Research and innovation

The Nucleic Acid Network will bring together researchers, industry partners and policymakers from across the UK. Supported by more than £900,000 in combined funding, including £650,000 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and £267,000 in partner contributions, the initiative will create a coordinated, cross-disciplinary community focused on advancing nucleic acid research and innovation.

Dr Thomas Howard, Reader in Synthetic and Molecular Biology, in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences is the Newcastle University lead.

He said: “At Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, we are committed to building a truly collaborative culture. This network offers an exciting opportunity to connect disciplines, share expertise, and create an inclusive space where ideas can flourish.

“By working together across traditional boundaries, we can accelerate innovation and ensure that knowledge and skills are shared widely for the benefit of all. We are especially keen to contribute to a network that prioritises openness, training, and knowledge exchange—creating opportunities for early-career researchers and students to engage with experts from multiple fields. This is about building capacity as much as delivering innovation.”

Dr Amanda Collis, Executive Director for Research Strategy and Programmes at BBSRC, said:

 “Nucleic acid research has enormous potential to transform healthcare, sustainable agriculture and so much more, but realising that potential requires the kind of coordinated, cross-disciplinary collaboration that this network is designed to enable. BBSRC is proud to support this initiative, which will help connect talented researchers and innovators from across the UK and accelerate the translation of cutting-edge science into real-world solutions. We look forward to seeing the community grow and the impact it will deliver.”

Real world solutions

Currently, researchers across a wide range of disciplines who could contribute to nucleic acid innovation are often dispersed across disciplines and institutions, limiting opportunities for collaboration and slowing the translation of discoveries into real-world applications.

The network, led by the University of Portsmouth in collaboration with Newcastle University, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Sheffield, the University of Strathclyde and the University of York, marks an important step towards building a coordinated, cross-disciplinary community in nucleic acid research and innovation.

It will connect expertise across disciplines, including molecular biology, chemistry, engineering, computational science, and biotechnology, alongside anyone with an interest in nucleic acids, helping to speed up innovation and get new nucleic acid-based ideas out of the laboratory and into real-world use.

By fostering collaboration at a national scale, the initiative will support the development of next-generation therapeutics, diagnostics and enabling technologies. These advances will deliver impact across multiple sectors, including healthcare, as well as sustainable agriculture, environmental remediation, biomanufacturing and emerging technologies

Anastasia Callaghan, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at the University of Portsmouth, said: “This network is about bringing people together who might not otherwise connect. If we want to see real progress in nucleic acid innovation, we need to work across disciplines and sectors, sharing ideas and building new collaborations.

“By creating an open and inclusive community, we hope to enable new partnerships and support people at all career stages to help translate research into real-world solutions.”

Next steps

As part of this next phase, the network has launched its LinkedIn page, followed by a website, providing a central platform for updates, opportunities and engagement. Researchers, industry partners and stakeholders at all career stages are invited to join the growing community and help us shape its future.

Kristina Kovacic, PhD, General Manager ATDBio (a Biotage company), said: “ATDBio is delighted to join the ‘Innovation Across Nucleic Acids UK’ network. We look forward to supporting researchers across the UK, contributing our expertise and resources to foster innovation and collaboration across nucleic acid disciplines and sectors.”

The leadership team emphasised that openness, inclusivity and accessibility will be central to the network’s activities, with opportunities for early-career researchers, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with industry and policymakers.

The network will also provide targeted support for early-career researchers and technicians through training, networking opportunities, and dedicated development initiatives.

Next steps

The network will now move into its first phase of activity, including:

• A national launch campaign to build and connect the community
• Delivering a series of workshops and networking sessions to foster collaboration
• Establishing working groups shaped by community interests and emerging themes
• Launching funding calls and supporting proof-of-concept and collaborative projects
• Developing mentoring schemes and support for early-career researchers
• Creating opportunities for placements and secondments across institutions and sectors
• Engaging with policymakers to inform strategy and maximise impact

Further details and updates will be shared via the network’s LinkedIn page and once launched, the website. By building a connected national community, the network aims to accelerate discovery, enable translation into real-world solutions, and deliver impact across health, sustainability and emerging technologies.

Join the conversation in our NEW LinkedIn Page here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iana-network

Join the network here: signing up page

Press release adapted with thanks to Portsmouth University