UK Horizons: Ember
Ember supports exceptional scientists and innovators in the UK to explore and advance ambitious Big If True ideas—ideas that, if validated, could have transformative implications for science within or related to ARIA’s existing or emerging opportunity spaces.
The Challenge
The UK’s technical R&D ecosystem is home to world-class scientific research and exceptional scientists. However, many of these scientists, despite working on high-potential breakthroughs, often lack the knowledge or access to the translational tools, frameworks, and support needed to turn their ideas into major real-world impact. This contributes to a systemic gap in advancing frontier science and realising its full societal potential.
By building structured pathways beyond the lab, Ember creates the opportunity for ambitious scientists to accelerate frontier science and realise its full impact on society.
Our Approach
Ember bridges the gap between early-stage, impact-first Big If True ideas and fundable, actionable translational R&D projects. The programme provides broad support—funding, mentoring, and access to a wider ecosystem—to:
Help participants develop and refine their Big If True ideas, and
Explore diverse paths to impact—all while building the mindset and tools needed to translate bold ideas into breakthrough research that they may not be exposed to within traditional institutional frameworks.
Through Renaissance Philanthropy’s Activation Partnership with ARIA, Ember participants will explore areas at the edge of the impossible and contribute to driving ARIA’s opportunity spaces towards massive societal impact. From Mathematics for Safe AI, to Smarter Robot Bodies, to Bioenergetic Engineering and beyond, Ember offers a window into the kinds of ambitious, interdisciplinary challenges being tackled across the frontier of R&D. In just 12 months participants will surface new directions, and deepen understanding of emerging areas of high-impact research. Programme participants gain early exposure to the unique culture, energy, and values of ARIA’s frontier-focused ecosystem; gaining insight into the opportunity spaces this programme exists within, and contributing to the community shaping the next wave of innovative R&D.
Successful applicants will receive:
Comprehensive support for Big If True ideas: Ember offers funding and dedicated time for participants to advance their Big If True ideas that sit outside conventional funding or institutional models. With access to ongoing mentorship from leading researchers, as well as a broad network of collaborators in academia, industry, and government, participants have the financial and community support needed to take their ideas forward.
Networking: Participants become part of the Higgs, a selective community, with access to innovation summits, conferences, events, dinners, and talks. This unique networking opportunity fosters collaboration with like-minded, ambitious scientists, peer learning, and the exchange of ideas that drive innovation.
Training on opportunity identification in frontier science: Through the Horizon Scanning Study Group, a 12-month focused study group identifying beyond the cutting-edge opportunities for R&D, participants identify and contribute to emerging areas in frontier science.
Exposure to translational pathways and career development: Ember supports participants in developing a translational mindset—helping scientists & innovators understand and identify high-impact opportunities beyond traditional routes. Rather than simply funding research ideas, the programme equips them to explore diverse, real-world routes to innovation and impact they may not typically encounter within institutional frameworks.
Ember is powered by RenPhil's partnership with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).
Meet the Inaugural Ember Cohort
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Vincent Hanlon
A novel form of genome editing to rival CRISPR
Some organisms in nature - bacteria, fungi, vertebrates, and others - edit the DNA sequence of certain genes in their own cells. This is a dramatic break from the usual paradigm of careful preservation and repair of DNA, and organisms often employ extraordinary genetic mechanisms to perform the editing. These natural mechanisms are the basis of genetic tools such as CRISPR, antibody applications, and others. Vincent will investigate the mechanism of the most recently-discovered example of editing in nature, which occurs in a nematode crop pest that parasitises potatoes, and explore its applications to new biotechnologies. Could the mechanism be used for improved genome editing in the lab, like CRISPR?
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Jean Rintoul
Focusing ultrasound through the skull
Non-invasive ultrasound stimulation holds great promise as a therapeutic tool but is currently limited to expensive, non-portable equipment with complex co-registration with MRI or CT scans. To make ultrasound stimulation ubiquitous and usable in a wider range of settings, Jean will be working on a new technique to focus ultrasound through the skull in real-time without the need for prior scans. With over a decade of experience advancing non-invasive neural interfaces—including a PhD in Neurotechnology from Imperial College London—Jean aims to make brain therapies and human–computer interaction more accessible and impactful.
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Joe Meyerowitz
As we may build: Re-inventing purification for a new bio based chemical industry
With training in biochemistry and physics, Joe focuses on turning ambitious ideas into practical technologies. If we could separate complex biomass into useful molecules as efficiently as oil is refined, sustainable feedstocks and engineered biology could supply everyday chemicals and materials. Joe will deliver designs for prototype tools to rapidly test new separation approaches, and aim to demonstrate a proof-of-concept building towards scalable biomass fractionation.
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Manoj Saxena
Artificial mitochondria for cellular energy restoration after stroke
Combining expertise in protein expression, cell-free systems, and drug delivery, Manoj aims to tackle the challenges of mitochondrial diseases by developing artificial mitochondria to restore cellular energy after stroke. His project focuses on novel strategies to overcome mitochondrial dysfunction—a driver of aging—by leveraging innovative drug delivery constructs to restore cellular function and energy.
