The DTA Applied Biosciences for Health programme, was the inaugural DTA programme commencing in October 20215. Its aim was to connect researchers from across the network under an interdisciplinary umbrella theme of “understanding and promoting healthy ageing”. This encompassed Alliance research strengths on aspects of the biology of ageing, physical activity and rehabilitation, mental health, human disease and technology development. Over the years, PhD research projects covered topics ranging from medical chemistry to gut biology and molecular biology to computer modelling of healthy ageing to name but a few.

Between October 2015 and November 2023, 14 universities and 134 doctoral researchers benefited from being part of this national network of biosciences researchers. Over the year, the programme has been led by leading academics from across the network:

• Professor Yvonne Barnett, 
  Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Anglia Ruskin University
• Professor Jamie McPhee, 
  Head of Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Professor Adrian Dodds, 
  Head of School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Surrey
• Professor Vicky Rand, 
  Head of Biosciences Research, National Horizon Centre, Teesside University

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