Workshop: Development of an Aging Research Centre

The Aging Research Centre Concept

Aging research is an excellent candidate for tapping into the breadth of expertise available at Monash University. This topic is of interest to most Faculties, namely

• Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (health and wellbeing; diseases of aging)
• Art and Design (industrial devices and design; interior architecture)
• Engineering (appliances and equipment; nanofabrication of stem cell environments; building access)
• Business and Economics (financial matters)
• Law (wills; health legal issues)
• IT (technology for hearing and visually impaired individuals; improved computer interfaces)
• Pharmacy (medication formulations; pharmacokinetics of the elderly)
• MUARC (accidents and the elderly)

A cross-Faculty Aging Research Centre could provide a “facilitating portal” that serves both as a source of information for the wider community and as a mechanism to develop cross-Faculty collaborations.

The Workshop

A workshop is being organised for Monday, 6 December 2004 to discuss the idea of a cross-faculty Aging Research Centre. A range of issues will be discussed, including the objectives of such a research centre, structure and governance of the proposed centre and processes for moving forward. The workshop will provide an opportunity for researchers from a range of disciplines to discuss their research interests and identify possible collaborative cross-disciplinary research projects or programs relevant to aging. State and Commonwealth Government representatives are being invited to give presentations early in the program, so that information about government objectives and priority areas in relation to aging research may inform subsequent discussions.

The workshop is being hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. All interested Faculties and affiliated Institutes are invited to participate.

Participants

The workshop will have a total of 65 participants.

To ensure the widest possible representation of research interests, participation in the workshop will be restricted to heads of research groups (or their nominee).

Please complete the Workshop Expression of Interest Form and submit it by email to the workshop organiser (Dr Donna Cohen, donna.cohen@med.monash.edu.au). Note that the box in which you are asked to describe your research interests will enlarge to accommodate your text, but please restrict your response to 150 words.

Theclosing date for expressions of interest is Friday 12 November 2004 and attendance will be confirmed the following week.

Development of an Aging Research Resource

All groups with research interests or expertise in the aging research field are encouraged to submit an “abstract” for inclusion in a collated resource, regardless of whether a representative of the group will be attending the workshop.

Please complete the Abstract Proforma and submit it by email to the workshop organiser (Dr Donna Cohen, donna.cohen@med.monash.edu.au). Please note once again that boxes will enlarge to accommodate your text, but please keep your responses as brief and concise as possible and observe any word limits.

The closing date for abstracts is Friday 12 November 2004.

The collated resource will be distributed as a bound hard copy volume for all workshop delegates and will be available in electronic format on the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences website.

Proposed Workshop Program

• Session 1: presentations from State and Commonwealth Governments about government priorities relevant to aging research followed by Q&A session

Morning tea

• Session 2: snapshot of research in each Faculty that fits – or could potentially – under an aging research umbrella

Lunch

• Session 3: moderated plenary discussion to canvas suggestions for cross-disciplinary projects
• Session 4: breakout groups to expand project ideas and discuss structure and management of the aging research centre, possible sources of funding for projects and other structural matters

Afternoon tea

• Session 5: final plenary session to discuss structure and governance of the proposed research centre