Thank you
For championing future changemakers
The impact of giving 2022–23
Thank you
We feel truly touched by the support our many alumni, partners and friends have given to the College this year – over 3,800 of you donated a staggering £59 million to support research and students at Imperial.
It is heart-warming to see that giving to Imperial has continued to grow, both in the amount raised and in the number of donors participating. As you read through our Impact of Giving report, we hope you enjoy learning about the pioneering research your gifts are funding and hearing from the talented individuals leading them.
We are acutely aware that, for all the successes we have enjoyed this year, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Across the world, rising fuel, food and energy prices hit communities hard, including our own. The cost-of-living crisis has been a source of stress for students, but thanks to your generosity we have been able to weather the adversity and continue supporting those who need it.
Thank you for making an impact and demonstrating just how resilient we are as a community.
The Imperial community
Thank you
We feel truly touched by the support our many alumni, partners and friends have given to the College this year – over 3,800 of you donated a staggering £59 million to support research and students at Imperial.
It is heart-warming to see that giving to Imperial has continued to grow, both in the amount raised and in the number of donors participating. As you read through our Impact of Giving report, we hope you enjoy learning about the pioneering research your gifts are funding and hearing from the talented individuals leading them.
We are acutely aware that, for all the successes we have enjoyed this year, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Across the world, rising fuel, food and energy prices hit communities hard, including our own. The cost-of-living crisis has been a source of stress for students, but thanks to your generosity we have been able to weather the adversity and continue supporting those who need it.
Thank you for making an impact and demonstrating just how resilient we are as a community.
The Imperial community
Meet the students
Thanks to your support between 2022–23, £13.1 million was given to scholarships, student support and prizes. By removing financial barriers, we are able to attract the brightest minds wherever they may be.
Read on to meet two talented students who, thanks to your generosity, have been able to pursue their dreams of an Imperial education.
In conversation with…Michelle Kostin
Bursary recipient and alumnus Michelle Kostin used her passion for mechanical engineering to lead award-winning research on tyre particle emissions at Imperial.
What impact did receiving the Imperial Bursary have for you?
It allowed me to fully immerse myself in university life – attending conferences and taking on work experience and other extracurricular activities. The student experience is defined by big considerations like living near campus down to small considerations like being able to take a bus when it’s raining. Thanks to the generosity of donors, all these things were accessible to me.
During your time at Imperial you led an innovative project on tyre particle emissions. How did this come about?
Imperial runs a project for Mechanical Engineering undergraduates to solve a new problem or improve an existing solution. Classmates and I decided to explore an area that wasn’t being addressed. I wanted my project to have a benefit to society, and through research I learnt that tyre emissions are one of the biggest pollutants in the UK.
In conversation with…Michelle Kostin
Bursary recipient and alumnus Michelle Kostin used her passion for mechanical engineering to lead award-winning research on tyre particle emissions at Imperial.
What impact did receiving the Imperial Bursary have for you?
It allowed me to fully immerse myself in university life – attending conferences and taking on work experience and other extracurricular activities. The student experience is defined by big considerations like living near campus down to small considerations like being able to take a bus when it’s raining. Thanks to the generosity of donors, all these things were accessible to me.
During your time at Imperial you led an innovative project on tyre particle emissions. How did this come about?
Imperial runs a project for Mechanical Engineering undergraduates to solve a new problem or improve an existing solution. Classmates and I decided to explore an area that wasn’t being addressed. I wanted my project to have a benefit to society, and through research I learnt that tyre emissions are one of the biggest pollutants in the UK.
When in contact with the road, tyres abrade over time, releasing microplastics that are harmful to the environment and human health. Electric vehicles are heavier, exacerbating the frictional process. At Imperial, a startup led by Professor Mark Mason was capturing these particles, but no one at Imperial or outside of it was attempting to analyse them. By filling that gap, my team were at the forefront of this problem. Our results far exceeded our expectations. We created a test rig to analyse the particles – the first of its kind – which had an incredibly high capture rate efficiency of 92%.
The generosity of donors...allowed me to fully immerse myself in university life."
This work won you the Mechanical Engineering Renishaw Prize – given to an Imperial undergraduate student who produces the best project from the year. How did that feel?
