Innovative automation to find new interventions that slow ageing

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Magnitude Biosciences is a contract research organisation based in Sedgefield, County Durham. It is a world leader in providing research services using the tiny nematode worm called _Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)_ and the only one in based in the UK. This worm has physiological similarities to humans and a very short lifespan (2-3 weeks). It has been used successfully by researchers for over 40 years to help us understand human diseases and the ageing process. However, its use to identify potentially beneficial medicines or supplements to slow ageing or prevent chronic diseases like dementia has not been well exploited.Magnitude Biosciences uses _C. elegans_ to provide research services for the emerging longevity industry to determine the effects of compounds on ageing. Companies in this industry want to be able to determine the effects of their compounds on ageing quickly and there are very few alternative ways to achieve this goal. The innovative imaging technology developed by Magnitude Biosciences allows ageing in _C. elegans_ to be assessed in 7 days. Using _C. elegans_ is significantly faster and cheaper than conducting pre-clinical studies in other animals and reduces the number of rodents that would otherwise be used.However, many customers have informed the company they want to screen many more compounds for a lower price per compound. Achieving this goal requires automation in 3 areas: agar petri dish preparation, seeding bacteria (worm food) and manipulating worms. Equipment that is suitable for this automation is not available commercially.The aim of this project is to develop innovative automation methods that will increase productivity and allow Magnitude Biosciences to serve a larger set of customers around the world.Increasing the number of compounds that can be screened dramatically increases the chances that customers will find interventions that slow ageing or prevent age-related diseases. This will be hugely beneficial for society and the economy. Resulting company growth would increase high-skilled employment in North East England.