Tim Spector MD

The Chronic Disease Research Foundation (CDRF) is an independent medical research charity founded in 1996 and registered in England and Wales. It funds gene research and multidisciplinary projects seeking to understand and address chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, long-term COVID, arthritis, dementia, back pain and migraine. Its work also explores connections between the gut microbiome, healthy ageing and age-related illness.

CDRF supports research at the Department of Twin Research at St Thomas’ Hospital and collaborates with researchers at King’s College London. Its initiatives include the COVID Symptom Study, which used data from citizen scientists to improve understanding of symptoms, prevalence and transmission, and TwinsUK Imaging, a longitudinal project using whole-body MRI to investigate ageing and health. The foundation has also supported microbiome research examining how genetics, diet and gut microbes may affect cardiovascular health.

CDRF funds current and past research projects, awards grants, publishes research and supports early-stage initiatives through seed funding. It relies on donations and grants, inviting individuals and organisations to contribute to its medical research programmes.