Opening Convention of Dementia Research Training Group

A new interdisciplinary Research Training Group (Graduiertenkolleg) at Heidelberg University is taking up its work on dementia from a decidedly holistic view, addressing not only the biological and medical aspects of the disease, but the concomitant care, palliative, sociological, economic and socio-political issues as well. The group, set up in March, is attached to the university’s Network Aging Research (NAR) organization. Over the next five years it will receive funding from the Robert Bosch Foundation totalling 850,000 euros. The opening convention on 18 March 2010 marks the official start-up of the group, designed to develop qualified, up-and-coming researchers, educators and practitioners.

Dementia is an illness that not only affects the lives of its victims and their families in almost every respect but also has a substantial impact on social institutions and the economy. Yet there is still a lack of proven scientific findings on which to base concrete prevention and rehabilitation measures. The new Research Training Group is designed to qualify young academics from various disciplines to help close the research gap as well as promote their findings. In addition to advancing theory development, the research outcomes of their doctoral dissertations are expected to be of practical relevance and to contribute to improving the structures and quality of care.

Leading the Research Training Group on dementia are Prof. Dr. Andreas Kruse, head of the Institute of Gerontology, and Prof. Dr. Konrad Beyreuther, director of NAR. The funding from the Robert Bosch Foundation will support ten scholarship holders. Two further grants are being provided by NAR. A team of scholars and scientists from Halle, Heidelberg, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Nuremberg and Osnabrück from a variety of disciplines will supervise the work of the postgraduates during the three-and-a-half-year period. Represented disciplines include psychology, education, care research, palliative research, the neurosciences, nutrition science and sport science.

At the opening convention the members of the supervisory team will be discussing the latest findings in their respective disciplines. Central topics are diagnostics, nutrition, sport, education, technology and care. The convention will take place in the Great Hall of the Old University from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The conference is open to the public. Prior registration is requested via e-mail kontakt@nar.uni-hd.de or by phone +49 (0)6221 548101. For more information, go to www.nar.uni-heidelberg.de .

Note for news desks
There will be a press conference to mark the opening of the Research Training Group on dementia on

Thursday, 18 March 2010, 12:45 p.m.
Old University, Grabengasse 1, Senatssaal

Fielding questions at the press conference will be:
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Eitel, Rector of Heidelberg University
Dieter Berg, Chairman of the Robert Bosch Foundation
Prof. Dr. Andreas Kruse, director of the Institute of Gerontology
Prof. Dr. Konrad Beyreuther, director of the Network Aging Research
Prof. Dr. Lutz Frölich, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim
Prof. Dr. Cornel Sieber, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
PD Dr. Klaus Hauer, Bethanien Hospital, Heidelberg

Contact
Dr. Birgit Teichmann
Network Aging Research (NAR)
phone: +49 6221 548124
teichmann@nar.uni-hd.de

Communications and Marketing
Press Office, phone: +49 6221 542311
presse@rektorat.uni-heidelberg.de