From solving puzzles in Shropshire to pioneering brain monitoring technology in Cambridge, Dr. Gemma Bale’s career exemplifies the spirit of scientific innovation that Churchill College seeks to foster. In addition to her research, Gemma also serves as one of eight founding Programme Directors at the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), a new governmental research funding agency developing new approaches to research funding in the UK.
As one of only two girls among 28 boys in her A-level Physics class, Gemma navigated gender imbalances from the start. “When I was growing up, I didn’t realise engineering was an option for me. I assumed engineering meant men in hard hats on building sites,” she recalls. Now working at the intersection of physics and engineering, she sees her physics foundation as transformative: “Having that physics core has meant I can access so many different fields – it’s been the key that unlocked numerous opportunities throughout my career.”
Gemma’s journey to medical physics began during her undergraduate Physics degree at Imperial College when a simple act of giving blood sparked her interest in applying physics to medicine. “I wanted to do something that felt closer to humans and got interested in how physics can help understand the body and improve medicine,” she recalls. This interest led her to UCL for a Masters in Photonics, followed by a PhD focused on using optics to monitor the brain.
Breaking barriers in research
As a Teaching Fellow at Churchill College and Associate Professor at Cambridge University, Gemma’ s research uses light-based technology to monitor brain health, with applications ranging from dementia research to traumatic brain injury assessment.
As Gemma explains, “When you shine red and infrared light into the brain, it travels really well through the tissue and some of it comes back to the surface. By looking at the colour change, we can determine how healthy or active the brain is because blood changes colour depending on whether it’s carrying oxygen. If it’s filled with oxygen, it’s bright red, but without oxygen, it becomes more purplish-red.”
Gemma’s Neuro Optics Lab which spans the Department of Engineering and the Cavendish Laboratory on the West Cambridge site – just around the corner from Churchill College – is also transforming how brain research is conducted. Rather than confining studies to clinical settings, her team has developed portable, battery-powered equipment that can be used in various environments, making research more accessible and representative.
“We’ve designed equipment that allows us to drive up to people’s homes for our dementia studies. This makes the research far more accessible and less upsetting for participants, and we’ve been able to monitor a wider group across more diverse locations.”
This innovative approach was dramatically demonstrated in the summer of 2022 when her team took their equipment to the Green Man music festival in Wales. “We scanned 140 people in four days, which would normally take weeks in a traditional lab setting. People would queue for an hour to participate and learn about how our technology could help people with dementia.”
Pioneering new approaches to research funding
Established as an arms-length government body under the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, ARIA has an £800 million budget and operates through a programme director structure inspired by the US DARPA model for greater flexibility in addressing research gaps. Though initially focused on health technology, Gemma and co-director Prof. Sarah Bohndiek pivoted to climate science when they noticed this gap. “We recognised that principles of monitoring the human body could be adapted to monitor our planet,” says Gemma. Their £81 million funding call resulted in 26 teams now developing an early warning system for climate tipping points. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to shape a new agency while tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.”
Finding a home at Churchill College
Gemma’s connection to Churchill College developed organically as she met impressive colleagues who were all part of the Churchill community. “I kept finding I would meet someone great, and they would be from Churchill College,” she recalls. “The College feels very welcoming and relaxed – I never feel out of place.” The proximity to her research lab at the West Cambridge site also made Churchill an ideal community.
Among her most cherished experiences at Churchill thus far was participating in the College’s annual Women in STEM dinner. “It was wonderful to be in a room with such intelligent, passionate, and vibrant women,” she reflects. “One of my students from Churchill, Sruthi Srinivasan, spoke at this year’s event – it was truly special to be part of that community.”
As she continues her journey toward becoming a full Professor, Gemma remains committed to creating meaningful impact through her research while empowering the next generation of scientists.
“Every time I go to a dinner at Churchill, I build connections that enhance my work,” she says. “Being part of this community has opened doors to new collaborations and perspectives that enrich both my research and teaching.”
