UK SPINE was set up to build a network, focussed on the mission of improving healthspan for patients with multiple age-related conditions. Knowledge exchange was central to accelerating the discovery, development and testing of new drugs by better understanding the underlying biology driving these conditions. The novel approach we have implemented is based on a collaborative network of six research core partners, all focused on this common goal.
Although the funded network and its activities will cease at the end of this year (December 2022), the collaborative relationships, networks and multidisciplinary working will sustain. The partners will continue to work to progress the targets that have been generated during the programme, to further our understanding of ageing biology and create the tools, reagents and assays necessary for drug discovery in this area.
It has been a privilege to bring together experts from across the globe, who have contributed to UK SPINE events, ranging from symposia to conferences, workshops and AIM days, and to see collaborations embark and evolve, and in particular, across the 40 projects UK SPINE has supported.
We would like to thank all our colleagues throughout the ageing research community, for their support, enthusiasm and dedications over the past four years.
Multimorbidity is one of the key challenges facing health researchers around the world...
We know that older people have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic – but how many of us know why?
Spine Partners
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford are the lead UK SPINE partner and drive the target discovery effort of the UK SPINE by implementing the world-renowned capabilities of the structural genomics consortium.
University of Birmingham
As core partner of the UK SPINE the University of Birmingham drive the development of innovative clinical trials, new regulatory frameworks and patient public engagement within the healthy ageing space.
University of Dundee
As core partner in the UK SPINE the drug discovery unit (DDU) at the University of Dundee drives the development of the drug discovery, drug screening, and lead optimisation portfolio through their world-leading drug discovery pipeline.
Medicines Discovery Catapult
The Medicines Discovery Catapult turn high-impact science into new, high-value products and services that are used to accelerate innovative drug discovery.
The Francis Crick
The Francis Crick Institute is dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a world leader in research for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. They are the lead UK SPINE partners and drive the target discovery effort of the UK SPINE by implementing the world-renowned capabilities of the structural genomics consortium.
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham has major expertise in human ageing and age-related inflammatory diseases. As core partner of the UK SPINE they drive the development of innovative clinical trials, new regulatory frameworks and patient public engagement within the healthy ageing space.
University of Dundee
As core partner in the UK SPINE the drug discovery unit (DDU) at the University of Dundee drives the development of the drug discovery, drug screening, and lead optimisation portfolio through their world-leading drug discovery pipeline. Their work with the UKSPINE is funded through the Scottish Funding Council.
Medicines Discovery Catapult
The Medicines Discovery Catapult bring together a fragmented sector of industry, academia, charities, technologists, services, finance companies, SMEs and start-ups in the UK. They turn high-impact science into new, high-value products and services that are used to accelerate innovative drug discovery.
The Francis Crick
The Francis Crick Institute is dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. They aim to increase our fundamental understanding of how to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections and neurodegenerative diseases.