CIESAL researchers take part in first conference of the Inter-University Centre for Aging
10/06/2022The first in-person Conference of the Inter-University Centre for Healthy Aging (CIES) was held at the Rancagua Campus of the Universidad de O’Higgins on 25th and 26th May. The main objective of the meeting was to strengthen the links between the members of the 16 universities which make up the Consortium of Chilean State Universities (CUECH), determining the guidelines for improving the association’s work programme.
The proposal for the creation of CIES was approved by the rectors of CUECH, to be implemented with funds from the World Bank. With this aim in mind, 60 academics from 15 public universities, 14 Centres and 16 Laboratory Groups have come together to form this Aging Network. The work of CIES is focused on 6 thematic areas: risk factors for chronic diseases, neurosciences and neurodegenerative diseases, geriatric odontology, food and nutrition for the elderly, functional capacity and physical condition, quality of life, and social determinants of aging.
Three CIESAL researchers regularly participate in CIES: Dr Álvaro Ardiles works in the thematic area of Neurosciences and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Marjorie Borgeat in Geriatric Odontology, and Professor Mariane Lutz coordinates the area of Food and Nutrition in the Elderly.
The 2020s have been declared by the WHO as the “Decade of Healthy Aging” and notably, Chile is a country that is aging at an accelerated pace. In fact, a bill on positive aging is currently being prepared in our country within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The CIES network facilitates links and collective research among public universities, encouraging inter and transdisciplinary approaches to the aging process, with international collaboration. By generating basic and applied knowledge, it contributes to health promotion, prevention, and rehabilitation or timely treatment, throughout the course of a lifetime, to achieve healthy aging.
CIES generates scientific products, develops human capital, strengthens links with its environment, and provides expertise for decision making and the formation of public policies that help improve the quality of life of the elderly.
[The CIES enables association and research in this field by public universities
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