Stories from our award-holders

From clinic to campus: A nurse’s path to PhD research

When Sandra Dyer started her PhD at King’s College London’s Cicely Saunders Institute in February 2025, it marked the end of a years-long journey – one that included two fellowship applications, job changes, and moments of questioning whether research was “for nurses like me.” But here’s what she learned: the path into research isn’t always linear, and for any emerging researchers, resilience and a strong support network make all the difference.

Success stories from Zinc’s Inflection Programme

Back in August 2025 we announced that we were funding five places for Vivensa Academy members to join Zinc’s Inflection Programme. As the 12-week interdisciplinary programme has just finished, we spoke with the five Academy members we funded.

Cohort 1 of the Capability Development Programme

Boosting learning and leadership within community-led organisations

At the Vivensa Foundation, we believe in funding people as well as projects. That’s why we started the Capability Development Programme – to give community-led organisations working with older people the tools they need to succeed: practical learning, leadership development, strategic thinking time and a £15k grant to put their ideas into action.

Professor Tom Kirkwood talks to an early career researcher at the Annual Symposium

In conversation with Professor Tom Kirkwood CBE FMedSci

We talk to Professor Tom Kirkwood CBE FMedSci about being funded by us in 1991 and how this propelled his career. We ask him what he’s enjoyed about serving first on our Grants and Research Committee and later on the Board of Trustees.

Making an impact part 2: Empowering individuals to age well

Ageing is a deeply personal journey, shaped by individual experiences, needs, and challenges. At the heart of the Vivensa Foundation’s mission lies a commitment to involvement and engagement, ensuring that those most affected by ageing-related challenges play a meaningful role in shaping solutions.