Ageing and Health
We're helping to create a world in which we all live better, for longer. From understanding rare diseases to multi-morbidity and ageing, we are helping to improve health and wellbeing for all.
Living better for longer
As people live longer and fertility rates decline, the proportion of older people in the population increases. This demographic shift has implications for healthcare, social care, the economy, and society as a whole.
We're also becoming more aware of the diseases that can affect our quality of life in later years. These diseases may be avoidable if we take better care of ourselves.
Health inequalities in society persist as a result of various factors. These include socioeconomic status, race, and access to healthcare. Disparities lead to differential health outcomes, limited healthcare access, and unequal distribution of resources. This highlights the need for targeted interventions to address and reduce these inequalities.
We're helping to shape positive change in society across ageing and health, for the benefit of all.
National Innovation Centre for Ageing
We host the National Innovation Centre for Ageing. It develops products and services which create a world in which we live better, for longer.
The centre is also home to its sister organisation VOICE®, a unique citizen engagement network. Members share their lived experience to focus research and drive innovation.
NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre
Our NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) partners with both Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. It is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Its research drives forward health improvements in ageing and multiple long-term conditions.
We have a long history of excellence in translational research. We’re one of a few university and NHS partnerships to have been awarded NIHR BRC status in every funding round since 2007.
There are 20 BRCs across England. The Newcastle Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre is the only centre dedicated to the study of ageing and multiple long-term conditions. It converts lab-based research into benefits for patients, the public, and the health and care system.
Newcastle Health Research Partnership
We’re a lead partner in the Newcastle Health Research Partnership that was launched in 2020. The partnership aims to address health inequalities, improve population health, and generate economic growth.
As a designated Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC), we do this by cultivating cross-partner collaboration in health and care research, innovation, education, and training. This includes brokering new research and education activities, as well as facilitating streamlined joint-working arrangements.
Excellence in medicine
Our School of Medicine is one of the largest integrated medical teaching and hospital complexes in the UK. Our medical school covers the North East of England and Cumbria, including Clinical Learning centres across all NHS trusts.
The school generates high-quality research in clinical, medical, and medical sciences education. Its research improves practice, deepens understanding and informs policy.
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia
Newcastle University Medicine (NUMed) Malaysia delivers high-quality medical and biomedical education. We are the first UK university to establish a fully owned international branch campus for medicine and biomedical sciences.
NUMed Malaysia’s research focusses on applied health, cancer, and medical education.
Reducing inequalities in ageing societies
Through research and education, we help improve the health and wellbeing of older people.
Our Centre for Ageing and Inequalities investigates how biological, social, cultural, behavioural and environmental factors contribute to inequalities in later life.
The heart of our mission lies in improving the management and outlook for cancer patients across the globe.
Professor Steven Clifford
Chair of Molecular Paediatric Oncology & Director, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer
Major achievements
There are many achievements in ageing and health that we’re particularly proud of. Some examples include:
- world-leading work developing a pioneering IVF (in vitro fertilisation) technique to protect future generations from the risk of mitochondrial disease
- refining recommendations for the clinical and pathological diagnosis of Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
- our cancer drug discovery and development work that has contributed to two therapeutics now in use:
- Rubraca™ - it is possible to trace the development of this ovarian cancer treatment through our University, from basic biology to its licence for use
- Balversa™ - working with Astex Pharmaceuticals we identified a specific gene that this bladder cancer targets
- revolutionising treatment of type 2 diabetes by establishing that people can reverse the condition to the point where they no longer need medication
- transforming the definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia
Spin out companies
Our work in ageing and health has led to the development of several spin out companies. We are proud to create sustainable companies and high quality jobs in our region. Spin outs include:
- AMLo Biosciences – dedicated to providing a prognostic test for early melanoma to better identify a patient’s true risk of disease progression
- Alcyomics – a pre-clinical service provider of non-artificial human skin explants for safety and efficacy assessment of novel compounds and drugs
- Aelius Biotech – a contract research company specialising in modelling the mucosal surfaces of the aerodigestive tract
- CellRev – a leader in continuous cell culturing technologies
- e-Therapeutics - accelerating drug discovery through a novel view of disease networks
- FibroFind - provides world class research solutions in liver, kidney and lung disease
- MarraBio – who design, engineer, and construct bacterial protein polymers, that contain the biological messages that cells need to grow, divide and behave properly
- Newcells Biotech – offering high quality cells and services for customers engaged in drug discovery, pre-clinical development, and disease mechanism investigation
Education for life
Our University’s Education for Life strategy is vital. It provides an engaging, challenging, and supportive environment for our students so they can fulfil their potential.
