Ageing Is A Hot Topic In Newcastle Gateshead
Following the announcement of a £40m National Centre for Ageing Science and Innovation to be opened by Newcastle University, NewcastleGateshead has recorded a busy year for ageing-related conferences and events.
The Newcastle University Institute for Ageing welcomed delegates from across the globe at various events over the past 12 months, the most significant event being the 6th Annual Alliance for Healthy Aging in October 2015. The Institute has also welcomed guests, speakers and partners across seven meetings and events, with an additional four still to come, all focusing on the ageing sector.
Next to be hosted in November is the 10 year anniversary celebration of the 85+ project – the first research project of its kind in the UK to carry out a study on subjects 85 years of age. 2018 will celebrate the 70 year anniversary of the Newcastle Thousand Families Study, an ongoing study that has monitored the health and lifestyles of over 1,000 individuals from birth, and now covers a wide range of social and health topics related to understanding how we can age better.
Paul Szomoru, head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “The Newcastle University Institute for Ageing is a fantastic asset for the city. Furthermore the establishment of the National Centre for Ageing Science and Innovation is not only a testament to the outstanding work and research of the University, but reflects national confidence in their ageing science skills and capability.
“We have three core sectors of excellence in NewcastleGateshead; medical science and sustainability, tech and innovation and offshore and marine. The Institute for Ageing plays its part in driving our knowledge-based strategies and sector strengths. Conferences and events relating to ageing science and innovation will continue to enable us to profile these assets and strengths.
“We will continue to work closely with Newcastle University, through our Conference Ambassador Programme, to identify conferences which will not only bring benefits to the city and University but which we can provide added value to through the city’s expertise and facilities.”
Most recently, Newcastle University has been internationally recognised as one of four sites in the North to become a ‘Reference Site’ for health and ageing, through the Northern Health Science Alliance. As such, they are now an established member of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. This accolade will help to open up the region further to wider countries and markets.
Professor Louise Robinson, Director of the Newcastle University Institute for Ageing added: “We’re immensely proud of the ageing research legacy we have in Newcastle.
“As a University, our vision is to make an impact on some of the biggest challenges we face in society on a global scale. By bringing leading academics, policy makers, health professionals and industry together in our region, we are speaking to a global audience, and cementing long standing partnerships that will positively affect the ageing landscape for generations to come.”
