Research Centres
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Austria: Institute of Sociology of The University of Vienna - Working Group for Social Gerontology, Life Course and Social Policy Research
n 2005, the Working Group for Social Gerontology, Life Course and Social Policy Research has been established at the Institute of Sociology of the University of Vienna. The working group comprises a team of social gerontologists which has been doing relevant research for many years. The working group is the only one in Austria which continuously and systematically performs social science research in the field of ageing, doing basic research as well as applied research which focuses on aspects of innovation in policy advice. The basic research performed by the working group is competitive on the international level, whereas the innovative applied research is designed to meet very specific societal needs in a regional setting. Thus it is first of all of national importance. Aims One aim of the working group is to perform theoretical and empirical research which is up to date with societal developments, exploring e.g. the potential of older people and the transformation of stereotypes regarding them and the consequences of the demographic changes for the intergenerational relations. Another aim is to establish a basis for communication with politicians and applicators in order to elaborate in common the needs and questions which are bound to result in an innovative application-oriented research process. Main research areas Social gerontology, intergenerational relationships, changes in the perception of the life-course, financing the pension system and social and health services, participation of elderly people in the labour markets, application of research results in educational gerontology, elder abuse and neglect.
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Denmark: Danish Ageing Research Center (DARC)
The Danish Ageing Research Centre (DARC) - comprising units in University of Southern Denmark, University of Aarhus and University of Copenhagen conducts research in human aging processes from a range of different angels, combining ageing research from the molecular level, to the individual and finally to the entire population. Research topics: Genetic and environmental factors influencing human aging processes and longevity (studies of twins and the oldest-old), Gender and ageing, Social and environmental stress and ageing,Telomere biology and its possible relation to aging, particularly for persons, who age early
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Finland: The Age Institute
The Age Institute studies the everyday lives of older adults, develops services for older people, produces new innovations for older adults and their families, disseminates information about the results of new studies, offers training to professionals, and participates in current discussion on age related issues, values and attitudes. Research topics: Physical exercise, functional capacity, and health Encounter, inclusion, and mental well-being. Current and recent Research and Development Projects: 1. The coordination of the national policy programme for older people's physical activity (2013-2015) 2. From A Significant Other to A Caregiver - Support for Well-Being and Functional Capacity (2012-2014) 3. Meaning in Old Age - Knowledge and Tools for Supporting the Psychological Well-Being of Older People (2011-2014) 4. Strength in Old Age (2010-2014). See also Strength in old age pages. 5. The Agency of Everyday Life of A Person with Dementia Living Alone (2011-2013)
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Germany: Institute of Gerontology (IFG)
Ruprechts Carls University of Heidelberg. The IFG is focused on social and behavioural science. Research topics: Potentials and resources of old age for societal and cultural development, generation solidarity, and generation equity Interindividual variability, intraindividual variability, and plasticity in dimensions of competence Theoretical integration and empirical analysis of the interactions between biological-physiological, psychological, and social ageing Quality of life of people suffering from physical and mental diseases
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Germany: Research Institute on Ageing and Learning
Forschungsinstitut Geragogik (FoGera) Forschungsinstitut zu Altern und Lernen, Witten. The Research Institute Geragogik (FoGera) has existed since 2002 and concerns itself with the theme of "learning and education in ageing societies". Its research, teaching and social practice aligns itself with the following mission statement: "A human, an ageing society needs a competent and capable older generation that is willing to take on new roles of responsibility for themselves and society. The prerequisite is that elderly and old people access learning and training opportunities. As before, the enabling social structures remain in the areas of education and learning lag far behind the needs of a fulfilled and emancipated age. To overcome this contradiction between the potentials of the age and the social conditions of what is currently possible, FoGera systematically and continuously makes its own research and development contribution in relation to education and ageing. The goal is to empower individuals and organizations, through educational processes to improve quality of life in old age .FoGera focuses its research interests on socially excluded older people. In research projects in general a differentiating gender perspective is brought to bear "
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Hungary: Healthcare Technologies Knowledge Centre
The Healthcare Technologies (at its foundation: Biomedical Engineering) Knowledge Centre of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME EMT) is is a virtual institution: it consists of education and research groups operating more or less independently in the co-operating departments.The main research areas are: electrical- and biosensoric telediagnostic illness prevention health monitoring medical image processing motion analysis genomik, bioinformatik ambient assisted living ergonomics innovative interfaces mental state analysis serious games
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Ireland: Centre for Active Management of Lifelong Ageing (CAMLA)
CAMLA supports and fosters research within the ageing research community locally, nationally and internationally. The Centre provides advice and support to researchers with an interest in Lifelong Ageing. Currently a group of researchers interested in developing electronic aids to independent living has come together to explore ideas from both an engineering and clinical perspective; out of this meeting of minds has evolved the CAMLA - Connected Health Implementation Pilot (CHIP) which is a collaborative project being jointly led by medical and engineering researchers
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Ireland:The Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland
The Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) was founded to advocate and advance the ageing research agenda by identifying, coordinating, stimulating, and communicating strategic research on ageing and older people as a means to improve the lives of older people in Ireland (North and South) especially those who are disadvantaged.CARDI funds, publishes and disseminates research on topics relating to ageing and older people.