Ageing is a topic in our Medical and Biomedical curricula. We also combine ageing research and teaching in our undergraduate module 'Language and Ageing' from our School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics. The advanced module in sociolinguistics takes a multi-disciplinary approach and examines patterns of language variation and change in later life.
Research infrastructure
Health Innovation Neighbourhood
We’re creating the world’s first health innovation neighbourhood to shape the future of health and ageing. The Newcastle city-centre site will bring together research, business, government, and the community.
This ambitious £500m project will grow our leading research on ageing. The neighbourhood will offer new and creative ideas for how we live, have fun, learn, and work.
Learn more about the Health Innovation Neighbourhood
Clinical Ageing Research Unit
Our Clinical Ageing Research Unit (CARU) is a £5.5m research facility funded by the Wellcome Trust and Wolfson Foundation. Our main goal is to develop early assessment and intervention strategies for age-associated degenerative conditions. CARU offers a patient-friendly setting for phase II-IV clinical studies in the older patient.
Centres of Research Excellence
Our NU Centres of Research Excellence bring our research community together across disciplines, job families and career stages to respond to the world's challenges. We have the following Centres that aim to develop new innovations that support healthy ageing:
Meet some of our researchers and innovators
- Professor Quentin Anstee – Dean of Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Professor of Experimental Hepatology
- Professor Dame Louise Robinson – Regius Professor of Ageing and Professor of Primary Care and Ageing, recognised for her services to Primary Care and for improving older people’s quality of life and the care they receive
- Professor Avan Sayer - Director, NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre and Professor of Geriatric Medicine
- Professor Rachel Cooper - McArdle Chair in Ageing, Professor of Translational Epidemiology and Co-Director, Centre for Ageing and Inequalities
- Professor Steven Clifford – Chair of Molecular Paediatric Oncology and Director, Centre for Cancer
- Professor Vijay Kunadian - Professor of Interventional Cardiology
- Professor Che Connon – Professor of Tissue Engineering and Director of Business Development, Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Professor David Jones – Professor of Liver Immunology and Director, Centre for Rare Diseases
- Professor Matthew Prina – Professor in Ageing and Epidemiology and Co-Director, Centre for Ageing and Inequalities
- Dr Lynne Corner – Director of Engagement, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Director of VOICE® and COO, National Innovation Centre for Ageing
- Professor Nic Palmarini – Director, National Innovation Centre for Ageing
- Professor Clare Bambra - Professor of Public Health
- Professor Robert Taylor – Professor of Mitochondrial Pathology
- Professor Ashley Adamson – Professor of Public Health Nutrition and NIHR Research Professor
- Professor Emma Stevenson – Head of School, School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Sciences
- Professor Rose Gilroy - Professor of Ageing, Policy and Planning
- Professor John Wildman - Peter & Norah Lomas Chair in Economics
- Professor Karen Ross - Professor of Gender and Media
- Professor Andrew Newman - Professor of Cultural Gerontology
- Professor David Lain - Professor of Work and Ageing, Co-Director, Centre for Ageing and Inequalities
- Professor Kenny Dalgarno - Director, Centre for Biomedical Engineering
- Professor Bernard Corfe - Director, Centre for Healthier Lives
- Professor Andrew Jackson - Director, Centre for Transformative Neuroscience
- Professor Fiona LeBeau - Director for Transformative Neuroscience
Who we work with
We work with and partner with a range of Trusts, networks, organisations, and centres, including:
- Newcastle Health Research Partnership: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle City Council, Health Innovation North East and Cumbria
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
- Academic Health Science Networks
- National Innovation Centre for Ageing and VOICE®
- International Longevity Centre UK
- Brains for Dementia research partners: Manchester, London, Oxford, Bristol, and Cardiff
- Global Ageing Network
- Astex Pharmaceuticals
- Cancer Research UK
- Boehringer Ingleheim
- Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and Cumbria
- Roche Diagnostics
- Eurofins
