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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.

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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. 

How our heart attack research is saving lives

Meet Joan, who experienced an unexpected heart attack. Her treatment and involvement in the world’s largest minor heart attack trial – SENIOR-RITA – is helping to improve heart health worldwide, especially for the under-represented.
 
Led by Professor Vijay Kunadian and funded by the British Heart Foundation, this research is impacting practice globally and helping clinicians to create personalised care plans for patients. 

Stronger together - collaboration is key to improved
ageing and health

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. 

Academic Health Science Centre 

As part of Newcastle Health Innovation Partners, we’re one of only eight Academic Health Science Centres in the UK.  

The centre focusses on the health issues and medical needs of 3.2 million people in the North East and Cumbria. It brings together the region’s world-class research, education, and clinical practice.  

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 
  • MarraBio – who design, engineer, and construct bacterial protein polymers, that contain the biological messages that cells need to grow, divide and behave properly 

Explore all our spin out companies 

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. 

View our collection of innovative teaching case studies 

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

Several of our Centres of Research Excellence underpin our work in ageing and health including: 

Meet some of our researchers and innovators
Who we work with

We work with and partner with a range of Trusts, networks, organisations, and centres, including: 

  • Newcastle Health Innovation Partners: 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