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Italy: CNR Centre on Ageing,
The CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche) Centre on Ageing is located in the University of Padova, School of Medicine. Since its inception, the main mission of the Centre has been to plan, conduct and co-ordinate research on epidemiology of aging, health services utilization and age-associated metabolic disorders. In particular, several ongoing studies collect data on the health and socioeconomic status of older individuals and on their access and use of health services. One of the aims of the research conducted in the Center is to provide health policy makers with data relevant for the planning and the implementation of preventive and therapeutic interventions at the regional level in Veneto (North East of Italy). In collaboration with other CNR Institutes, governmental agencies and scientific organizations it develops protocols and instruments for studies of the elderly and organizes training and courses for investigators in the field of aging. Main research areas: 1 Dementia, 2 Osteoporosis, 3 Diabetes, 4 Cardiovascular disease.
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Italy: Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging
INRCA (Istituto Nazionale di Ricovero e Cura per Anziani) is a national public organisation in charge of: 1) providing health care to older people by means of its hospital and residential care facilities located in different regions; 2) carrying out research on elder care and ageing related issues, on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Health. These tasks are carried out mainly through its interdisciplinary Gerontological Research Department, which includes different centres specialised on clinical, socio-economic and biological research. There are also an internal unit for biometrics and statistics and an internal unit for psycho-social gerontology. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of INRCA’s mission, its research activity aims institutionally at: promoting well-being in older people and their family carers; implementing and monitoring support services and policies addressing the needs of the older population, especially if frail and disabled.
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Italy: Italian National Research Centre on Ageing - GEHA
GEHA - Genetics of Healthy Ageing. The Italian National Research Centre on Ageing is a governmental institution of excellence in the field of Gerontological Research and Geriatrics. The Institute has more than 30 years of research experience in ageing research, and includes studies on genetics of longevity and age-related diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis. The approaches used to identify the human longevity determinants are based on population studies of genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the health of the population.
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Malta: European Centre for Gerontology
The mission of the centre is to conduct research within the area of ageing and later life, to deliver postgraduate courses, to co-ordinate training programmes, to liase with government departments and voluntary agencies, to research issues, and to engage in public debates. The Centre aims to conduct research within the areas of ageing and later life from a multi-disciplinary framework that is sensitive to both gerontological and geriatric concerns. The Centre co-operates very closely with the International Institute on Aging, United Nations - Malta.
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Netherlands: TNO Ageing
TNO Ageing is the central point for ageing and elderly within TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) Ageing of the population is one the biggest problems the Netherlands and many other countries will have to face in the decades to come. Concomitant changes in population distribution have far-reaching societal, economic and health care consequences. However, ageing does not only present a threat but also a challenge for finding problem-oriented solutions. TNO Ageing stimulates and co-ordinates the vast expertise and knowledge of TNO in such areas as technology, disease and health and care for the elderly in order to reinforce the activities of the industry and public agencies. The primary objective is to promote the ability of elderly people to live and function independently. Main research areas: Housing and Care Mobility Nutrition Health Time allocation Financial security Safety
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Portugal: Institute of Ageing
The Instituto do Envelhecimento (Institute of Ageing) at the University of Lisbon is an autonomous research unit whose primary objective is to undertake research in the interdisciplinary studies of ageing, including demography and social sciences (sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, law, geography, etc.) with links to Bio-Medicine and Epidemiology. It is also dedicated to the promotion of scientific education in studies of ageing, including postgraduate studies, as well as the organization of activities of scientific communication and openness to society. It also participates in studies and evaluation of public policies related to the ageing population.