It felt amazing. There was also an element of relief. I had put long hours into this project, so to be recognised in that way gave me a sense of accomplishment. Our project has also been presented as a stellar case study of how to approach the task.
When in contact with the road, tyres abrade over time, releasing microplastics that are harmful to the environment and human health. Electric vehicles are heavier, exacerbating the frictional process. At Imperial, a startup led by Professor Mark Mason was capturing these particles, but no one at Imperial or outside of it was attempting to analyse them. By filling that gap, my team were at the forefront of this problem. Our results far exceeded our expectations. We created a test rig to analyse the particles – the first of its kind – which had an incredibly high capture rate efficiency of 92%.
The generosity of donors...allowed me to fully immerse myself in university life."
This work won you the Mechanical Engineering Renishaw Prize – given to an Imperial undergraduate student who produces the best project from the year. How did that feel?
It felt amazing. There was also an element of relief. I had put long hours into this project, so to be recognised in that way gave me a sense of accomplishment. Our project has also been presented as a stellar case study of how to approach the task.
In conversation with...
Swapnil Jagtap
Swapnil Jagtap, recipient of the competitive, philanthropically funded President’s PhD Scholarship, spent his time at Imperial conducting groundbreaking and pioneering research on hydrogen aircraft technology.
I’m so grateful to the donors whose support enabled me to do my PhD at Imperial and be part of a motivated community of changemakers."
What drives your interest in hydrogen aircraft technology?Hydrogen aircraft technology produces zero carbon pollution, making it an important means of reducing emissions and global warming. There have been safety issues linked to it, so my research has been focused on addressing this. I’ve made many design iterations to ensure reliable safety measures that would make this a safe way for passengers to travel.
How has Imperial impacted you and your research?
It’s given me access to multidisciplinary research. I was looking for knowledge sets from two different areas: environmental engineering and aircraft design. I identified two prominent academics at Imperial who offered this – Dr Marc Stettler and Professor Peter Childs – and working with them has been inspiring. I’ve learnt how to communicate complex scientific ideas to the wider population, and translate research into practice.
You were awarded the President’s PhD Scholarship to support your time at Imperial – what did you appreciate most about this?
The President’s PhD Scholarship is unique as it provides recipients with the freedom to choose their research area – scholarships often dictate the topic. I loved that I had the flexibility to pursue the challenges I am passionate about, whilst having the financial freedom to focus on my work and attend exclusive lectures and events. I’m so grateful to the donors whose support enabled me to do my PhD at Imperial and be part of a motivated community of changemakers.
Speaking of changemakers, during your time at Imperial you were honoured in a number of prestigious industry lists, including the Forbes 30 under 30 list. How did that feel?
Each recognition has been incredibly special and emotional. When I was named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, I spent hours sharing the news with family and friends. I had flashbacks of the years I’d put into doing the research, including the failures along the way. I’ve also been recognised in the Georgia Institute of Technology 40 under 40 list and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 list; it’s been a huge honour seeing how my research has the potential to positively impact the world.
In conversation with...
Swapnil Jagtap
Swapnil Jagtap, recipient of the competitive, philanthropically funded President’s PhD Scholarship, spent his time at Imperial conducting groundbreaking and pioneering research on hydrogen aircraft technology.
What drives your interest in hydrogen aircraft technology?
Hydrogen aircraft technology produces zero carbon pollution, making it an important means of reducing emissions and global warming. There have been safety issues linked to it, so my research has been focused on addressing this. I’ve made many design iterations to ensure reliable safety measures that would make this a safe way for passengers to travel.
How has Imperial impacted you and your research?
It’s given me access to multidisciplinary research. I was looking for knowledge sets from two different areas: environmental engineering and aircraft design. I identified two prominent academics at Imperial who offered this – Dr Marc Stettler and Professor Peter Childs – and working with them has been inspiring. I’ve learnt how to communicate complex scientific ideas to the wider population, and translate research into practice.
President's Scholar Swapnil Jagtap (left)
President's Scholar Swapnil Jagtap (left)
I’m so grateful to the donors whose support enabled me to do my PhD at Imperial and be part of a motivated community of changemakers."
You were awarded the President’s PhD Scholarship to support your time at Imperial – what did you appreciate most about this?
