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I applaud John Gladman’s assessment of the current situation and his proposals for improving Ageing research by linking with others and facilitating the expansion of a research culture in geriatrics and gerontology.

The British Council of Ageing (BCA) started in 1975. Prompted by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee into Scientific Aspects of Ageing, it was re-vitalised in 2006. The idea was that this body would act as a platform to lobby for greater support for ageing research and be a contact point for government policy makers. The three constituent societies (British Geriatrics Society, British Society of Gerontology and British Society for Research on Ageing) would provide informed opinions on social, biological, technological and medical aspects of ageing and stimulate much needed research. The proposals for extending the influence of this umbrella organisation make a lot of sense

The opportunities for meaningful research are enormous - for example, prevention and health promotion (a theme that is politically sweet following Lord Darzi’s reports); basic science (particularly in arthritis, vascular disease, degenerative neurological conditions and cancer); ways of postponing and mitigating disability and handicap; designing and de-stigmatising enabling equipment and environmental aids; improving transport and buildings to make them more suitable for older people

It is now time to build on Bob Stout’s excellent assessment of the challenges to UK academic geriatrics. Perhaps I could offer some comments and proposals:-

• We should encourage our colleagues in nursing, therapy, pharmacy as well as orthotists, social workers, clinical psychologists and others to be part of the research enterprise. It is encouraging that so many are already doing Master’s degrees and Doctorates and some are heads of academic units
• Links could be formed with other academic university departments - engineering, philosophy, geography, transport studies, economics for example
• Closer collaboration between UK academic departments is vital. We are updating the database of all the Chairs in geriatrics and related specialties so that departments might link with others working in similar fields and plan large - scale studies
• With so many front-line clinicians in our specialty, there are great opportunities to collect clinical information nation-wide ( and ultimately do RCT’s to match the size and quality of those done in cardiology and other specialties)
• Clinicians who may not have the time, training or interest in doing research themselves could feed into fora for the development of research ideas. This would ensure that academics are constantly reminded of clinical priorities and can be made aware of potentially important clinical observations (the central importance of which has been de-emphasised in recent years).
• Key research papers in all aspects of gerontology and geriatrics should be publicised - not least to the lay press. This could be an important part of the BGS plan to improve public relations, with particular emphasis on informing the media of important “ageing” stories.
• How about brief presentations at our scientific meetings on the most important research publications from the past year?
• We should consider campaigning for a major grant-giving body, which would heighten awareness, raise funds and promote high quality age-related research

These are exciting times and the opportunities for improving the lives of old people and those who care for them are immense. Let’s do it!

Graham Mulley

BGS Newsletter, March 2009
Issue 20 ISSN 1748-6343 20