This volume and its companion stem from the New Dynamics of Ageing (NDA) research programme 2005–15, funded by five UK Research Councils: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Medical Research Council (MRC). In breaking the mould of previous inter-Council collaborations to create this single programme, the Research Councils are to be congratulated and thanked, not only for the pooled funding, but also for the enormous effort involved to fashion a single commissioning process from five different systems. The Cross-Council Committee on Ageing did the bulk of the heavy lifting, and is duly thanked most warmly. The ESRC led for the other Research Councils, and special thanks are due to it and especially to Joy Todd, for both her initial hard work and constant support over the life of the programme.

Thanks are also due also to the numerous researchers who took part in Commissioning Panels and in the extensive peer review processes. The NDA Advisory Committee, chaired by Sally Greengross, was a tremendous source of support. Other members were Alan Beazley, Alan Blackwell, Chris Carey, Mark Gorman, Tessa Harding, David Leon, Angela McCullagh, Bronagh Miskelly, Naina Patel, Chris Phillipson, Jim Soulsby and Anthea Tinker. Previous members included Keith Bright, Paul Cann, Steve Cook, Rachel Kyrs, Janet Lord and Tony Martin. Special praise must be given to Anthea Tinker, whose wise advice, clear judgement, enthusiasm and warm friendship could always be relied upon.

The Older Persons Reference Group, while rightly challenging at times, was also an essential ingredient in this programme's success. Led superbly by Mary Sinfield, its members included John Barry, Mary Brown, Cynthia Conrad, Jim Harding, Anthony Hill, John Jeffrey, Savita Katbamna, Teresa Lefort, Irene Richards, Elsie Richardson, Elizabeth Sclater, Harbhajan Singh and Brian Todd. Previous members included Diane Andrews, John Appleyard, Bob Bell, Brian Booker, Tony Carter, John Christie, Janet Cullup, Iris Dodds, Christine Hamilton, David Hart, Shirley Heselton, Pauline Richards, Norman Richards, Barbara Shillabeer, Diane Smeeton, Steve Thornett, Stephen Townsend and Urmilla Tanna.