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.