Published: 16 Sep 2025 | Last Updated: 16 Sep 2025 15:23:27

The Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) Dr Sarah Hill, Research Fellow in Genomic Epidemiology (Infectious Diseases), has been awarded a highly competitive Future Leaders Fellowship by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The funding will support her exploration of the use of virus genomic approaches to improve aquaculture disease control and promote environmental sustainability.

The Future Leaders Fellowship programme is UKRI’s flagship funding initiative, providing long-term support to outstanding early-career researchers. This year 77 researchers have been awarded a total of £120 million to lead vital research, collaborate with innovators and develop their careers as the research and innovation leaders of the future.

Dr Hill’s award will enable her to build on her previous work exploring the epidemiology and evolution of viruses in natural populations, including zoonotic viruses, to help improve disease control strategies amongst aquatic populations. This new research will address the current gap in understanding of the effectiveness of disease control measures by using advances in virus genomics and computational tools to analyse genomes alongside other big data types.

By establishing and proving methods to maximise the value of growing genomic datasets when applied in farming systems and adjacent animal populations, the research will support the reduction of virus outbreaks. In turn, this will aid the improvement of animal welfare, enable sustainable industry growth, protect wild populations, and reduce consumer costs.

Currently, more than 40% of farmed fish and shellfish die due to infectious diseases in some aquaculture systems, most because of viruses. Virus outbreaks in aquaculture therefore harm welfare, cost £5 billion annually, and hinder production sustainability. A 35% expansion of aquaculture is planned by 2030 to feed a growing global population. Increased market connectivity, larger and denser aquatic populations, and sectoral growth in countries with poor biosecurity will likely worsen outbreaks so new strategies to prevent this are urgently needed.

This fellowship marks an exciting new chapter in Dr Hill’s career and her research will continue to reflect the RVC’s commitment to supporting research that advances scientific understanding and contributes to the health and wellbeing of both animals and humans worldwide.

Dr Sarah Hill, Research Fellow in Genomic Epidemiology (Infectious Diseases) at the RVC, said:  

“I’m thrilled to be awarded a Future Leaders Fellowship. The long-term and generous support will enable me and my team to deliver a bold research programme into advanced strategies to predict and control viral diseases across diverse species and scales.”

Frances Burstow, Director of Talent and Skills at UKRI:

"UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships provide researchers and innovators with long-term support and training to embark on large and complex research programmes, to address key national and global challenges.

“The programme supports the research and innovation leaders of the future to transcend disciplinary and sector boundaries, bridging the gap between academia and business. The fellows announced today demonstrate how UKRI supports excellence across the entire breadth of its remit, supporting early-career researchers to lessen the distance from discovery to real world impact."

Professor Sir Ian Chapman, Chief Executive at UKRI, said:

 “UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships offer long-term support to outstanding researchers, helping them turn bold ideas into innovations that improve lives and livelihoods in the UK and beyond. These fellowships continue to drive excellence and accelerate the journey from discovery to public benefit. I wish them every success.”

UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships represent a major investment in the UK’s research and innovation landscape, with £120 million awarded this year to 77 researchers across disciplines. The programme provides fellows with access to a development network offering specialised leadership training, mentoring, and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.

Notes to Editors

• The Future Leaders Fellowship scheme is run by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to support early-career researchers and innovators with up to seven years of funding.
• More information, visit: https://www.ukri.org/news/ukri-announces-winners-of-120-million-future-leaders-fellowships/

Media contacts

• rvc@plmr.co.uk
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.  
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with associated recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and AVMA (probationary) in the USA and Canada. 
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025.  
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.  
• The RVC is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. 
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.