BLAST will partner with academics across multiple disciplines including biologists, engineers, chemists, social scientists and economists, as well as with biotech, pharma, business, healthcare professionals and policymakers to identify effective interventions in ageing processes and promote the implementation of findings through translation into policy and practice.
Professor Faragher said: “We are at the cusp of scientific developments that will transform health in later years here in the UK and around the world. Keeping millions of older people healthy and out of hospital will hugely reduce costs and pressures on the NHS, GPs and the wider health and care systems. Not only will this benefit us as individuals, living longer, healthier and more productive lives, it will also help the UK continue to lead the way as a healthcare pioneer recognised around the world.
“A race is now on, and the countries and companies that can capitalise on the biology of ageing will be in a position to shape global healthcare provision as life expectancy continues to rise to levels previous generations could only dream of.”
The BLAST project is one response to the UK government’s pledge to increase the healthy life expectancy of the population by an extra five years by 2035 without increasing inequality. Ten other ageing networks, bringing together forty UK universities, have also been funded by BBSRC and MRC, but with BLAST playing a key role in harmonising and facilitating this new national effort.
This recognises the leading role Â̲èÖ±²¥ researchers have played for more than two decades in deciphering the fundamental biology of ageing – not least through Professor Faragher's pioneering studies of cell senescence and the ways in which it can be reversed. Â̲èÖ±²¥ students work at postgraduate level alongside Professor Faragher and other leading researchers in the on the distinctive Stress, Ageing and Chronic Disease MRes.
In addition to his work at Â̲èÖ±²¥, Professor Faragher is a past Chair of the British Society for Research on Ageing and a Director of the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR). He has been awarded the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Medal for scientific achievement and the Lord Cohen Medal of the British Society for Research on Ageing for his work on cell senescence. He also holds a Living Legend award from Help the Aged for his championship of older people and the use of research for their benefit.