The President’s PhD Scholarship is unique as it provides recipients with the freedom to choose their research area – scholarships often dictate the topic. I loved that I had the flexibility to pursue the challenges I am passionate about, whilst having the financial freedom to focus on my work and attend exclusive lectures and events. I’m so grateful to the donors whose support enabled me to do my PhD at Imperial and be part of a motivated community of changemakers.
Speaking of changemakers, during your time at Imperial you were honoured in a number of prestigious industry lists, including the Forbes 30 under 30 list. How did that feel?
Each recognition has been incredibly special and emotional. When I was named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, I spent hours sharing the news with family and friends. I had flashbacks of the years I’d put into doing the research, including the failures along the way. I’ve also been recognised in the Georgia Institute of Technology 40 under 40 list and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 list; it’s been a huge honour seeing how my research has the potential to positively impact the world.I speak for the entire College community when I say that we feel truly touched by the support our many alumni, partners and friends have given to the College this year – over 3,800 of you donated a staggering £59 million to support research and students at Imperial.
Using the same water in new ways
Your generosity is also supporting bold and ambitious research, and our academics have embarked on a number of groundbreaking projects to answer some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Philanthropic funding has helped to advance eco-startup Lylo’s mission to solve one of the world’s most significant environmental issues.
According to the UN, between two and three billion people experience water shortages worldwide and urgent solutions are needed to preserve resources. Taking action to address this are Joanna Power and Paramveer Bhachu, co-founders of eco-startup Lylo.
Lylo was accepted onto Imperial’s 12-month Greenhouse accelerator in February 2022, receiving business coaching, masterclasses, a workspace and equity-free grant funding. The latter was provided through a generous philanthropic donation from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
“We are delighted to be involved in supporting startups, especially those tackling the reduction of water consumption and the preservation of our natural resources."
“As a hardware company, investment is much harder to obtain without a physical product in place,” says Paramveer. “The funding we received through the accelerator was a gamechanger for us, as it gave us the means to develop our prototype further and help inform plans to turn it into a manufacturable product. Without that money, we wouldn’t have been able to carry on with Lylo.”
Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO at The Prince Abert II of Monaco Foundation, comments: “We are delighted to be involved in supporting startups, especially those tackling the reduction of water consumption and the preservation of our natural resources. Startups are essential to identifying promising innovations, and helping young companies that have a positive impact on our environment to scale up is important.”
The money also gave Joanna the financial freedom to work on Lylo full time. “Hardware products can require up to £100,000 investment in order to get a product to scale,” says Joanna. “I spent a lot of time applying for grants, which resulted in us receiving money that has been instrumental in preparing our product for piloting. Thanks to that early injection of cash by way of philanthropy, we are now much closer to creating a commercially scalable version of our innovative product.”
Advancing the frontiers of neurodegenerative disease research
Thanks to the generosity of philanthropic donors, Imperial is at the forefront of the fight against Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and accelerating the path to a cure.
As ageing populations grow around the world, the impacts of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are increasingly prominent. At Imperial’s Department of Brain Sciences, researchers are tackling these challenges head on, fuelled by the visionary generosity of our supporters.
One such researcher is Dr Sarah Marzi, a recipient of the Edmond and Lily Safra Fellowship programme. Established by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, this fellowship is enabling four early career researchers to pursue groundbreaking, independent programmes of research into Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Marzi is investigating how genetics and environment interplay in the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease – an area of study known as epigenetics. “Throughout our lives, we’re exposed to a whole range of pathogens, from pesticides to pollution, that are not good for the cells in our bodies,” says Dr Marzi. “I’m interested in understanding whether brain cells are affected by adverse environmental exposures, making them more vulnerable to neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease later in life.”
“Our research is uncovering meaningful differences in brain cells exposed to pathogens,” says Dr Marzi, “confirming our hypotheses and providing opportunities for further investigation. I’m optimistic that if we can find the mechanism that manipulates gene expression, it would be very targetable and open up opportunities to manipulate and hopefully prevent Parkinson’s disease.
As ageing populations grow around the world, the impacts of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are increasingly prominent. At Imperial’s Department of Brain Sciences, researchers are tackling these challenges head on, fuelled by the visionary generosity of our supporters.
