Valparaíso University was the host of the third day of work of the Thematic Table on Healthy Aging.

The third day of work of the Thematic Table on Healthy Aging, held at the University of Valparaíso, framed in the Objective Network Framework Agreement of the Consortium of Universities of the State of Chile, was classified as positive.

The activity, which was headed by UV Faculty of Pharmacy academic Mariane Lutz, included the participation of the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of the host institution, Dr. Adrián Palacios, and a group of about 35 researchers belonging to twelve CUECH universities, who reviewed the progress in the objectives established in the previous sessions.  

This was explained by Iván Palomo, coordinator of the table and researcher at the University of Talca, who indicated that “being the third day, we are very grateful to have the hospitality of the UV, who brought these researchers together to work on a topic that today Nowadays it is very present. The population is aging rapidly in our country, there are about 12% of the population according to the last census of people over 65 years of age. We have to worry about this population in different areas, and that is why this Research Network was created.”

 “This is a research group that seeks to publish scientific works, generate new projects collaboratively and create networks between all universities. This is to improve the quality of life of older adults in Chile, which is why we have to investigate both at a basic level and at an applied level, in different guidelines,” he added.

These guidelines refer to Healthy Eating and Aging, Physical Activity, Biology of Aging and Social Determinants of Aging, said Mariane Lutz, who participated as organizer of the meeting. “As a network our job is to do research and generate products. In this third workshop we focus on evaluating progress and aspects to improve. Also confirm what products we can show and how we can project what is coming for the coming months and years,” she explained.

Associative work plan

According to what was expressed by the Director of the Network Objective Framework Agreement, Mónica Quiroz, the importance of this working group associated with the issue of aging is “how universities are working associatively. This is a relevant milestone that reflects a new work practice that invites us to work in a much more collaborative and, above all, articulated way.”

And he added that "we are in the presence of a large number of national researchers from 12 universities in the country who have gathered at the University of Valparaíso to strengthen and give substance to the analysis project and specific work on healthy aging."

Source: CUECH Research Network