Global Partnering Award UK Ageing Networks: South Asia - SAAgeNet
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences
Abstract
The UK Ageing Network is made up of 11 ageing research networks that bring together researchers and stakeholders from different disciplines to better understand the mechanisms of ageing and their impact on human health. This proposed work brings together 4 of these networks focussing on cognitive and physical decline with age and the involvement of nutrition in these declines and aims to integrate the network research interests with those of research institutes in India and Malaysia. The proposed network activities' ultimate aim is to produce research proposals that are multidisciplinary and multicentre. Person to person networking activities will enable networks and global partners to identify research synergies for future research projects. The networking activities aim to maintain and strengthen existing links between the UK ageing networks with institutes in India and Malaysia. Networks and international partners will share data and identify research synergies relevant to each network's individual research themes. This work will enable the development of frameworks for collaborative/global human data collection and analysis plus a common research language across different geographical locations and cultures.
Technical Summary
The networking activities aim to maintain and strengthen existing links between the CFIN and Food4Years networks with New Delhi International Institute of Health Management Research, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, and Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women in India, and Sunway University in Malaysia. Networking activities will also integrate other networks (BLAST and MyAGE) with these institutes. Networks and partners will share data and identify research synergies relevant to each network's individual research themes. We will also develop new links with additional institutes in these regions. A new collaboration with University of Dehli, India is currently in development. Networking events will also enable the development of frameworks for collaborative/global human data collection and analysis, and an understanding of and expertise in the use of animal models for hypothesis testing. An important opportunity of this funding is to ensure future capacity in global ageing research. One-month visits by ECR network members to our global partners and by ECRs and/or technicians from our global partners to network member labs will be held to enable ECRs and technicians to gain research skills relevant to each network's theme and a global perspective on ageing research. This award will allow four of the BBSRC-MRC-funded networks to integrate research themes in the South Asia region. The proposed events in this application will not only allow networks to identify areas of research collaboration between each individual network and the partnering institutes, but they will also facilitate the integration of knowledge and understanding of ageing mechanisms across the networks' themes.
Publications
| Description | The CFIN-led SAAgeNet networking activities aimed to maintain and strengthen ageing research links between UK Ageing Networks and research institutes in the South Asia region based on CFIN's established research links with Sunway University in Malaysia and The International Institute of Health Management Research in New Delhi, India and Food4Years' established links with two institutes in India (Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in Chennai and Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore). The goal of the networking activities was to enable the development of frameworks for collaborative/global human data collection and analysis (including analysis of existing longitudinal cohort data) plus developing a common research language across different geographical locations and cultures around the ageing topics. The activities were thus primarily knowledge exchange and training based. Three knowledge exchange with research symposia meetings have taken place that involved activities to achieve these goals including applications for training visits, initiation of international grant applications, and production of research papers, as follows: 1. 1st SAAgenet knowledge exchange meeting and research symposium in Lancaster, UK, 8-10th January 2024. Attendees included representatives from CFIN, MyAge, Food4Years and BLAST plus international collaborators from Malaysia and India. Outcomes of the meeting: A Wellcome Discovery Award application submitted April2024 (not awarded), a British Council ISPF Research Collaboration Grant application completed (not awarded), and training visits applications launched following the meeting. 2. 2nd SAAgeNet Meeting and research symposium at Sunway University, Malaysia, 6-8 of June 2024. Attendees included representatives from CFIN, MyAge, Food4Years and BLAST plus international collaborators from Malaysia and India. Outcomes of the meeting: Plans were made for grant applications in areas bridging nutrition and cognitive psychology, as well as a theatre intervention targeting physical and cognitive frailty. Some of these conversations were developmental in two ECR fellowship application. Six training and knowledge exchange visits were organised as a result of this meeting and completed over the next six months. 3. 3rd SAAgeNet Meeting and research symposium at The University of Delhi, India, 25-27 November 2024. Attendees included representatives from CFIN, MyAge, Food4Years and BLAST plus international collaborators from Malaysia and India. Outcomes of the meeting: SYMBIOTICS REVIEW plan- Exploring the potential of symbiotics to improve the intrinsic capacity of older adults (in preparation to submit to Nutrition Reviews). Realist review plan-Body, Mind, and Motion: A Realist Review of Dance Interventions in Ageing. A fourth and final meeting is scheduled to take place at Lancaster University, 10th-12th March 2025 with the aim of finalising future international grant application plans and consolidating the international research collaborations that have been formed during the SAAgeNet funding period. The training visits, detailed in the secondments, placements and internships section of Researchfish, have resulted in outcomes, as follows: 1. Career development for ECRs that involved learning the research languages in India and Malaysia, thus enabling these future research leaders to carry out impactful research across different geographical locations and cultures, and development of ECR research incorporating knowledge of cultural issues. 2. Grant and ECR fellowship applications. 3. Preparation of publications between international collaborators. 4. Data sharing and development of data analysis methods. These outcomes of SAAgeNet will also form important groundwork for development of future international research projects. |
