Prof Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Students and Education at the University of Bristol, said: “Our doctoral students are passionate and intellectually curious. They break new ground and drive positive change. More than that, they are at the vanguard of developing new ideas and practices through the painstaking pursuit of questions that matter for society and the planet.”

Amongst this year’s winners is Dr Stanley Buffonge, Bristol Medical School, ‘Identifying matrix metalloproteinases as a therapeutic target to protect the coronary microvascular endothelial glycocalyx in diabetic cardiomyopathy’ 

Improving lives drove Dr Stanley Buffonge’s thesis. His research focussed on how heart function could be improved in diabetics by targeting a particular protein to protect the inner lining of the heart’s micro vessels.

Dr Buffonge said: “I was originally led to the research as diabetes is common in several underrepresented communities. I wanted to make a significant impact in this area to contribute and gain knowledge and relay this in an understandable way.

“It felt relevant and necessary to participate in research tackling the global health burdens of diabetes and heart dysfunction.”

Dr Buffonge presented his research at conferences – winning prizes along the way – and he  hopes the insights will “pave the way” for more research, and potentially new drugs.

Now working as a Postdoctoral Scientist at the William Harvey Research Institute, he retains his passion to improve patient outcomes.

Read about the other doctoral prize winners on the University’s news page