Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA)

DEVELOPMENT OF MICRA

• MICRA established as a network in 2010

• Designated as a research institute in 2013

• Core funding from Medical Health Sciences & Humanities

MICRA: Strategic Objectives

• To establish the University as a major interdisciplinary centre for research into ageing

• To develop a global presence in working with national and international partners in seeking solutions to the challenges associated with population ageing

• To advance knowledge about ageing through the pursuit of high quality research

• To transform public and professional perceptions of ageing • To engage with older people and organisations working on

their behalf

MICRA: Research Themes

• Social and cultural change in later life

• Later life working, retirement and pensions

• Frailty, cognition and dementia

• Physical decline and tissue regeneration

• Biology of ageing and the life span

• Inequalities, health and well-being

• Engineering, environment and technology

• Public policy and care provision

MICRA: Public Engagement Strategy

Shaping the debate on population ageing through:

• Influencing government, IGOs, key policy groups working in the field of ageing

• Developing partnerships with organisations working on behalf of older people e.g. Age UK,

International Longevity Centre-UK• Work with local authorities, third sector and housing associations.• An electronic newsletter which reaches over 1400 academics,

practitioners, policy makers and older people.• A re-designed website launched in January 2014

MICRA: Organisation and Research Activities

Inter-disciplinary team of co-directors Institute Manager and .6 administrator

• Supporting age-related research bids across the University• Annual national Ph.D student conference• Seedcorn funding: 95 applications since launch in 2010 with

31 supported• Cross-faculty workshops (e.g. biomedical and social aspects

of frailty, work and retirement)• Supporting areas of research collaboration • Supporting early career researchers

Internal capacity-building and support for research applications

• Dementia Research day: 110 participants• Research event with Engineering and Physical

Sciences: 50 participants• Support for development of research network on

‘Work, Retirement and Pensions’• Continuation of discussions around Centre for Frailty• Support for Horizon 2020 application led by Life

Sciences• Support for two successful ESRC Impact Accelerator

Account applications

Annual Lecture and seminars

• MICRA Annual Lecture given by Professor Peter Whitehouse attracted attendance of c.170, drawn from wide range of professions and academic groups

• 18 seminars in 2014 organised in association with wide range of academic schools/faculties/partner organisations

Links with external partners

• Signing of memorandum of agreement with AgeUK• Extensive programme of work with Greater

Manchester and Manchester City Council (likely to be extended with devolution)• Developing formal partnerships with

international research centres (e.g. ANU)

Communications and marketing

• Resourcing of website/ e-newsletter• New sections added to website reflecting

particular research strengths in age-related areas

• MICRA network increased to c.1,500• Increasing use of Twitter account• Around 1400 people attended MICRA events

in 2014/15

SOME ISSUES

• Where do networks/institutes fit in University structures?

• Accept that not everyone will want to become involved

• Interdisciplinarity is hard work – co-directors drawn from all faculties is important

• There may be a case for identifying key themes• Importance of targeting early career researchers