| Exploitation Route | The activities of SAAgeNet have been closely aligned with those of the UK Ageing networks involved (CFIN, Food4Years, MyAge and BLAST). The outcomes described above, having laid the groundwork for the development of future international research projects, will be taken forward by the continued activities of the UK Ageing networks and the international collaborations that have been formed in SAAgeNet. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Environment Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism |
| Description | SAAgeNet, led by the cognitive frailty interdisciplinary network (CFIN) aimed to develop global research links with the South Asia region based on CFIN's established research links with Sunway University in Malaysia and the International Institute of Health Management Research in New Delhi, India. As described in the CFIN Researchfish submission, CFIN has so far begun to bring together researchers from a range of disciplines with the impact that: (1) the research area and the important pattern of co-occurrence of physical frailty with cognitive impairment outside of dementia is beginning to be better understood and differentiated from neurodegenerative conditions within both the academic and clinical network members; (2) disparate research areas with relevant input to the topic have been brought together and are beginning to be consolidated; and (3) mutual development of ability to work across disciplines, e.g. development of terminology understanding or the chance to work with real world end-users of research (frailer older adults and carers) has been described as transformative by researchers involved. The knowledge exchange between those who have expertise in frailty and cognitive decline in humans (academic and non-academic) with equivalent concepts in model organisms has been particularly striking, as has the knowledge exchange between expertise in psychological impacts on aspects of physical health and those with expertise in underlying biological ageing mechanisms. The international collaborations developed in SAAgeNet have contributed to these impacts. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Description | Development of early career researchers |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Within the early career research workforce in ageing, these endeavours have led to increased ability, knowledge and understanding of interdisciplinary working, of the issue of cognitive frailty, of working with lay older adults who have first hand experience of cognitive frailty as potential end beneficiaries of research, and of different pathways to impact, including the issues of health inequalities. ECRs have had the opportunities to network internationally and to receive senior researcher support for their research funding applications. |
| Description | Research collaboration: Interdisciplinary research towards understanding mechanisms, reliable assessment, and interventions for cognitive frailty in diverse populations. |
| Organisation | IIHMR University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team at Lancaster has contributed knowledge and expertise in cognitive frailty in humans and the biology of ageing in model organisms. The aim of the collaboration is to develop a research proposal that determines the mechanisms driving cognitive frailty and develops tools for reliable assessment, with the ultimate aim to find interventions that delay or prevent cognitive frailty in diverse populations |
| Collaborator Contribution | The teams in Sunway, IIHMR and the University of Delhi contribute knowledge and expertise in ageing and cognitive decline in human populations in India and Malaysia, as well as access to data sets generated in these countries, which will contribute to an understanding of cognitive frailty across different cultures and countries. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration with the following disciplines: Biology Social Science Psychology Anthropology |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Research collaboration: Interdisciplinary research towards understanding mechanisms, reliable assessment, and interventions for cognitive frailty in diverse populations. |
| Organisation | Sunway University |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team at Lancaster has contributed knowledge and expertise in cognitive frailty in humans and the biology of ageing in model organisms. The aim of the collaboration is to develop a research proposal that determines the mechanisms driving cognitive frailty and develops tools for reliable assessment, with the ultimate aim to find interventions that delay or prevent cognitive frailty in diverse populations |
| Collaborator Contribution | The teams in Sunway, IIHMR and the University of Delhi contribute knowledge and expertise in ageing and cognitive decline in human populations in India and Malaysia, as well as access to data sets generated in these countries, which will contribute to an understanding of cognitive frailty across different cultures and countries. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration with the following disciplines: Biology Social Science Psychology Anthropology |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Research collaboration: Interdisciplinary research towards understanding mechanisms, reliable assessment, and interventions for cognitive frailty in diverse populations. |
| Organisation | University of Delhi |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team at Lancaster has contributed knowledge and expertise in cognitive frailty in humans and the biology of ageing in model organisms. The aim of the collaboration is to develop a research proposal that determines the mechanisms driving cognitive frailty and develops tools for reliable assessment, with the ultimate aim to find interventions that delay or prevent cognitive frailty in diverse populations |
