About the Institute
Enjoying good health into old age is something we all wish for. Sadly, for many people, this often turns out not to the case, as various chronic age-related illnesses affect the wellbeing of so many of us. The Institute for Ageing and Health (IAH) was founded in 1994 and the vision today remains that of understanding the ageing process and disease mechanisms and to translate its internationally recognised scientific research excellence and knowledge into healthcare benefits for people in the global community.
The administrative ‘hub’ of the IAH is based on the rapidly developing Campus for Ageing and Vitality, which provides world class facilities for:
- Research (basic science and clinical)
- Training
- Business engagement
- Public and patient engagement
The Campus for Ageing and Vitality has a vibrant research environment and an academic building complex committed to delivering high quality translational research. Core to these facilities is the Clinical Ageing Research Unit (CARU), a purpose-built clinical trials unit developed specifically with the older person in mind.
Central to our continued strategic development of the Campus for Ageing and Vitality is the Biomedical Research Building (BRB), funded in large part by an NIHR capital award and which is due to open in November 2011. The BRB is a key infrastructure development in the delivery of Newcastle Biomedicine’s recently renewed and augmented NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Ageing and Chronic Diseases, and the newly awarded Biomedical Research Unit in Lewy Body Dementias. The IAH played a leading role in both applications.
The IAH also hosts two important National NIHR Topic-Specific Research Networks, the Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (NIHR-DeNDRoN) and the Stroke Research Network (NIHR-SRN). Both networks are playing a major role in facilitating research in their disease areas across the UK.
The IAH offers a stimulating environment for training and education in basic science, translational medicine and clinical trials. There is a varied postgraduate academic seminar series which covers all aspects of our work http://www.ncl.ac.uk/iah/about/seminars/
Public and patient engagement is an important element of the work of the IAH and played a key part in the University’s first Societal Challenge Theme “Changing Age”. The Changing Age Network has now been established as a stand alone subunit of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, the remit of which is to facilitate the spread of ageing research beyond the IAH (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/res/about/enterprise/changing_age.html)
The research focus of the IAH is ageing and age-related disease and this is relevant to all of us. Thanks to the hard work of our researchers and administrative staff, and substantial recent investment from national and international funders, the IAH has a momentum that makes it an exciting and stimulating place to be. Our vision and challenge is to translate these precious resources into patient, societal and economic benefits.
