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• £917,000 will be spent on maximising the power of nucleic acids such as and
• It will support the formation of a multi-disciplinary community of scientists, engineers and innovators together with members from academia, industry and government
• Greater collaboration will enable significant and rapid advances in medicine, agriculture, environmental solutions and IT

Significant and rapid advances in medicine, agriculture, environmental solutions and even IT could be achieved with greater collaboration. 

Currently, scientists working on new technologies and methods maximising the power of nucleic acids such as and are often working in isolation or small, disparate groups. 

But now, a wide-ranging co-operative network is being created with a £650,000 (BBSRC) grant and further funding support of £267,000 from industry partners.  

This new UK-wide network will bring together researchers working on some of the most exciting and fast-moving areas of DNA and RNA science to establish a nationwide cross-disciplinary community of scientists, engineers and innovators who will work together to solve problems, develop new applications and meet emerging needs in society. 

By working collectively in this way, the network aims to speed up innovation and get new DNA and RNA-based ideas out of the laboratory and into real-world use. That could mean faster treatments, more sustainable technology, and better tools to tackle global challenges.

Whether it is more effective medicines and treatments; smarter ways to grow food; clever measures to clean up the environment; or the development of higher performance computers, academics agree that so much more could be achieved more quickly by bringing together multiple scientific disciplines such as chemical biology, molecular biology and biophysics, bioengineering, and computational biology.

The Network will champion a wide range of DNA and RNA-related research, including:

• Next-generation medical treatments using RNA to target diseases more precisely
• DNA nanotechnology, where DNA is engineered to act like nanorobots - tiny machines for drug delivery or diagnostics
• Synthetic biology, designing new biological systems using DNA/RNA for cleaner manufacturing or climate solutions
• Bioengineering that improves crops or cleans up pollution
• Computational biology, using AI and data science to understand how DNA/RNA behave and interact

Formation of the Nucleic Acids Innovation Network is being led by academics from the , together with colleagues from the , , the , , and .

, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at the ����������, said: “For some considerable time, we have recognised that there is a clear need to create a proactive network that fosters collaboration across isolated areas of research if we are to truly and effectively unlock innovation. Despite the UK’s strong leadership in nucleic acid research, significant barriers to cross-disciplinary collaboration exist. There are no current professional bodies, societies or networks regularly bringing disciplines working on nucleic acids together.

“Our vision is to build a network that facilitates cross-disciplinary transformative breakthroughs capable of benefiting a wide range of sectors. The network will also comprise members from across academia, industry, and government.”

Associate Professor at the ����������’s , , added: “An important aspect of the network is that all events will be free to attend, ensuring accessibility for participants from all disciplines. To further support engagement, bursaries will be offered to help cover the costs of in-person attendance. Additionally, small grants will be available for proof-of-concept projects that prioritise cross-disciplinary research.”

“We are committed to building a truly collaborative culture”, said , from Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. “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.”

from the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: “The creation of a nucleic acids network to promote innovation across sectors, from blue sky research to biotechnology, diagnostics, and manufacturing, is a huge opportunity to kickstart and promote growth in this area across the UK. This is reflected in the level of support from industry for this network, spanning leading global players through to innovative, growing startups. The network will be truly national, with a leadership team distributed across disciplines and across the UK, bringing different viewpoints and insights to support research across the nucleic acid space."

A Leadership Team, spanning the United Kingdom, will head up the network, establishing first a network hub. To encourage and consolidate collaborative working, webinars, workshops, mentoring and discussion groups will support learning and promote open communication and exchange of ideas. Placements and working groups will provide collaborative spaces to work together and embed new knowledge and capabilities.

Additionally, ideas will be tested to develop into full project proposals. The network will also support opinion pieces and best practice publications, promote opportunities for policy engagement and white papers, as well as support public engagement activities and events.

Scientists, engineers and academics who are keen to find out more and register their interest in being a member of the Nucleic Acids Innovation Network can do so via the Linkedin page.