Over the last 60 years the global average life expectancy increased more than 20 years, partly as a result of countless medical breakthroughs. However, most of the these medical interventions address the symptoms rather than the causes of age associated diseases. Scientists in the School of Biological Sciences are combining their world leading expertise to tackle some of the biggest questions in human biology: What if we could identify those at risk of developing chronic age-related conditions before they present in the clinic? What if we could intervene before any symptoms arise and prevent disease onset? These changes would revolutionise healthcare and transform our twilight years into a healthy period of our lives.
Collaboration and Engagement
To explore synergies and collaborative opportunities in the area of healthy ageing, the Reproduction, Development and Lifelong Health Research Theme are facilitating workshops and meetings for scientific colleagues, industry partners and policymakers.
An initial meeting in June 2022 allowed researchers within the University of Cambridge to connect and discuss questions surrounding early identification of those at risk from chronic age-related conditions, intervention before initiation of symptoms and prevention of disease onset. Researchers spanned 12 Departments and Institutes: Babraham Institute, Biochemistry, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Genetics, Gurdon Institute, MRC Toxicology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Psychology, Veterinary Medicine, and Zoology.
Following the successful first meeting, a second event was organised in January 2023 in collaboration with Altos Labs, to explore opportunities for collaboration. In addition to Departments and Institutes represented at the initial meeting, members from Cambridge also spanned: CRUK Cambridge Institute, Haematology, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Oncology, Plant Sciences, and Pathology.
A third meeting was held in October 2023 to consolidate collaborations between the University of Cambridge and the Babraham Institute in the healthy ageing space. Scientific talks were followed by brainstorming the future of healthy ageing research, and how the two institutions can be best positioned to tackle its biggest challenges.
Building this multidisciplinary team to explore the integrative biology of ageing offers immense opportunity to increase understanding and develop strategies for extending healthy human lifespan. The team are now pursuing ambitious new opportunities to drive this progress and to deliver real-world impacts in healthy ageing in our lifetime.
A summary of the October 2023 meeting was captured by Alex Cagan in these illustrations.
Key Collaborators
Maria Abad, Altos Labs
Catherine Aiken, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Maria Alcolea, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
Srinjan Basu, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
Richard Bethlehem, Psychology
Guy Brown, Biochemistry
Alex Cagan, Genetics, Veterinary Medicine and Pathology
Kevin Chalut, Altos Labs
Lucy Cheke, Psychology
Anne Corcoran, Babraham Institute
Della David, Babraham Institute
Martin Denzel, Altos Labs
David Fernandez-Antoran, Gurdon Institute and Pathology
Robin Franklin, Altos Labs
Dino Giussani, Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
Namshik Han, The Milner Institute
Jon Houseley, Babraham Institute
Laura Itzhaki, Pharmacology
Gabriele Kaminski Schierle, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Walid Khaled, Pharmacology / Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
Janet Kumita, Pharmacology
Matthias Landgraf, Zoology
Michelle Linterman, Babraham Institute
Rick Morimoto, Northwestern University
Andrew Murray, Physiology Development and Neuroscience
Ken Raj, Altos Labs
Emma Rawlins, Gurdon Institute
Wolf Reik, Altos Labs
Rahul Samant, Babraham Institute
Paul Schofield, Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
Manuel Serrano, Altos Labs
Jon Simons, Psychology
Ewan St. John Smith, Pharmacology
Catherine Wilson, Pharmacology
Work with us
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with industry partners, policy makers and academics. If you are interested in working with us, please contact Dr Abi Herrmann, Research Strategy Manager.
