Ageing Research at Newcastle University
Newcastle University's ageing research is built around Newcastle Biomedicine's Institute for Ageing and Health, led by Professor David Burn. The Institute is recognised as the leading centre for ageing research in Europe, and is one of the major global contributors to the field.
Over the last 40 years the Institute for Ageing and Health has made some vital scientific breakthroughs which have contributed to our growing knowledge of ageing, including:
- 2001 - researchers discovered a way of enhancing nature's genome repair toolkit, found in the cells of all mammals, by boosting levels of a specialised protein which mends damaged strands of DNA, a key discovery which opened up the field for further research.
- 2006 - the University launched its unique 85+ study, which aims to study those born in 1921, the only study in the world to do so in such detail. It has already uncovered surprising facts about health and quality of life for people over 85, and will continue to do so in coming years.
- 2010 - a major scientific paper helped to shed light on the reason why we age. The team at IAH discovered the precise molecular pathways that react to cell damage and stop them being able to divide. This finding could reap benefits in years to come, with potential new treatments for fighting age related diseases.