Call for life science companies to get involved in UK's largest ever health programme

Life science companies can find out more about the UK’s biggest health programme and opportunities to get involved by signing up for a webinar taking place this week (Thursday 1 October 2020).

The UK Research and Innovation-funded Accelerating Detection of Disease (ADD) programme is the UK’s largest ever health research initiative. Over the next four years it will recruit five million volunteers to support research intended to improve early detection, risk stratification, and early intervention for chronic diseases.

ADD volunteers will provide biological samples and health related data. With their consent, volunteers’ data will be linked to NHS records, and ADD will also offer volunteers feedback about their health, if they choose. Some will be invited to provide repeat samples and join follow-on studies designed to test the potential of new diagnostic tests or treatments, particularly if they’re at higher risk for certain diseases.

The unrivalled depth and detail of the ADD programme will make it a unique resource for health research. Researchers from across academia and industry will have the chance to work with ADD to conduct studies that could improve the way we detect, diagnose and treat diseases.

Speakers at the seminar include:

  • Alison Cave, Accelerating Detection of Disease challenge director at UK Research and Innovation
  • Andrew Roddam, CEO, Early Disease Detection Research Project UK Ltd, the charity that runs the ADD programme
  • Fiona Reddington, Exec Director of Partnerships, Early Disease Detection Research Project UK Ltd.

Alison explains: “For most chronic disorders, the disease process starts many years before symptoms start to show and diseases aren’t detected until they’re more difficult to treat, increasing the severity of symptoms and resulting in lower survival rates. ADD offers a unique opportunity to accelerate research in diagnostics, artificial intelligence and healthcare, leading to better prevention and treatment of disease”

Sign up for the webinar here>>>

Further information

The ADD programme is funded by £79 million from UKRI’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund which is expected to be matched by funding of up to £160 million from industry. 



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