About us
UKAgeNet evolved from informal discussions between leading representatives of key national research centres and networks on ageing from across a wide range of disciplines. They concluded that the creation of a lasting network of such centres is necessary to expand our national capacity to conduct ageing research, and to maximise the productivity of groups already working on ageing in diverse academic disciplines and policy forums.
The key drivers of the UKAgeNet case are:
- the transformation in the understanding of, and ability to intervene in, the ageing process
- the urgent need for new collaborative work on the multimorbidity epidemic
- the increasing acceptance of new interdisciplinary approaches to ageing research
- the high risk that the UK will soon surrender its advantage in this field
As the House of Lords recently identified in “Ageing: Science, Technology and Healthy Living”, the UK has allowed its world leading ageing research base to stagnate for more than a decade, but still retains the opportunity to become a leading power in this field and the related healthcare revolution if it acts decisively.
The UKAgeNet Mission:
Accordingly, the mission of the Network is to voice the needs and findings of those engaged in ageing-related research; providing Government with accurate information and projections; to raise the profile of ageing research and translation in government
and society, and specifically to press for:
- Ageing-related research to be identified as a major strategic priority for the UK, not just one worthy issue among many, with commensurate prioritisation by HEIs and funders.
- Funding should be sustained and long term to support a life course approach in every branch of ageing research. This will help to ensure that the UK can act as an international hub linking the best and brightest research and researchers.
- The impacts and opportunities of the ongoing and anticipated changes to the UK’s increasingly diverse ageing population must be recognised and researched.
- Vital single disciplinary research must be supported and complemented by the new interdisciplinary and mission-oriented research required during this critical decade.
- Investment in the training and development of future generations of researchers in this field is critical at a time when countries such as the USA are already publicly worrying about a skills shortage in ageing research. These investments should include career hopping.
UKAgeNet Aims
The members of UKAgeNet decide the priorities.
Currently we have collectively decided to press for:
Create a forum for knowledge exchange, discussion and collaboration among UK centres and networks on ageing-related research, particularly focusing on the integration between the biomedical and the social sciences and the arts and humanities.
Make representations to national research policy makers on key areas of common interest, such as the need for a concerted effort by UK science to match the funding available in the US; allocating a bigger priority to the prevention of age-related multimorbidity and frailty; ensure resources for implementation; and supporting the development of the next generations of researchers in this field.
Develop a framework for the generation of impact, including connections with key stakeholders such as industry, local and regional government, and policy makers.
Explore new collaborations in areas of complementarity and synergy, and avoid duplication, including with BBSRC-MRC ageing networks.
Help to increase the reach and visibility of UK ageing research on the international stage.