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Romania: Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics "Ana Aslan"
The main activities of the institute are medical geriatric assistance and social gerontology research. Current research fields include: Study criteria for evaluation of biological age (development of anthropometric biomarkers of aging); Study of the clinical, developmental and therapeutic geriatric pathology of different entities; Biochemistry of oxidative stress and antioxidant systems and the role of acute phase reactants in aging and associated pathology; Exploring lipid metabolism: studies on lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins levels in aging and pathology; Cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging muscle Study of aging in vitro cellular systems; Research on the mechanisms of normal and pathological immunosenescence; Study of psycho-social perspective premature aging and longevity; Demographic aging and medico-psycho-social consequences and economic aspects of the process; The study of some aspects of psychosocial adaptation in the aging process.
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Spain: Centre for Demographic Studies
El Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics. The Centre for Demographic Studies (CED) is a centre for research into the structures and dynamics of the population.Its aims are the study and systematic monitoring of patterns and trends of the population of Catalonia, located in the Spanish and European context. Basic and applied research embodied in the existence of different lines of research is carried out as work for public and private sector agencies. Main research areas areHhistorical and regional studies of the population of Catalonia;Work, family and gender; Migration; Spatial distribution of the population; Forecasts and prospective demographic. El Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics (CED) es un centro de investigación de las estructuras y dinámicas poblacionales. Objetivos son Estudio y seguimiento sistemático de las pautas y tendencias de la población catalana, situada en el contexto español y europeo. La investigación básica y aplicada se concreta en la existencia de diferentes líneas de investigación que llevan a cabo trabajos para organismos del ámbito público, pero también del privado. Principales áreas de investigación son: Estudios históricos y territoriales de la población de Cataluña Trabajo, familia y género Migraciones Distribución espacial de la población Previsiones y prospectiva demográfica.
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Sweden: Ageing Research Centre (ARC)
The primary goals of the ARC are to carry out and support high-quality ageing research, advance multidisciplinary efforts in ageing research, offer a high-quality educational programme, foster collaborations, develop cross-links between available data-sets, and direct the knowledge into interventions. ARC carries out epidemiological studies on different health related aspects of brain aging and the elderly. Research topics: Risk factors of Alzheimer‘s disease and dementia Multimorbidity and physical functioning Cognitive functioning Brain imaging Gender differences in brain and cognition Pharmacoepidemiology Socio-economic differences in health and ageing Health economy
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Sweden: Stockholm Gerontology Research Centre
The core areas of the Centre are research and development. Its task is to “improve living standards for the elderly by utilising and putting into practice experience and research results in areas of particular significance to the situation of the elderly in the community, and to initiate and conduct research and development regarding conditions for the elderly, in our own operations or in partnership with or on behalf of other municipalities or organisations”. The Centre has been responsible for several large projects whose aim is to reinforce workplace learning and the workplace as a form of learning. The Centre is part of the House of Ageing Research, which also comprises the Aging Research Center (ARC) and the Swedish Dementia Centre. The House of Ageing Research functions as a platform for close collaboration on issues concerning the elderly and ageing.
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UK: Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing (ARCHA)
The Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing (ARCHA) at Aston University aims to understand, predict, prevent and intervene with scientific research to facilitate healthy ageing, with a specific focus on the eye, the mind, the metabolism and healing in the context of the psychological, social and policy contexts of ageing lives. Research topics: Ageing eye Ageing mind Ageing metabolism Medicine and devices in Ageing Ageing lives
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UK: Centre for Longitudinal Studies
The Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) is an Economic and Social Research Council resource centre. It is based at the Department for Quantitative Social Science, Institute of Education, University of London. CLS is responsible for running three of Britain’s internationally-renowned birth cohort studies: 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS) 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). Cohort studies are a type of longitudinal research. They follow the same group of people throughout their lives, charting social change and untangling the reasons behind it. CLS has produced many research papers relating to older people and its data is accessible to researchers anywhere for non commercial use.
