The funding from Novo Nordisk will support the fellows in the Novo Nordisk – Oxford Fellowship Programme, which focuses on early-stage scientific research in diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, rare blood, and other cardiometabolic diseases.

Every year, Novo Nordisk funds four postdoctoral fellows for a three-year period, providing them with the resources and mentorship needed to advance their research and careers.

The programme, coordinated by the Radcliffe Department of Medicine since 2013, has funded 44 fellows across 10 university departments.

Previous fellows have gone on to pursue successful careers in academia, industry, and the third sector in the UK and overseas.

One said “the ability to work with an industrial partner to devise a project was an amazing opportunity that you rarely get as a young scientist,” while another said “I valued getting a taste of industrial culture while being completely part of academia”.

The expanded collaboration also introduces a ‘Springboard Fellowship’, which offers selected fellows an extra two years of funding to further advance their research and professional development.

During this two-year period, the successful applicant will benefit from enhanced mentorship and tailored professional development activities.

Professor Keith Channon, chair of the joint steering committee overseeing the fellowship programme, said: “We are delighted that Novo Nordisk is continuing to invest in this outstanding programme with the University of Oxford over the next nine years.

“This programme provides a unique opportunity for fellows to work with both university and Novo Nordisk researchers, enabling us to address key mechanistic questions in the field, that may lead to new medicines.

“These fellowships will play a critical role in fostering the next generation of research leaders in the areas of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, rare blood and other cardiometabolic diseases.”

Professor Marcus Schindler, executive vice president of research and early development and chief scientific officer of Novo Nordisk, added: “We are thrilled to extend our longstanding partnership with the University of Oxford.

“The Novo Nordisk – Oxford Fellowship Programme remains dedicated to nurturing and empowering the next generation of early-stage scientific research in diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic diseases.

“Over the years, our partnership model has fostered mutual growth and knowledge generation in areas of high unmet medical need.

“This continued collaboration underscores our commitment to pioneering innovations that will ultimately enhance future patient care worldwide.”

Applications for the autumn 2025 intake of fellows will open in spring 2025 and will be announced on the programme website, along with the available research projects.