The Institute of Healthy Ageing (Director: Prof Dame Linda Partridge, FMedSci, FRS, DBE, CBE) is an interdisciplinary centre of excellence for research on the biology of ageing and ageing-related diseases.
The biological process of ageing contributes to increased risk of a wide range of diseases, from neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease) and cancer to cardiovascular disease (causing heart attack and stroke) and age-related macular degeneration (causing blindness in the elderly). Our primary purpose is to bring together researchers working on the basic biology of ageing (biogerontology) with those working to understand the causes of ageing-related disease. By merging biogerontology and the study of ageing-related diseases, we aim to develop a new translational biogerontology using the ageing process as a point of intervention to protect against the diseases of old age. Our goal is to improve the health and quality of life for older people.
The work of the Institute of Healthy Ageing is pursuing these ends by:
- Conducting world class research on the biology of ageing and ageing-related disease
- Increasing capacity in research on the biology of ageing by training new researchers and nurturing the work of younger principal investigators
- Teaching about the biology of ageing at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
The problem of ageing is not just an issue of biology, but also of social science, economics and the built environment. A secondary aim of the Institute is to nurture broader collaborations across UCL between researchers working on different aspects of ageing.
We aim, through our combined activities, to transform healthcare technology and the social conditions of the elderly to create a future society in which the lives of older people are healthy, meaningful and happy.
The work of the Institute is funded by a variety of sources, including UCL itself, and the Wellcome Trust by means of a Strategic Award granted in 2007.
Latest news from the IHA
2 December 2009 - The IHA's Drs Richard Grandison, Matt Piper and Prof. Linda Partridge comment on a study showing how controlling protein intake could lead to a longer, healthier life Nature - click here
Read more on this story:
2 October 2009 - Publication in Science of a major
study led by Dominic Withers showing retardation of ageing and improved
late life health in S6K1 mutant mice. See Selman et al. "Ribosomal
protein S6 kinase 1 signalling regulates mammalian lifespan" Science
(2009) - for further details, click here
27 September 2009 - Report on Ageing by the Academy of Medical Sciences highlighted in The Observer - click here
For more IHA news - click here
Links, UCL
CRUCIBLE A new centre for interdisciplinary research on health & wellbeing
School of Life and Medical Sciences (SLMS)
Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS)
Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE)
Centre for Ageing & Mental Health Sciences
Links, External
Updated by IHA Web Administrator on 2 December 2009