| Collaborator Contribution | The teams in Sunway, IIHMR and the University of Delhi contribute knowledge and expertise in ageing and cognitive decline in human populations in India and Malaysia, as well as access to data sets generated in these countries, which will contribute to an understanding of cognitive frailty across different cultures and countries. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration with the following disciplines: Biology Social Science Psychology Anthropology |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Early Career Research conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a two day workshop with ECR members of the international CFIN network, including mainly PG students and some Postdoctoral researchers. All had the opportunity to present their work and be involved in a research proposal exercise, as well and networking opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | External Advisory Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Our external advisory group (20 members) attend a meeting up to 3 times per year where they are informed on the network aims, they offer input on the progress of the network activities, offer involvement in specific network activities (including interdisciplinary/intersectoral mentoring of researchers, supporting recruitment of experts by experience or greater diversity for the Delphi panel) and offer their point of view from their own background. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ukanet.org.uk/cfin/ |
| Description | Invitation to talk to Spanish/international conference of Educators |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a large conference of people working in education across the age ranges (early years through to later life education) in Valencia, Spain. The aim was to present evidence on the importance of education for later life cognition to educators and educational researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited talk title: Nourishing Your Brain with the Power of Fruits and Vegetables, ARCHA Research Showcase, 10th January 2024 at Aston University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited talk to Dr Iru Dias, a member of the CFIN co-investigator team. Around 50 people from a mixed audience attended this event mainly on line. The event sparked debate afterwards |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited talk to Psychology Department, Aberystwyth University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited Departmental talk to Interested parties at Aberystwyth University, focused on explaining cognitive frailty, presenting the outcomes of a scoping review, and opening the CFIN network for new members. Several of the audience enquired about getting involved in the network and one postgrad joined and has attended subsequent events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited talk to Psychology Department, Aston University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk to multidisciplinary Ageing Research Centre. Questions and discussion afterwards was sparked and further discussion about future research plans ensued. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited talk to Sunway University in Malaysia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of a network development visit, I was invited to give a lecture to staff and students, including contributors to national public health strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation at British Society of Gerontology conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the British Society of Gerontology conference. Around 30 people attended my talk, a mixture of Early career researchers, later stage academics, members of third sector organisations and older lay participants (e.g. co-researchers). Several people expressed interest in joining the network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation to SAAgeNet meeting in Delhi, India, November, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | CFIN members including international partners from India and Malaysia joined together for an update meeting in Delhi (and by hybrid links). Several new interested parties from India joined at this meeting, resulting in further dissemination including public health practitioners. Several CFIN Co-Is and the PI presented work, but the event also focused on the developing work of ECRs (mainly PhD students). Plans were made for further training and collaboration visits between the institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Research Showcase, Centre for Ageing Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a full day of talks from the CFIN project across disciplines aimed at a lay audience. around 80-100 people attended. In addition to talks there was an exhibition of posters from students, local businesses involved in frailty intervention, and opportunities for self-assessment of aspects of healthy diet, linked to the talks. There was a lot of interaction and discussion throughout the day. Members of a 3rd sector organisation judged the PG students posters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research Showcase, Centre for Ageing Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a full day of talks focused on multidisciplinary perspectives on dementia, including talks from the CFIN project, aimed at a lay audience. Around 60 people attended. In addition to talks there was an exhibition of posters from students and exhibitions linked to the talks. There was a lot of interaction and discussion throughout the day. Members of a 3rd sector organisation judged the PG students posters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Research Symposium and Knowledge Exchange Meeting (Lancaster University) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | I organised a 2 day Research Symposium and Knowledge Exchange (KE) Meeting at Lancaster University to bring together researchers and postgraduate students from SAAgeNet partners in India and Malaysia with UK Ageing Network members. 22 people attended the symposium/KE meeting and all presented their research work to the group. 3 potential future research projects were identified following the KE meeting with post-graduate student involvement. All attendees reported that the event was successful in terms of gaining understanding of the interdisciplinary research carried out within SAAgeNet and the UK Ageing Networks involved (CFIN, MyAge, Food4Years and BLAST), professional development experience provided to the PG students, and the interdisciplinary research project collaborations formed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk on the Delphi study to delegates at the June SAgenet meeting in Malaysia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk as part of a joint networks event under the aegis of SAAgenet funding held in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. This was an important networking event for the planned individual training and exchange visits that came out of it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |