutions. Through this approach we're not only advancing science but investing in future talent to accelerate new innovations which deliver real benefits for consumers worldwide.
Adam Sissons, Global Head of Research and Development for Oral Health, Haleon
Together, these new Industrial Doctoral Landscape Awards (IDLAs) and Doctoral Focal Award (DFA) represent a share of the £40 million of doctoral training investment from BBSRC which was announced today (Tuesday 16 December).
Through these investments, UKRI is strengthening the UK's leadership in critical technologies while creating meaningful opportunities for businesses, researchers and regions across the country. The IDLAs and DFAs will equip a new generation of talented researchers with the skills to drive innovation, support high-growth sectors and improve lives.
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair
