Investigating development, ageing and chronic disease
A complex mix of genetic, environmental, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors influences the development of chronic diseases. To understand the interactions between these factors, we need to integrate research at many levels: molecular and cellular, tissue and organ, system and whole-organism, individual and population. The challenge is to apply this knowledge to prevent, diagnose and treat these diseases and to provide an evidence base to inform public health policy, while taking account of cultural, social and healthcare settings.
This Wellcome Trust film, called 'Until', is a journey in which leading UK age researchers, children, the elderly and a man seeking immortality explore some of life's most profound questions. The human lifespan is increasing by two hours every day. But how much life is enough - 100 or 1000 years?
Running time: 29 min 48s
Examples of our funding
The following examples illustrate the support we provide to improve our understanding of life - from the molecular to the population level - and of the chronic diseases that can afflict us.
Characterising physiological processes in health and disease
A number of our Wellcome Trust Centres perform basic research into how molecules, cells, organs and systems function in physiological processes and how they are altered by ageing and different disease states. Membrane proteins constitute about one-third of the proteins expressed from the human genome and are the targets of a significant number of drugs. Funded by the Trust, the Membrane Protein Laboratory at the Diamond synchrotron provides equipment, training and expertise in this area.
We are supporting research that will lead to greater understanding of the epidemiology of chronic disease in Britain and India [PDF 160KB], and the work performed at the Africa Centre for Human and Population Studies is improving our understanding of how communities, households and individuals are affected by simultaneous epidemics of HIV and lifestyle diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
We fund the development of animal models and research resources as well as clinical research (for example, through the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facilities), and cohort and population studies such as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).
To inform the effective delivery of interventions through health services we have supported the use of Electronic Patient Records in health research. The first publications from this e-health initiative provide insight into the use of antibiotics to treat respiratory tract infections and the methodology of stroke research.
To help engage the public on the societal questions raised by this area, the 'Great Sperm Race' documentary (viewable at the Channel 4 website), told the story of human conception by scaling it up to human size and Surgery Live took television viewers into the operating theatre to watch leading surgeons perform life-saving operations, including brain and open-heart surgery.
For full information on this challenge, see our Strategic Plan 2010-20. Details of the support we provide to researchers can be found in Funding.
