Discovery 5.0 heralds a human-centric, sustainable and resilient approach to research, mirroring the transformation that Industry 5.0 has delivered in manufacturing. It re-imagines laboratory practice as a circular, stakeholder-driven ecosystem that values social benefit and planetary boundaries alongside scientific novelty. This vision is illustrated by fibre-optic MEMS sensors that quantify neuroimmune pain signatures from a single drop of blood. The technology progressed from rodent discovery to bedside read-out in people, was then ruggedised for use in sheep and cattle, and finally fed livestock insights back into next-generation human diagnostics, creating a bidirectional translation loop. Networked communities fostered by cross-sectoral teams, such as the SABRE Alliance, demonstrate how trusted data sharing and co-design across academia, industry, government, defence and veterinary practice can accelerate such pipelines. Discovery 5.0 further integrates digital-twin platforms to replace large-animal experiments, trimming cost, carbon footprint and ethical burden. As research impact is increasingly displayed on open scorecards, success will belong to studies that maximise human benefit, safeguard the planet and bolster system resilience; guiding funders, journals and innovators toward micro-photonic health technologies that are personalised, circular and publicly trusted.