NewcastleGateshead leads the way with first interdisciplinary conference on ageing syndromes

24 February 2020

The first ever International Sarcopenia Translational Research Conference will come to NewcastleGateshead 11 – 12 June this year, to help tackle the challenges of a growing population living with ageing-related muscle loss, frailty and multiple long-term conditions.

The conference will take place at The Catalyst, a ground-breaking facility in the heart of Newcastle, which is home to the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing and the National Innovation Centre for Data.

The facility is part of Newcastle Helix, a pioneering 24-acre hybrid site built specifically for tech and innovation and home to some of the highest tier research and education facilities in the country.

An estimated 200 academic researchers and clinical practitioners from around the world will attend the two-day event, which is the brainchild of Professor Avan Sayer, director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and professor of geriatric medicine at Newcastle University.

Professor Sayer said: “The UK has seen dramatic gains in life expectancy, with the number of people aged 85 or above predicted to increase from 1.7 to 3.7 million over the next 20 years, bringing with it, significant new health and care challenges. It has never been more important for us to come together across areas of research to find solutions – as the inaugural International Sarcopenia Translational Research Conference aims to do.

“Ageing and health research has been recognised as one of Newcastle University’s main areas of strength for more than 25 years.

“I have big ambitions for the conference and am confident that hosting the first ever event in NewcastleGateshead will cement the conference success for years to come, offering crucial opportunities to share best practice and to pool incredible research talent.”

Paul Szomoru, director of tourism and business events at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming the first ever conference of its kind and thrilled to be a key part as a destination, of the research-based approach to tackling these societal problems.

“The ground-breaking research facilities of the ‘Outstanding’ rated Newcastle Hospitals Trust and Newcastle University, combined with the wealth of talent in ageing research and new infrastructure such as the National Innovation Centre for Ageing definitely explains why NewcastleGateshead was really the only choice to hold the first conference on translational sarcopenia research.”