Member Article

Kidney Research UK - Women In Science

Leading charity celebrates invaluable contribution of women working within scientific research, and champions gender equality within the industry.

Following the launch of the first ever UK Renal Research Strategy in 2016, Kidney Research UK, the leading charity dedicated to research into kidney disease, has put the spotlight on recommendations aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for female scientists. Amongst the suggested measures for how to create and assist the next generation of researchers focused on kidney disease, the Strategy recommends flexible support for researchers taking career breaks in order that those returning to work can continue to contribute to the innovation agenda in the UK.

In the light of the UN’s International Day for Women and Girls in Science on 11 February, Kidney Research UK is celebrating the female researchers it funds and their achievements in tackling kidney disease, as well as drawing attention to the challenging circumstances that some will have faced as they developed their careers.

Whilst 65% of early career researchers in biomedical sciences are female, a huge drop off rate is reported when looking at progression to professor level with less than one in five biomedical professor positions across the research sector currently held by women.

According to a recent report by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HEFA) exploring levels of academic staff in higher education in 2015- 2016, less than a quarter (24%) of all academic professors in the UK are female, demonstrating the need for greater support for women across wider academia, not purely within the field of research.

On a positive note, Kidney Research UK is pleased to report a balanced 50/50 split of male and female researchers leading the projects it currently funds to find treatments and cures for kidney disease. This is a significant increase in the last decade, with only 5% of the charity’s grants being awarded to female researchers in 2006.

“The research funded by Kidney Research is chosen entirely on the basis of scientific merit,” said Sandra Currie, chief executive of Kidney Research UK. “The fact that the proportion of female researchers that we fund has increased ten-fold in the last decade is a great sign for women in science. The UK Renal Research Strategy has identified hurdles that have to be overcome for such talent to flourish. We are very proud of all of our researchers who are helping us find ways to treat, alleviate and hopefully, one day, cure kidney disease. The fact that so many of them are women, and that they may have had added obstacles to get over in their career paths makes their achievements even greater.

“Together with two of our medical trustees, Professor Fiona Karet and Ms Lorna Marson, we are currently exploring ways we can provide additional career development support to improve the retention of this talent in the renal sector.”

Kidney Research UK works with a selection of inspirational women, from all across the UK, who are leading the way in trail blazing research projects.

One of these women, Dr Claire Sharpe, Kidney Research UK Fellow, Reader in Renal Medicine and Honorary Consultant Nephrologist at King’s College London/King’s College Hospital comments:

“I’m extremely proud to work with an organisation such as Kidney Research UK which supports and funds an equal measure of male and female researchers.

“When I first started my career, as a woman and a working mother I was faced with a number of challenges that are slowly but surely diminishing thanks to the recognition of gender equality across the sector and as a result of initiatives such as Athena SWAN. However, whilst 55% of people embarking on careers in medicine are female this number drops significantly to 15% at professor level on average so gender inequality is certainly an industry wide problem, not just that of the biomedical sector.

“For institutions, it’s about looking at the data and trying to work out why there is a gender imbalance and what you can do to address it. Practical support and mentoring would also help female scientists air the difficulties they are facing and would provide the opportunity for collaborative solutions to form, thus helping them develop their careers as much as possible.”

Kidney Research UK hopes to highlight this element of the UK Renal Research Strategy, to show that senior research and professor roles offer prosperous careers for women and to encourage the sector to strive towards achieving a complete gender balance across the discipline.

Anyone interested in supporting our work to fund women in renal science should contact the Chief Executive’s office, call: 0300 303 1100; email: chiefexecutiveoffice@kidneyresearchuk.org

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Scott Barrett .