Published: 25 February 2026

By Rebecca Perl, Senior Communications Manager, Vivensa Foundation

AMRC member charity Vivensa Foundation recently published an in-depth report that sheds light on the gaps, challenges, and opportunities within the field of ageing-related research. It underscores the pressing need for targeted investment in research that addresses both the biological and social aspects of ageing.

The report was based on data from the 2022 UK Health Research Analysis (UK Clinical Research Collaboration, 2023) database. As advocates for transparency and collaboration within the research community, the Vivensa Foundation made the report and underlying data freely available. The report is available to download and the underlying data is freely available on the Figshare platform.

A third of all ageing-related research active in 2022 in the UK was funded by members of the AMRC, corresponding to 702 grants (33% of the number of all ageing-related research grants) totalling around £65m (22% of the funding for all the ageing-related research grants). Essentially, 1 in 3 ageing-related research grants were funded by an AMRC member, which equated to over £1 in every £5 committed to ageing-related research in the UK in 2022.

Important findings

There were a number of recommendations to come out of the report, in line with the NHS Ten-Year Health Plan and the Chief Medical Officer’s 2023 Annual Report on Health in an Ageing Society. These include:

• Increased support at the ‘translational’ and ‘applied’ stages of research. We need to ensure a suitable flow of skilled researchers who can bridge the gap between fundamental scientific discoveries and practical healthcare applications.
• Addressing geographic disparities in research funding, particularly given the growing concentration of older adults in rural, coastal and semi-rural areas.
• A focus on research into preventative measures, to prevent ageing-related conditions and improve the quality of life for older people.
• Improving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across all stages of the research and innovation pipeline. EDI should be central to the design of ageing-related research to ensure an increasingly diverse population is properly represented and that access to healthcare solutions is equitable.
• Prioritising funding for underfunded health categories, such as ageing-related musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions. There is also a need to address ageing-related cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Having the insights and recommendations from this report has enabled the Vivensa Foundation to look at how it allocates resources, shape research priorities and address funding gaps. Director of Research, Dr Sanjay Thakrar, says: “We used the findings to inform our Strategic Plan for the next five years. Our hope is that others in the field of ageing-related research will use the analysis to shape their funding priorities too. If we are to meet the pressing need for targeted investment in research that addresses both the biological and social aspects of ageing, funders need to work collaboratively and address critical funding gaps together.”

As the UK’s population continues to age, the implications for healthcare, social services, and society as a whole are becoming increasingly urgent. If we are to meet the needs of our ageing population, we must start by sharing information and working together to address disparities.

Since the publication of the Chief Medical Officer’s report and the Vivensa Foundation’s landscape analysis, a number of funders and other partners, including AMRC, have signed a statement of intent to include older adults in research. If anyone would like to join this mission or take action on other issues highlighted in the landscape report, please consider joining and being active in the UK Ageing Research Funders’ Forum (UKARFF) which is co-convened by the Vivensa Foundation and Economic and Social Research Council.