REACT aims to establish a sustainable international network within the ENLIGHT community that consolidates interdisciplinary expertise in research, education, and community engagement in the field of ageing to develop publicly informed activities with the ultimate goal of positively impact thing the health and well-being of our ageing society.
Category: ENLIGHT Thematic Network
University:
University of Galway
As Europe’s population ages, the total cost of ageing in the EU is estimated to increase from the current 1.7% to at least 26% of GDP by 2070, largely due to an expected average of 15 years of later life spent in poor health (The Ageing Report). The negative impact of age-associated conditions on older people, their families, carers, and society is unsustainable, however the development of interventions is stalled by limited understanding of ageing-associated condition, lack of early detection and personalised, preventive and participatory care.
REACT spans 6 ENLIGHT universities and has an excellent potential to innovate as it aims to address this major unmet challenge with high societal burden. The impact of REACT will be realised through enhancing research capacity within the team and wider ageing field, and educational and public engagement campaigns inclusive of community dwelling older adults, those who work with them within health and social care settings and the scientific community. REACT will generate resources to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic candidates for early diagnosis and personalised interventions. We will use a co-design approach where older persons are embedded as key stakeholders in the process to provide opportunities for better understanding of the ageing process among scientists, health care providers, policy makers, industry, and society. We will train and mentor future academic and clinical leaders to progress the field of ageing. Our portfolio of outreach activities will contribute to changing how we think, feel, act towards ageing and ensure that communities foster the abilities of older people.
Participants and Stakeholders
Coordinator
Dr Katarzyna Whysall , University of Galway
Other Partner Institutions
- Ghent University
- University of Bern
- University of Tartu
- University of Groningen
- University of the Basque Country
Team Composition
Dr Katarzyna Whysall , University of Galway
Dr. Brian McDonagh, University of Galway
Prof. Hannah Dugdale, University of Groningen
Dr. Nicole Gervais, University of Groningen
Dr. Anton De Spiegeleer, Ghent University
Prof. Pärt Peterson, Universtiy of Tartu,
Prof. Carlos Matute, University of the Basque Country
Dr. Patricia Chocano-Bedoya, University of Bern
Objectives
By 2050, it is projected that 1.5 billion people will be over the age of 65, and the number of oldest – over 85 – is set to triple. Ageing-associated conditions, such as frailty, cognitive decline or decreased immunity, are growing health problems associated with high healthcare and societal burden. Conversely, the contributions of older people to society and the benefits of the longevity dividend are not as well researched as the more negative impacts (Falah et.al, Gerontology 2020). Negative stereotypes present in societies that may prevent intergenerational learning and isolating older people.
The negative impact of ageing-associated conditions on older people, their families, carers and societies is unsustainable, however the development of interventions is stalled by limited understanding of ageing and the lack of early biomarkers to detect ageing-related conditions. Embedded within these challenges is the lack of consideration for sex and/or gender differences, demonstrated by poor efficacy of newly approved therapeutics or equity of access.
REACT will set to address this unmet need through a multi-pronged approach:
-research: the consortium spans PhD students to established PIs in multiple domains of ageing. The partners have access and experience in using invaluable resources, including ageing cohorts and Biobanks with pedigree and environmental data, functional measurements and biological samples and expertise in pre-clinical models (Galway, Basque Country, Groningen, Tartu) and theoretical modelling, metabolic physiology and development of digital biomarkers by means of wearables and digital technologies (Bern, Groningen, Ghent, Galway). These resources will be integrated and disseminated to ENLIGHT and wider research community, in a sustainable way. Expertise will be consolidated through workshops and the sandpit event, leading to interdisciplinary funding.
- education: we will create capacity in the field of ageing and train future research and clinical leaders. We will communicate knowledge among scientists, community stakeholders and industry through webinars, social media communication, joint educational programmes delivered as micro-credentials, CPD and modules forming part of postgraduate programmes, open to the ENLIGHT community, also available for training of clinicians in ageing research.
- community engagement: local and joint outreach activities will foster listening to diverse voices and enabling meaningful engagement of young and older people, family members, caregivers, and communities. We will nurture building capacity for integrated actions across sectors and connect stakeholders to share and learn from the experience of others in designing and providing integrated healthcare and ensuring equity of delivery of these services. Our portfolio of activities will ensure inclusion and learning from older adults and challenge ageist misconceptions. We aim to provide momentum for a more inclusive society.
REACT is timely – we are aligned with The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), a global collaboration, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG3 (Ensure Healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), SDG4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all), SDG10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries). The impacts resulting from actions of this network will span between research, education, and society to ultimately address the challenges of ageing populations across the globe.
Contact
Contact person
-
Dr Katarzyna Whysall , University of Galway, REACT Coordinator,
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Gmail:
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