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Improvements in our ability to treat disease have resulted in the population growing at a dramatic rate, with many people living much longer than 20 years ago. However, this has led to an increase in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and atherosclerosis. In this event we will discuss advancements in technology and our understanding of these conditions, and how we can better look after our bodies as we age.
Disease models in a dish: Can tissue engineering allow us to study neurodegeneration?
Dr Eric Hill
(Senior Lecturer, Aston University)
Stem cells offer great promise in tissue regeneration and cell based therapies. However, these cells can also be used to generate scarce tissues such as living human brain cells. In this talk, Eric will describe how these cells can be produced from patient’s skin cells and how advancements in tissue engineering are allowing scientists to build complex neural circuits to study development and disease.
Healthy Ageing – Is it possible and how?
Professor Janet Lord
(Director of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham)
In this talk, Janet will cover demographic changes that are leading to an aged society and the consequences for society due to the link between age and ill health. She will then progress to describe breakthroughs in our understanding of why humans age and will cover what is known of how individuals can try to maintain health in to old age.
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