Building the capacity to translate discoveries in ageing biology and epidemiology to intervention studies in humans across the life course

Major advances are being made in the biology and epidemiology of ageing, but these advances are not always being translated from the laboratory to the clinic.

The ART (Ageing Research Translation) of Healthy Ageing Network aims to address this by bringing together people from a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to the biology of ageing, epidemiology, physiology, sports and exercise medicine, geriatric medicine, clinical trials, social gerontology and data science.

Network participants, who will possess complementary expertise, will work together to build the necessary capacity, knowledge and resources for effective translation of advances in ageing biology and epidemiology into interventions for human testing.

It will deliver:

• A growing interdisciplinary network of researchers, from across the UK and beyond, with a focus on addressing novel questions on underlying biological processes of ageing with potential to translate into trials of interventions
• A thriving community of early career researchers with access to interdisciplinary training opportunities across multiple research organisations
• A broad and engaged stakeholder community (including the public, charities, policymakers, industry and regulators) who are actively involved in both shaping the research agenda and in knowledge transfer
• A clear road map and initial proof-of-concept for a Translational Platform for Healthy Ageing across the Life Course integrating UK infrastructure for studying human ageing biology and testing interventions

The ART network is funded by UKRI (BBSRC and MRC) and is led by Prof Miles Witham and Prof Avan Sayer (Newcastle University), Prof Rachel Cooper and Dr Kelly Bowden Davies (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Prof Claire Stewart and Dr Sandra Ortega-Martorell (Liverpool John Moores University). It is one of 11 networks funded as part of the ageing across the life course interdisciplinary research network.