LONDON, October 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
New philanthropic fund for research on ageing and health
British and American scientists met politicians and philanthropists at a reception in the House of Lords today (27 October 2014), to appeal for funds to support research into the biology of the ageing process.
It is imperative that we invest in fundamental biological research to ensure that the ageing population worldwide can remain healthy, and avoid the frailty and decline all too common among our older people today. Currently, potential donors cannot easily support such research in the UK. To meet this need, and help to turn recent research developments into clinical reality, the British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA) announced that it would solicit donations to support crucial biomedical research. The initial funding target has been set at £700,000 which will be used to train the very best young scientists.
At the reception, guests heard that biological research is already yielding interventions in, or close to, the clinic which could rapidly improve health and dramatically cut healthcare costs.
Professor Richard Faragher, of the BSRA said:"Good health is key to a happy old age.The science of ageing has reached a point at which small amounts of carefully targeted funding will yield great social returns. The time to act is now."
On making the first donation, Mark R. Collins of the US Glenn Foundation for Medical Research said: "It is a privilege to support the British Society for Research on Ageing in its efforts to extend the healthy years of life. We are confident that British donors will join us in supporting this important initiative."
Notes to the editor:
The following organisations are co-ordinating this international collaboration:
The British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA) is the oldest scientific society in the world promoting research aimed at achieving a healthy old age. It publishes a journal called Biogerontology. Website: http://www.bsra.org.uk. Its members include many of the greatest scientists in the world interested in the biology of the ageing process.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Society_for_Research_on_Ageing
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research was founded in 1965 by Paul F. Glenn to extend the healthy productive years of life through research on the mechanisms of biological ageing. Website: glennfoundation.org
The American Federation forAgingResearch (AFAR) has supported the science of healthier ageing since its foundation in 1981. AFAR has played a major role in advancing knowledge of ageing and mechanisms of age-related disease by providing grants to more than 2,800 talented scientists. Website: http://www.afar.org
For more information, or for media interviews, please contact:
Professor Richard Faragher: +44-(0)797-097-3842; rgaf@brighton.ac.uk (primary contact)
Dr James Brown: +44-(0)7707-976070; J.E.P.BROWN@aston.ac.uk
Dr David Weinkove: +44-(0)7981-993-912; david.weinkove@durham.ac.uk
Dr Jill Saffrey: +44-(0)7825-313976; jill.saffrey@open.ac.uk
Presentations from the event can be found at http://www.bsra.org.uk.
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