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Jonnie Cohen Gold
Less if true: Overcoming gene therapy challenges
For gene therapies, increasing efficiency can be achieved by delivering smaller amounts of DNA without compromising therapeutic efficacy. To make this possible, Jonnie is enhancing the efficiency of therapeutic DNA expression in human cells.n goes here
Programme Details
Individual Grants
Up to £50,000 over six months, with the potential for an additional £50,000 extension for a total of twelve months.
Eligibility
Ember is open to scientists and innovators in STEM or related interdisciplinary fields, based in the UK, who hold an MSc, PhD, postdoctoral position, or equivalent qualification at a minimum. Applicants should demonstrate a strong track record in research or innovation and a passion for exploring novel, high-impact ideas with real-world potential.
Criteria to be tested during the selection process:
Big If True – originality and boldness of the idea
Technical Expertise – depth and relevance of skills to pursue the work
Vision – clarity and ambition in shaping a compelling future direction
Potential Impact – potential to drive meaningful, far-reaching change
Alignment with ARIA current and emerging opportunity spaces with potential to inform or expand their areas of interest
Events
Prospective applicants should note the following key commitments as part of the Ember programme:
Kick-Off Event (In-Person): All selected participants will be expected to attend an in-person Kick-Off event on 15 September 2025. This is a key moment to meet the Ember community, align on expectations, and begin the programme with momentum.
Annual Retreat (In-Person): At the 6-month mark, participants will be invited to take part in a 3-day residential retreat. This will serve as a reflective milestone, fostering deeper collaboration, peer exchange, and future planning. Attendance is required.
Biweekly Check-Ins (virtual): Throughout the programme, participants are expected to engage in biweekly check-in meetings with the Ember Programme Manager. These sessions are designed to provide tailored support, track progress, and troubleshoot challenges as needed.
These events form the backbone of community building and accountability within the programme and are essential to its success.
Contact
Should you have any inquiries about the programme or the application process, please reach out to ember@renphil.org.
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Ember supports Big If True (BiT) ideas. BiT ideas are those which, if true, have “Big Implications”, where this can mean big implications for practice in a specific scientific/technical field(s) or big implications for translation of basic scientific research in the field to societal impact. The ideas are, by definition, at the frontier of scientific understanding and/or practice. The "if true" aspect is fundamental, as these approaches are theoretically compelling but as-yet unproven. Crucially, BiT ideas are those that are unlikely to progress within existing institutions or incentive mechanisms without the Ember programme's support. BiT ideas push beyond conventional funding and development pathways, requiring dedicated resources, risk tolerance, and an ecosystem that fosters their exploration.
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ARIA’s Opportunity Seeds support ambitious research aligned with ARIA’s current opportunity spaces, with funding ranging from £10k up to £500k per project. There is no minimum length for a proposed project, though the maximum duration is three years. Ember supports the development of both the idea and the individual, even in areas where no ARIA programme might exist yet (i.e. emerging opportunity spaces). It is designed to mature speculative ideas into fundable proposals, with funding of up to £100k per participant over a total of 12 months.
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Yes. Ember supports both hosted and unhosted participants.
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By the end of Ember, participants are expected to have developed their ideas into proof-of-concept outputs or fundable proposals, potentially leading to further ARIA funding or other translational opportunities. Some may also propose new Opportunity Spaces or join the ARIA ecosystem as future Programme Directors or programme contributors.
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Ember funding can cover time allocation (including stipends), experimental materials, travel for research, workshop costs, and other expenses directly related to developing your BiT idea. All spending must align with RenPhil and ARIA’s policies and receive approval when required. Refer to ARIA’s Eligible Expenditure/Cost Rules for a detailed breakdown of eligible and non-eligible expenses.
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Outputs vary depending on the nature of your idea, but might include:
A written proposal suitable for ARIA or BiTS funding
A white paper or concept note
Experimental proof-of-concept
A mock grant or investor pitch
A validated theory of change or landscape review
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That’s okay. Ember is designed to de-risk and test ambitious ideas. If your initial concept proves infeasible, you can submit an updated proposal aligned with the programme’s goals. In partnership with Renaissance Philanthropy, you’ll have the opportunity to reassess feasibility, define new impact metrics, and continue shaping a pathway forward. The focus is on learning, iteration, and strengthening your translational mindset.
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Graduates of Ember should have developed ideas in emerging areas of high promise. We don’t want to preempt where people may go but the types of things we can imagine graduates doing are receiving ARIA funding, taking part in BiTS programmes, or other roles within Renaissance Philanthropy’s and ARIA’s ecosystem. Many will continue developing their ideas through Renaissance Philanthropy’s broader network or join other high-impact translational pathways.
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Ember supports individuals to explore and develop early-stage “kernels” of high-potential BiT ideas into actionable, fundable R&D projects. It focuses on idea validation and conceptual development. In contrast, BITS is a 14-week part-time programme for scientists ready to design and execute bold, coordinated research programmes aimed at transformative technologies. BITS guides participants in shaping multi-year, mission-driven initiatives and matches them with host institutions like ARIA, ARPA-E, ARPA-H, DARPA, or similar non-governmental bodies. While Ember nurtures the spark, BITS helps scale it into a structured programme ready for launch. Participants can progress from Ember to BITS as their ideas mature.