The Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA) was established in 2010 as a research network and designated as a research institute in 2013. MICRA receives core funding from the Medical Health Sciences and Humanities and pursues strategic objectives such as establishing the University as a major interdisciplinary centre for ageing research and transforming public perceptions of ageing. MICRA's research themes include social and cultural change in later life, physical decline and dementia, and its public engagement strategy aims to shape debates on population ageing. The Institute is led by an interdisciplinary team of co-directors and supports ageing research across the University through funding, workshops, and capacity building.

1. Manchester Institute for
Collaborative Research on Ageing
(MICRA)

2. DEVELOPMENT OF MICRA
• MICRA established as a network in 2010
• Designated as a research institute in 2013
• Core funding from Medical Health Sciences
& Humanities

3. MICRA: Strategic Objectives
• To establish the University as a major interdisciplinary
centre for research into ageing
• To develop a global presence in working with national
and international partners in seeking solutions to the
challenges associated with population ageing
• To advance knowledge about ageing through the pursuit
of high quality research
• To transform public and professional perceptions of
ageing
• To engage with older people and organisations working
on their behalf

4. MICRA: Research Themes
• Social and cultural change in later life
• Later life working, retirement and pensions
• Frailty, cognition and dementia
• Physical decline and tissue regeneration
• Biology of ageing and the life span
• Inequalities, health and well-being
• Engineering, environment and technology
• Public policy and care provision

5. MICRA: Public Engagement Strategy
Shaping the debate on population ageing through:
• Influencing government, IGOs, key policy groups working in
the field of ageing
• Developing partnerships with organisations working on
behalf of older people e.g. Age UK,
International Longevity Centre-UK
• Work with local authorities, third sector and housing
associations.
• An electronic newsletter which reaches over 1400
academics, practitioners, policy makers and older people.
• A re-designed website launched in January 2014

6. MICRA: Organisation and
Research Activities
Inter-disciplinary team of co-directors
Institute Manager and .6 administrator
• Supporting age-related research bids across the University
• Annual national Ph.D student conference
• Seedcorn funding: 95 applications since launch in 2010 with
31 supported
• Cross-faculty workshops (e.g. biomedical and social aspects of
frailty, work and retirement)
• Supporting areas of research collaboration
• Supporting early career researchers

7. Internal capacity-building and
support for research applications
• Dementia Research day: 110 participants
• Research event with Engineering and Physical Sciences:
50 participants
• Support for development of research network on
‘Work, Retirement and Pensions’
• Continuation of discussions around Centre for Frailty
• Support for Horizon 2020 application led by Life
Sciences
• Support for two successful ESRC Impact Accelerator
Account applications

8. Annual Lecture and seminars
• MICRA Annual Lecture given by Professor
Peter Whitehouse attracted attendance of
c.170, drawn from wide range of professions
and academic groups
• 18 seminars in 2014 organised in association
with wide range of academic
schools/faculties/partner organisations

9. Links with external partners
• Signing of memorandum of agreement with
AgeUK
• Extensive programme of work with Greater
Manchester and Manchester City Council
(likely to be extended with devolution)
• Developing formal partnerships with
international research centres (e.g. ANU)

10. Communications and marketing
• Resourcing of website/ e-newsletter
• New sections added to website reflecting
particular research strengths in age-related
areas
• MICRA network increased to c.1,500
• Increasing use of Twitter account
• Around 1400 people attended MICRA events
in 2014/15

12. SOME ISSUES
• Where do networks/institutes fit in University
structures?
• Accept that not everyone will want to become
involved
• Interdisciplinarity is hard work – co-directors
drawn from all faculties is important
• There may be a case for identifying key themes
• Importance of targeting early career researchers