Our research
The Research Councils provide support for a wide range of ageing-related research activities, from understanding the basic biology of ageing, to novel technologies for assisted living and telecare. Support is also provided for important resources such as population and birth cohorts that enable observational studies seeking to elucidate the links between lifestyle factors and improved health in older age.
Individually, the Research Councils invest in their own research priorities, often partnering with other funders and stakeholders. The Research Councils are committed to working together to address shared research agendas and do this through joint funding of the LLHW programme.
Since 2008 the Research Councils, in partnership with the UK health departments, have committed £30m of joint funding specifically aimed at multi-disciplinary cross-sector ageing research.
Portfolio of LLHW investment:
- Three multi-disciplinary LLHW centres focusing on the ageing brain and quality of life
- Three LLHW research collaboratives in the areas of pain management, rehabilitation and lifestyle-based interventions to enhance health and wellbeing in older age
- Seven LLHW research grants over a 5 year period in a diverse range of areas including, menopause, mechanical properties of ageing tissue, frailty and lifestyle.
- Ten 2 year pilot studies across a range of ageing topics
- Ten short term LLHW capacity building networks
- Support for 29 LLHW PhD students
Details of investigators and institutions who have been awarded LLHW funding are provided below should you wish to discuss a research collaboration.
LLHW Centres - £11m
Three ‘lifelong health and wellbeing’ research centres announced in 2008 were funded by the BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC and MRC. The centres aim to carry out multidisciplinary ageing research and to support capacity building.
Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology
University of Edinburgh
Professor Ian Deary
Centre for Brain Ageing and Vitality
Newcastle University
Professor Doug Turnbull
The Crucible Centre
University College London
Professor Nick Tyler
LLHW Research Collaboratives - £4.5m
In 2009, three LLHW Collaboratives were established to build multidisciplinary teams of researchers to undertake innovative, high quality ageing research. Strong stakeholder and user engagement is a feature of these awards.
LiveWell
University of Newcastle
Professor John Mathers
EOPIC – Engaging with Older People to Develop and Deliver Interventions for the Self-management of Chronic Pain
University of Aberdeen
Professor Blair Smith
Envisage
University of Strathclyde
Professor Philip Rowe
LLHW Research Grants - £9m
LLHW Research Grants fund high quality innovative research conducted by multidisciplinary teams addressing major challenges in ageing and adding value to the overall strategic objectives of the LLHW initiative. Seven research grants, awarded in 2010, range from two to five years in duration.
LLHW Pilot Studies - £2.5m
Ten LLHW Pilot Studies, awarded in 2010, have been funded for a maximum duration of two years to support pilot or feasibility studies aimed at informing the development of future cross-disciplinary research projects.
Collaborative Development Networks
Ten short-term Collaborative Development Networks were funded in 2009 to build research capacity and capability by establishing multi-disciplinary partnerships between researchers, stakeholders and users.
*Please note that funding for these networks has now finished.
Capacity Building
29 PhD students as well as a large number of post-doctoral and early career researchers are supported across the LLHW portfolio to undertake multidisciplinary ageing research and training.
Related pages
- About LLHW
- Our research
- LLHW priorities
- Funding and activities
- Impacts and achievements
- Contact LLHW
