HUBc brings together doctors and researchers for international conference on healthy ageing

By Biocat

The Health Universitat de Barcelona Campus (HUBc) is holding an international conference on active and healthy ageing on 14 and 15 November at Hotel Hesperia Tower, bringing together roughly thirty prestigious doctors and researchers in this field. This event aims to tackle transversal topics like the molecular basis of ageing, preventing age-related diseases and frailty, and age-related mental disorders.

It must be noted that HUBc, along with Biocat, is leading the work group promoting Catalan participation in the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) knowledge and innovation community (KIC) in healthy living and active ageing.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined active ageing as the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. The European Commission estimates that by 2060 there will only be two people of working age for each person over 65, which entails new social-policy challenges for all EU countries.

The scientific committee for the 1st Barcelona International Conference on Healthy Ageing is presided over by Dr. Alfons López Soto, head of Internal Medicine at Hospital Clínic and University of Barcelona professor, and the organizing committee by Dr. Josep Samitier, director of HUBc.

The opening lecture entitled Healthy ageing in a new century, on 14 November at 4 pm, will be given by Dr. Jean-Pierre Michel, chairman of the European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) and honorary professor at the University of Geneva, the University of Limoges and Beijing University Hospital. Over the two days, there will be various panel discussions featuring experts from hospitals and universities around Europe.

The event will conclude with a lecture by Maria Iglesia Gómez, head of the Strategy and Analysis Unit for the European Commission Directorate General for Health and Consumers, entitled The challenge of Healthy Ageing in Europe: The European Commission perspective.

More information and registration on www.healthyageingbarcelona.com.

Catalan bid for a European KIC

In 2014, under the framework of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the Horizon 2020 program, a new European call for proposals will be launched for the creation of new knowledge and innovation communities (KIC) focusing on innovation in healthy living and active ageing. KIC are public-private consortia made up of research centers, companies and higher-education centers that work together to carry out innovative projects. The EIT budget for 2014-2020 is €3.2 billions.
Taking into account that Catalonia is a leader in research, has world-renowned universities and business schools, and one of the most dynamic business and service fabrics in the life sciences in southern Europe, a Catalan bid for one of these KIC is being prepared. Biocat coordinates the work group that also includes the Health Universitat de Barcelona International Campus of Excellence (HUBc and the group of organizations on its board of trustees), IESE and the Department of Health.