Recipient organisationUniversity of YorkSource-published name: University of York
Funding£694K
PeriodSept 2025 — Sept 2028
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
The Physics of Life Network is launching its fourth phase to force collisions between physicists and biologists that produce technologies neither field would create alone. The problem is that the UK already has world-class physicists and biologists, but they rarely work together in ways that generate genuinely new tools or treatments. The network exists to force those interactions—through workshops, shared funding, and training programmes—so that discoveries in fundamental physics find their way into medicine, biotechnology, and agriculture. If this succeeds, the UK could see new diagnostics for cancer and neurological conditions, biomimetic molecular machinery that improves how plants fix CO₂, and a trained generation of researchers who move fluidly between physical and life sciences. The network also aims to establish national Masters training and a mentoring scheme for early-career researchers, building long-term capacity rather than one-off projects. This is primarily a community-building and skills initiative. It does not itself produce a specific drug or device, but it creates the conditions—funding, connections, training—under which such breakthroughs become more likely.
View original technical description
This proposal lays foundations for a new translational research landscape to stimulate world-leading strengths in the UK at the physical-life sciences interface, via an ambitious 4th phase of PoLNET, the Physics of Life Network. Underpinned by widespread junior researcher support and integration of interdisciplinary communities, PoLNET4 will facilitate disruptive impact in life sciences, medicine and biotechnology to advance UK’s leading role in these fields, through: (1) Disruptive innovation. Since PoLNET’s 2012 inception, there has been a high demand for physical-life science workshops involving existing/new members, stimulating myriad collaborations culminating in innovations in technology and theoretical/computational approaches, exemplified in the over-subscribed £33m UKRI/Wellcome PoL SPF. PoLNET4 will use its network funding to develop to widen and develop these interactions using new national research Hubs centred around the most disruptive innovation areas as a mechanism. (2) Improving translational research. Over the past decade, there have been increased opportunities for translational PoL impact across all UKRI Strategic Themes, many coupled to PoLNET workshops co-supported by charities focused on human diseases. Evidence is emerging for real-world impact e.g. new diagnostics and treatment for cancer and neurological conditions as well as net zero and food security e.g. biomimetic molecular machinery implemented in plants to improve CO2 fixation. PoLNET4 will strengthen its biomedical links to enable new impact to clinical research and establish Impact Workshops to dramatically strengthen industrial engagement. (3) Growing UK capacity & expertise. There has been huge demand from early career researchers (ECRs) for PoL training schools, and >100 expressions of interest for the PoLNET ‘PDRA Call’ (physicsoflife.org.uk/polnet-pdra-call-2023) as a unique opportunity for PDRAs to apply for their own funds, with significant engagement in PoLNET’s Mentoring Scheme for this. PoLNET4 will build on these initiatives to champion nationwide mentoring and build foundations for national Masters’ training at the physics-life interface centred around Hubs. (4) Increasing global impact. PoLNET4 will strengthen ties with complementary international networks and organisations to share knowledge and good practice, establish reciprocal programmes and joint events, and increase the global impact of UK PoL. PoLNET4’s aim is to maximise UK PoL impact through targeting six primary objectives (O1-O6). It will drive the interdisciplinary community to make step changes, maintaining pipelines of discovery research (O1), fuelling increased translational activities (O2, O3), helping grow national resilience in Big Data challenges (O4), increasing impact nationally and globally (see O5) and strengthening the next generation of researchers (O6). It will address these objectives by: - Catalysing workshops to shape the emerging disruptive research landscape through new PoL Research Hubs. - Facilitating widespread engagement between Hubs to maximise impact through strengthening collaborations/access. - Establishing Hub connectivity through knowledge transfer of ECR research visits. - Working with partners and funders to negotiate mainstream UK PoL ‘normalised’ responsive mode funding, uplifted by strategic funding through Hubs. - Engaging charities, major research organisations, and complementary networks to co-host workshops on key impact challenges (in-kind contribution value >£100k) - Stimulating exploitation of PoL research through Impact Workshops/Conferences. - Providing ECR education through summer/winter schools, outreach and an ECR network; establishing a national Mentoring Scheme; creating PoL Masters training via Hubs. - Engaging theoretical/computational, biomaths and soft matter communities. - Building strong links to national research facilities. - Strengthening ties to several complementary learned societies/organisations, enabling the community to be responsive to joint international calls.
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