Welcome to
Chronic Disease Research Foundation
The Chronic Disease Research Foundation (CDRF), founded in May 1996, is an independent medical research charity.
The CDRF funds a wide range of gene research programs that aim to discover the cause of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, long-term COVID, arthritis, dementia, back pain, and migraine. Current projects are investigating the link between the gut microbiome, healthy ageing and age-related chronic diseases.
The CDRF runs many successful projects at the Department of Twin Research at St Thomas' Hospital.
We hope that the results of this research will contribute to the development of future diagnostic tests and treatments.​
We rely entirely on non-governmental donations and grants to conduct our research.
MICHAEL MOSLEY FELLOWSHIP FUND UPDATE
We sincerely thank all contributors for their generous donations to the MMMF.
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Although the campaign has not reached its fellowship target after a year, the CDRF trustees and Michael Mosley’s family will use the funds raised to support three seed projects. This initiative provides substantial opportunities for early-career researchers and serves to uphold the legacy of Dr. Michael Mosley.
What is seed funding in medical research?
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Seed funding in medical research provides initial, small-scale financial support to spark innovative projects, gather preliminary data, and establish proof of concept. This funding serves as a bridge between early discoveries and the securing of substantial, long-term investment or commercial backing. By supporting high-risk, novel ideas and promoting interdisciplinary teamwork, seed funding helps researchers demonstrate feasibility, thus strengthening applications for larger external grants. Such projects are usually short-term, typically needing results within 12–15 months. Seed funding is often used to develop prototypes, validate new diagnostic methods, or initiate collaborative projects, especially within academic or research institutions. Supporting smaller-scale efforts in this way can provide crucial momentum for larger scientific investigations later on.
For further details on the three selected projects, please visit this page.
The campaign remains open, and we welcome additional donations. The CDRF will continue to use further funds for innovative research in honour of Dr Mosley’s legacy. Thank you for your ongoing support.
CDRF Achievements
Funding from the CDRF has fostered innovation and agility in responding to emerging research needs, highlighting our pivotal role in advancing multidisciplinary research and collaborative approaches to address pressing health challenges and enhance public health outcomes.
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The COVID Symptom Study
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The COVID Symptom Study, led by Professors Ourselin and Steves at King's College London (KCL) in collaboration with ZOE Health, significantly influenced the understanding and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid funding from the CDRF in 2020 enabled a broad research team and millions of citizen scientists to mobilise quickly, providing valuable real-time data on virus prevalence, symptoms, and transmission dynamics. The study informed public health decisions, facilitated early hotspot detection, identified new disease symptoms like loss of smell and taste, and highlighted disparities in disease impact across demographics and regions. These findings guided policy responses, resource allocation, and public health messaging globally, launching further research grants in related areas. Click on the CSS Biobank button to see how your contributions have made a difference.
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TwinsUK Imaging: A Resource for Ageing and Research
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Twins provide a unique opportunity to explore how genetics, lifestyle, and environment shape health and ageing. A pioneering study funded by the CDRF and led by Professors Steves and Ourselin is advancing state-of-the-art whole-body scanning techniques and data analysis. By scanning twins aged over 50 and integrating up to 30 years of comprehensive laboratory, questionnaire, and health data, the multidisciplinary team aims to uncover key factors influencing organ ageing. The research includes developing innovative multi-organ scanning capabilities using a cutting-edge low-field MRI scanner, with broad potential in healthcare. Additionally, the study focuses on refining motion correction methods to enhance imaging data quality. As the largest study of its kind globally, it promises significant insights into organ ageing, critical for guiding future health research and interventions.
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The Gut Microbiome
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The CDRF has played a crucial role in funding microbiome research, including enhancing infrastructure at the Department of Twin Research to ensure consistent DNA extraction and higher data quality. Dr Christina Menni's research emphasises the gut microbiome's significant role in health, linking microbiology, genetics, and clinical medicine. With CDRF support, her team has explored how genetics influence gut microbial substances and their impact on cholesterol levels, aiming to develop personalised dietary approaches to reduce heart disease risk. They have utilised high throughput “omics” data from large cohorts to uncover how microbial and dietary factors affect cardiovascular health, aiming to improve prevention and treatment strategies through microbiome research
New Award
TwinsUK Imaging: A Resource for Ageing and Research
The CDRF is pleased to announce funding for the “TwinsUK Imaging: A Resource for Ageing and Research” award. The five-year longitudinal study will use members of the TwinsUK cohort to investigate the ageing process. TwinsUK is the UK’s largest adult twin registry and the most clinically detailed worldwide. Using whole-body MRI scans, the project will enable researchers to investigate the influence of environmental factors on ageing and the development of age-related diseases. The research will focus on normal brain ageing, the genetic and environmental determinants of cognitive decline, age-related cardiovascular change, and how diet affects ageing.
The project will be led by Prof Claire Steves, who, with researchers from KCL, has set up the Centre for Ageing Resilience in a Changing Environment (CARICE). The objectives of CARICE are to understand the impact of ageing and climate change on individuals and populations and how we can best prepare to meet and cope with the challenges of these internal and external stresses.
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