New center for research into healthy ageing25 November 2008 The Center for Healthy Ageing has been financed through a generous donation by the Nordea Foundation. A new Center for Healthy Ageing is about to place the University of Copenhagen on the world map. Through multi-disciplinary research, scientists at the Center will uncover the mysteries of ageing throughout life and examine how ageing affects us at a molecular, human and societal level. The Center for Healthy Ageing is part of a strong international research community and will contribute to the IARU network (International Alliance of Research Universities), with the research universities of Yale, Berkeley, Oxford, Cambridge, ETH in Zurich, the Bejiing, Singapore, Tokyo, National University of Singapore, Australian National University and the University of Copenhagen working together on the research programme “Ageing, Longevity and Health”. Funding of the Center has been made possible through a generous donation from the Nordea Foundation. The foundation has donated 26 million USD to meet the center’s running costs over five years, with the opportunity for an additional 26 million USD for the next five years. “The donation from the Nordea Foundation has provided a unique opportunity for intensive research into ageing. We anticipate that the center will contribute to new, ground-breaking research – from increasing quality of life for the individual to promoting sustainable health-care initiatives and general advances in the promotion of health”, says Ulla Wewer, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Press conferenceMore information on the research project will be given at a press conference held by The Danish Science Minister, Helge Sander, Rector Ralf Hemmingsen, Dean Ulla Wewer and the chairman of the Nordea Foundation, Mogens Hugo on Tuesday 25 November, 10:15am-11:15am. This will be followed by a presentation on the Center itself,11.15-11.50am. Both the press conference and the introduction to the Center will take place at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. Fact sheet:The Center for Healthy Ageing comprises five research groups consisting of 23 leading Danish and international researchers who are permanently based at the Center. In addition, the Center will employ two leading research scientists of international renown. The number of researchers appointed to the Center is expected to reach 100. The Center will, be established as a network of research units, which will be assembled into a single physical unit at the Faculty of Health Sciences by 2011-2012. The Center for Healthy Ageing will commence its activities in early 2009. Research at the Center will focus on five specific research programmes.
The five research programmes will be lead by Professor Martin Lauritzen, Professor Michael Kjær, Professor Kirsten Avlund, Professor Allan Krasnik and Associate Professor Lene Otto from the University of Copenhagen respectively. In addition to this, Professor Vilhelm Bohr from the National Institutes of Health (USA) will be closely involved with the research activities of the Center. In addition to the research within the five programmes, there will also be extensive multi-disciplinary research in order to maximise the potential for synergistic collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge. The Center will be in a unique position to deliver outstanding research of a high international standard and will also provide educational programmes for postgraduate students and scientists involved in age-related research. The Center will also work for the dissemination of knowledge on health and ageing to promote advances in healthcare for the benefit of the general society. The Nordea FoundationThe Nordea Foundation is a non-profit charity. The foundation supports activities that promote healthy living within the areas of healthcare, sport, nature and culture. Each year, the foundation awards approx. 60 million USD (www.nordeafonden.dk).
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