International Leadership

Aging is a worldwide issue and we are rising to the challenge.

AGE-WELL has become a globally-recognized network that accelerates innovation in the field of technology and aging. Our work is raising Canada’s profile as a leader in technology-based solutions that benefit people everywhere.

AGE-WELL partners with Northern Health Science Alliance in England
The Northern Health Science Alliance signed a memorandum of understanding with AGE-WELL and other Canadian healthy aging expert organizations to drive innovation and support research collaboration between Canada and the North of England.

AGE-WELL trainee co-founds International Consortium on Dementia and Wayfinding
Dr. Noelannah Neubauer, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Waterloo and AGE-WELL trainee, has co-founded the International Consortium on Dementia and Wayfinding (ICDW). She established the global platform with Katie Gambier-Ross, a University of Edinburgh PhD student. Funding from AGE-WELL helped get the ICDW launched.

CIHR and AGE-WELL fund international research projects to benefit aging baby boomers
As more Canadian baby boomers enter their senior years (65 and older), Canada’s hospitals are experiencing a corresponding increase in requests for health services. In an effort to reduce this growing pressure on our health care system, CIHR and AGE-WELL have partnered to support the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) programme.

AGE-WELL members share expertise at Global Conference on Ageing
It was an inspiring and memorable three days. Over 1,200 delegates attended the International Federation on Ageing’s 14th Global Conference on Ageing, held in Toronto on Aug. 8-10, 2018. The program featured keynotes, symposia and workshops with presenters from over 70 countries, including a large AGE-WELL presence.

Dr. Alex Mihailidis appointed to Executive Board of Active and Assisted Living Association
Dr. Alex Mihailidis, AGE-WELL Scientific Director, has been elected a Vice President of the Active and Assisted Living Association. The association manages the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) Programme, which is a global pioneer in the technology and aging sector.

Representing AGE-WELL at the United Nations
AGE-WELL research came to the world stage last week when network investigator Dr. Rosalie Wang presented to a session at United Nations Headquarters focused on digital skills for the aging population. Dr. Wang said Canadian research in the area of user-centred design offers solutions to the challenge of developing technologies to support older adults.

Over 30 AGE-WELL posters and talks at international conference this week
AGE-WELL researchers and trainees are sharing their research posters, papers and more at the 2017 International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) World Congress. The conference includes an unprecedented Technology and Aging Day that brings together leading companies, gerontologists and entrepreneurs engaged in developing technology solutions for older adults.

AGE-WELL and CIHR partner to provide major international funding opportunity
AGE-WELL is delighted to partner once again with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to provide a major funding opportunity for Canadian researchers through the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) Programme. The theme of the new AAL 2017 call challenge is “AAL packages / integrated solutions” – integrating different solutions based on ICT to support active, healthy and independent living of older adults.

Trainee Profile: MacKenzie Martin hopes to improve the lives of aging populations everywhere
At age 22, Mackenzie Martin is casting a wide net in the hope that one day her research will improve the lives of aging populations in Canada and around the world. Her visit to De Hogeweyk dementia village in the Netherlands fueled her passion for research on aging. Martin conducted her own study on the role of design in dementia care at the fully enclosed, publicly-accessible village.

First annual AGE-WELL technology pitch competition to showcase solutions to support people with dementia
Ten innovators from Canada and around the world will participate in the first-ever AGE-WELL Pitch Competition: Technology to Support People with Dementia. AGE-WELL is co-hosting the event with the Global Council on Alzheimer’s Disease (GCAD).

Creation of critical health technologies at heart of international agreement
AGE-WELL was instrumental in laying the groundwork for a new Canada-France collaboration to address the global need for new health technology solutions. AGE-WELL played a key role in bringing about an agreement between Simon Fraser University, the City of Surrey and France’s Société d’Accélération du Transfert de Technologies (SATT Grand Centre).

AGE-WELL participates in the 3rd International Summer School on Ageing in Santiago, Chile
It was only a brief message in an AGE-WELL internal email that led to an extraordinary experience for Alexander Moreno. Luckily he opened the email rather than delete it. It was an opportunity for interested researchers to attend the Third International Summer School on Aging at the University of Chile.“It sounded interesting. That could be a fit for me,” he said in an interview from Montreal.