As the demographic of the UK population changes and people live longer, new pressures are being faced by the healthcare sector. It is therefore vital that university research responds to the challenges facing an ageing population to deliver better standards of healthcare without the burden of extra costs. Here at Sheffield, interdisciplinary working is at the forefront of our expertise to address healthcare issues from assisted living to regenerative medicine. The ChELSI Institute is an example of how clinical researchers interact with chemical engineers and industry partners to gain a better understanding of disease and develop new tools and therapies for their treatment.