One such researcher is Dr Sarah Marzi, a recipient of the Edmond and Lily Safra Fellowship programme. Established by the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, this fellowship is enabling four early career researchers to pursue groundbreaking, independent programmes of research into Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Sarah Marzi (front row, second to left) and her team
Dr Sarah Marzi (front row, second to left) and her team
Dr Marzi is investigating how genetics and environment interplay in the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease – an area of study known as epigenetics. “Throughout our lives, we’re exposed to a whole range of pathogens, from pesticides to pollution, that are not good for the cells in our bodies,” says Dr Marzi. “I’m interested in understanding whether brain cells are affected by adverse environmental exposures, making them more vulnerable to neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease later in life.”
“Our research is uncovering meaningful differences in brain cells exposed to pathogens,” says Dr Marzi, “confirming our hypotheses and providing opportunities for further investigation. I’m optimistic that if we can find the mechanism that manipulates gene expression, it would be very targetable and open up opportunities to manipulate and hopefully prevent Parkinson’s disease.
We know so much more about dementia now than we did even twenty years ago, and it’s exciting to think about the difference our research could make for the patients of the future.”
Dr Yu Ye is another researcher who is taking an unorthodox approach to diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative disease, thanks to philanthropic support. A lecturer in Dementia Research, Dr Ye is one of four researchers funded by the Michael Uren Foundation to undertake ambitious work on Alzheimer’s disease.
“The accumulation of toxic protein clumps in the brain is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease,” explains Dr Ye. “As these toxic proteins build up, it is thought that they cause damage to the brain and contribute to disease progression. When the human brain is functioning normally, it’s able to break down and ‘recycle’ these protein clumps back into their molecular components, but in patients with neurodegenerative disease, something goes wrong with this recycling process. My lab is trying to understand what that is.”
Dr Ye hopes that by understanding this process, it will be possible to intervene, safely increasing the activity of the brain’s toxic protein recyclers and stopping disease from progressing any further. He is looking to bridge the gap from research breakthroughs into practical applications by developing a machine learning program that examines toxic protein patterns in patients’ brain scans, in order to predict whether they have dementia or not. This is an unorthodox approach, but one he hopes could lead to early-stage diagnosis and perhaps even prognosis in the future.
“We know so much more about dementia now than we did even 20 years ago,” says Dr Ye, “and it’s exciting to think about the difference our research could make for the patients of the future.”
Dr Yu Ye is another researcher who is taking an unorthodox approach to diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative disease, thanks to philanthropic support. A lecturer in Dementia Research, Dr Ye is one of four researchers funded by the Michael Uren Foundation to undertake ambitious work on Alzheimer’s disease.
“The accumulation of toxic protein clumps in the brain is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease,” explains Dr Ye. “As these toxic proteins build up, it is thought that they cause damage to the brain and contribute to disease progression. When the human brain is functioning normally, it’s able to break down and ‘recycle’ these protein clumps back into their molecular components, but in patients with neurodegenerative disease, something goes wrong with this recycling process. My lab is trying to understand what that is.”
Dr Yu Ye
Dr Yu Ye
Dr Ye hopes that by understanding this process, it will be possible to intervene, safely increasing the activity of the brain’s toxic protein recyclers and stopping disease from progressing any further. He is looking to bridge the gap from research breakthroughs into practical applications by developing a machine learning program that examines toxic protein patterns in patients’ brain scans, in order to predict whether they have dementia or not. This is an unorthodox approach, but one he hopes could lead to early-stage diagnosis and perhaps even prognosis in the future.
“We know so much more about dementia now than we did even 20 years ago,” says Dr Ye, “and it’s exciting to think about the difference our research could make for the patients of the future.”
The year in numbers
More than 3,800 individuals and organisations donated to Imperial during 2022–23, together raising a total of £59 million. This money went towards research, student support, buildings, equipment and capital, academic posts and
to support emerging priorities.
The impact of giving
The stories here are taken from the 2022–23 Impact of Giving report and show the difference that philanthropy makes at Imperial, from shaping the student experience, to sparking new research and ensuring that our campus remains world class. Thank you to everyone who gave this year, your support for Imperial has real impact.
If you would like to receive a full copy of the report, either by email or post, please get in touch with us at giving@imperial.ac.uk. To find out more about giving to Imperial College London, please visit www.imperial.ac.uk/giving.
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