Annex 2
Memorandum from The Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
BBSRC SUPPORT FOR
AGEING RESEARCH
1. BBSRC has been an active player in supporting
ageing research over the period 1997-2004, funding a portfolio
of research projects investigating the underlying biological processes
of healthy ageing. In addition to supporting a number of research
projects through its normal framework of research support (responsive
mode and strategic grants to institutes), BBSRC has funded two
initiatives:
2. The Science of Ageing (SAGE) launched
in 1998 covering:
cellular senescence: the mechanism
of tissue damage and breakdown;
biochemistry of stress, repair and
accumulation of damage;
ageing in biological systems, particularly
neurosciences and immunology; and
the ageing population and evolution:
understanding the primary mechanisms of ageing and underlying
genetic determinants of life span and reproduction potential.
3. Experimental Research into Ageing (ERA)
launched in 2001 covering:
the genetics of normal ageing;
interventions in ageing: including
small molecule pharmacological agents, such as free radical scavenger;
and
4. These initiatives were designed to investigate
and generate a greater understanding of the biochemistry, cell
biology and genetics of the normal ageing process and to expand
the capacity of the UK academic community in studying the fundamental
biological science of ageing. Much of the research utilises model
organisms from which it is expected that discoveries will be translated
to the benefit of humans. These initiatives have been co-ordinated
through BBSRC by a number of representatives in the UK ageing
research community (BBSRC SAGE and ERA panels) to ensure projects
are monitored for progress (by an annual workshop) and to ensure
projects are achieving their objectives. BBSRC's advisory body
(most recently the ERA Panel) has also been used to provide strategic
advice about the future direction of BBSRC support for ageing
research. BBSRC has appointed a representative from Help the Aged/
Research into Ageing as a member of the ERA Panel to enable better
co-ordination with some representatives from the charity sector.
5. Recently BBSRC has supported a research
project led by Professor Tom Kirkwood (Newcastle) titled BASIS
(Biology of Ageing e-Science Integration and Simulation) through
its Bioinformatics and e-Science Programme that seeks to develop
a web-based modelling system to test and predict hypotheses in
mechanisms of ageing that researchers in the community can down-load
and use for themselves (see Nature Reviews (2003) 4 243-249
for work supported under SAGE leading to this project). Component
parts of the project will include a "virtual ageing cell",
"virtual ageing tissues" and eventually a "virtual
ageing organism" to allow the development of predictive ageing
research.
FUTURE BBSRC INVOLVEMENT
IN AGEING
RESEARCH: PRIORITIES
AND GAPS
6. BBSRC will feature the support of ageing
research under a new Strategy Panel called The Healthy Organism.
This Panel will begin work at the end of 2004 and develop a number
of plans including implementation of BBSRC's Strategic Plan objectives
in Ageing research, following an analysis of the BBSRC ageing
research portfolio. The BBSRC ERA Panel has identified one area
likely to be of interest in the context of healthy ageing, the
role of diet and nutrition throughout life and how appropriate
diet and nutrition contributes to healthy ageing. In the context
of research support mechanisms, the ERA Panel has identified that
both research projects and training awards will be necessary to
support future areas of research in ageing in order to maintain
the research capacity in this field.
7. BBSRC is in the process of announcing
a new £10 million initiative to promote the interdisciplinary
interaction between biologists and chemists Selective Chemical
Intervention in Biological Systems (SCIBS). This initiative
will support work to allow the details of the biological process
to be understood in great detail. Ageing is one area that will
be highlighted: the process of healthy ageing is likely to be
under the control of a number of different factors which may be
amenable to detailed dissection through the use of small molecules
in this way. BBSRC is also collaborating with the Royal Society
of Chemistry (RSC) to promote interactions between the disciplines
in the "chemistry of ageing". An initial workshop was
held in June 2004 and a further workshop is planned for January
2005.
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