The Government has announced increased funding to tackle “the nation’s most pressing health problems”.

On 9 August Health Minister Lord Howe announced an investment of £124m from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) into treatments and techniques which could revolutionise future health care.

Experts from 13 research teams across the country are expected to spend the next five years working on ground-breaking projects.

The research that will be supported includes work to reduce the risk of dementia through exercise as well as strategies to improve the nutrition and health of those who have already been diagnosed.

Long terms conditions is another key area, the announcement said. Some research teams will be exploring ways to improve the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while others will be looking at better aftercare for stroke patients. There will also be research to help prevent at-risk groups from developing diabetes.

Some of the projects will be aiming aim to reduce pressures on A&E and include trying to cut down admissions in children under five and people with long-term conditions.

Lord Howe said: “This is great news for patients – this funding could potentially help the development of ground breaking treatments which could revolutionise care. With a growing elderly population, the need for innovative and effective solutions has never been more important. We want the UK to lead the world in terms of health research and this announcement underlines that commitment.

“It is vital that we invest in health research, not only to create the opportunities for health research to grow - but also to help our economy thrive so we can compete in the global race.”

Researchers from across the country were invited to bid for the funding, which has been provided by the Department of Health to address long-term conditions and public health challenges. The brief was that project should make a real impact on the lives of NHS patients. That could be either through revolutionary new treatments to tackle the biggest killer diseases, or improving the lives of patients by transforming their care. Each successful team of experts, known as NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs), is working on a number of different projects.

Professor Dame Sally C Davies, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department of Health, commented: “I’m delighted we have today announced the successful schemes and I’m very much looking forward to hearing updates on how patients will benefit from this research.

“The teams are following a strong tradition of success as the National Institute for Health Research has a proven record track record of world-class health research in the NHS.

“Supporting our leading researchers is so important and these NIHR CLAHRCs will link the NHS, universities, and other relevant organisations providing care for patients in what will be ground-breaking work to improve the lives of thousands of patients across the country.”

The researchers from the new CLAHRCs will also work closely with industry, such as pharmaceutical companies, software companies and medical device manufacturers.