Interdisciplinary workshop on Translational Ageing Research

This event aims to promote interdisciplinary research engagement between physical, biomedical and clinician scientists, at all career stages and to develop novel ideas and collaborations in ageing research.  There will also be opportunities for networking with leading researchers from different disciplines. This workshop represents one of a series of interdisciplinary workshops funded by the Rosetrees Trust, as part of the Physics of Medicine Network award and is part of the wider UKRI-funded Physics of Life Network.

We encourage participation by academic, industrial and clinical scientists in the UK and abroad, at all stages of their careers, who are interested in generating new collaborative, translational research into ageing at the interface between the physical and clinical sciences. CPD points will be applied for.

• Rachel Cooper (Newcastle University)
• Avan Sayer  (Newcastle University)
• Stephen Smye (University of Leeds)
• Miles Witham  (Newcastle University)

The day will be split into 4 sessions:

​Session 1: Meeting the challenges of ageing research through the physical sciences
Aims:

• To summarise the challenges of ageing at the individual and societal levels on health and wellbeing
• To showcase the potential for integration of physical sciences with other disciplines to solve challenges in ageing research
  Confirmed speakers include:

​Miles Witham (Newcastle University)The need for translational research to meet the clinical challenges of ageing
Aneta Stefanovska (Lancaster University) Chronotaxis: integrating mathematics with physiology in ageing research
Kevin Chalut (Altos Labs) Mechanobiology: integrating physics with biology in ageing research

Session 2: Novel characterisation of ageing phenotypes: the role of imaging
Aims:

• To showcase how novel imaging techniques can advance understanding of age-related conditions
• To highlight how innovation in imaging can translate to innovation in clinical practice

Confirmed speakers:
Andy Blamire (Newcastle University) Using MRI to characterise metabolic signatures             
Susan Francis (University of Nottingham) Using MRI to characterise physiology
Matt Birkbeck (Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre) Introducing MUMRI: a new technique for motor unit assessment in skeletal muscle research

Session 3: Diagnostics and measurement
Aims:

• To showcase how physical sciences can enable measurement of real-world patient outcomes
• To introduce the process of how diagnostic tests are developed and evaluated, and how NIHR HealthTech Research Centres can assist with this

​Confirmed speakers include:
​Silvia del Din (Newcastle University) Measuring movement up close – Innovative approaches to utilising wearable activity sensors
John Simpson (Newcastle University)

Session 4: Connecting & collaborating 
Aims:

• To share perspectives on future funding and capacity building opportunities in interdisciplinary ageing research
• To agree next steps to catalyse physical and biomedical collaborations for ageing research​

Confirmed speakers include:
Alice Fayter (MRC UKRI) Interdisciplinary research – a UKRI perspective
Mark Leake (University of York) Physics of Life and Physics of Medicine – interdisciplinary networking
Chris Ponting (University of Edinburgh) Interdisciplinary training – the X-Net experience
Ilaria Bellatuono (University of Sheffield) The growing ageing research ecosystem

Registration is free  but spaces are limited and available on a first come first served basis. Early registration is therefore recommended. The registration deadline is 31 January 2024 (unless all places are reserved earlier).