Newcastle University

Professor Tom Kirkwood, Director of the IAH, has been appointed CBE for services to Medical Science in the New Year Honours list published today.

He has been researching the ageing process since the 1970s – a time when ageing was thought to be much too complicated for “serious” scientific study. He soon realised that the reason we age was probably to do with how organisms allocate their precious energy resources to processes like growth, reproduction and maintenance.

His key insight led to the ‘disposable soma’ theory, which suggests that, under pressure of natural selection, it does not pay to invest in a body that might last forever as ageing results from the gradual, life long accumulation of molecular damage in our cells and tissues. However, the good news is that these processes are malleable, for example, through better nutrition and lifestyle.

“The Institute for Ageing and Health is one of the very best centres in the world for research on ageing and I am absolutely thrilled for the recognition it gives to our work collectively as well as of my own contribution,” said Professor Kirkwood.

The Institute has been spearheading attempts to ensure that, as people live ever longer and longer, these extra years of life are as high quality as possible.

In 2001, Professor Kirkwood gave the BBC Reith Lectures on “The End of Age” which brought these issues to wider notice. He has also acted as specialist advisor to a House of Lords report on “Ageing: Scientific Aspects” and played a leading role in a recent Foresight project on “Mental Capital Through Life” on behalf of the Government Office for Science.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/documents/new-year-hons-2009