Our Activities

Explore our diverse range of activities across research, education, outreach, and support for early-career researchers.

All Activities
Research
Education
Outreach
Early Career Researchers

Research

Research illustration
The consortium is comprised of researchers at all levels, from PhD students to established PIs, in multiple domains of ageing. The partners have access to and experience in using invaluable resources, including:
  • Ageing cohorts and Biobanks
  • Environmental data
  • Functional datasets
  • Biological samples
  • Expertise in pre-clinical models (Galway, Basque Country, Groningen, Tartu) and theoretical modelling, metabolic physiology and development of digital biomarkers by means of wearables and digital technologies (Bern, Groningen, Ghent, Galway).
These resources will be integrated and disseminated within our network and to the wider research community, in a sustainable way. Expertise will be consolidated through workshops and networking events, leading to interdisciplinary funding. In addition, the network will facilitate staff exchanges with the aim of fostering collaborations and knowledge exchange leading to enhanced research capacity.

Education

Education illustration

We will create capacity in the field of ageing research to train future researchers and clinical leaders. To achieve this, REACT will facilitate the sharing of research resources and expertise between scientists from academia and industry, through webinars, workshops and staff exchanges. In addition, joint educational programmes will be developed and delivered as micro-credentials, CPD and modules forming part of postgraduate programmes, open to the ENLIGHT community. These will also be available for training of clinicians in ageing research.

Outreach

Outreach illustration
REACT will establish local and joint outreach programmes that will enable meaningful engagement with young and older people, family members, caregivers, and communities. We will nurture engagement across sectors and connect stakeholders to share and learn from their experiences. Our portfolio of activities will ensure inclusion and learning from older adults and will challenge ageist misconceptions. We aim to provide momentum for a more inclusive society. Our outreach activities include:
  • Public lectures
  • Sharing activities through social media
  • Science dissemination through flyers and posters
  • Community quizzes

Early Career Researchers

Early Career Researchers illustration
The REACT consortium is dedicated to facilitating and promoting the development of Early Career Researchers, ensuring the sustainability of the network through nurturing future leaders in the area of ageing research. The Early Career Researcher Committee is currently leading the organisation of several initiatives:
  • Mentoring Programme - ECRs will be paired with Senior Researchers, where ECRs will receive structured career advice.
  • Seminars - online seminars are held so that we can continually share our research, learn from each other and foster collaborations.
  • Social media and science dissemination - Activities of the REACT network will be shared via social media for the benefit of the science community as well as informing the public.
  • Staff/student exchanges - exchanges between research groups will foster knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Recent Activity - REACT Outreach activities

Recent opportunities where REACT researchers shared knowledge, connected with communities, and made ageing research accessible.

Integrated healthcare and rural communities event preview

February 2026

Integrated healthcare and rural communities
University of Galway with the REACH network

Michele Canavan gave a talk on integrated healthcare and rural communities.

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Panel discussions on ageing event preview

10 February 2026

Panel discussions on ageing
Estonian Academy of Sciences and Estonian Parliament

Prof. Pärt Peterson joined discussions on healthy ageing, personalised medicine, and disease prevention.

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Dementia Research Network Ireland Early Career Research Day event preview

April 2026

Dementia Research Network Ireland Early Career Research Day
University of Galway

Andrea Kwakowsky took part in the DRNI Early Career Research Day at the University of Galway.

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Innovations in HealthCare event preview

March 2026

Innovations in HealthCare
Ghent University Hospital

A public lecture on innovations in healthcare for a broad audience.

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Brigit’s Garden event: Nature Mindfulness event preview

September 2025

Brigit’s Garden event: Nature Mindfulness
University of Galway

An in-person workshop and research discussion brought older adults, people with dementia, and supporters together in nature.

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Night of Research event preview

September 2025

Night of Research
University of Bern

REACT was presented through interactive quizzes, posters, and slides at this public science event.

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Night of the Scientists event preview

September 2025

Night of the Scientists
University of Tartu

Visitors explored physical capability, immune markers, ageing, and pipetting at a popular annual science event.

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October 2025

Supporting someone living with dementia
University of Galway

The Galway team led a workshop for staff on supporting people living with dementia and their carers.

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Galway Science Festival event preview

November 2025

Galway Science Festival
University of Galway

Three stands explored ageing with worms, muscle signals and robotics, and RNA from cell function to vaccines.

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Workshops about sarcopenia event preview

November 2025

Workshops about sarcopenia
University of Ghent

Visitors measured muscle mass and participated in BFR therapy activities during Flemish Science Day.

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REACT Thematic Workshop public lectures and mobile lab event preview

November 2025

REACT Thematic Workshop public lectures and mobile lab
University of Groningen

The first REACT Thematic Workshop included public lectures and a well-attended mobile lab workshop.

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School visits event preview

2025

School visits
Molecular Pathology Laboratory, University of Tartu

Three high school groups visited the lab during 2025, including visits on 29 April and 19 October.

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Student tour event preview

April 2025

Student tour
Molecular Pathology Laboratory, University of Tartu

Bioscience students toured the lab and heard about current PhD projects.

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March 2025

Tartu Science Night
Molecular Pathology Laboratory, University of Tartu

Visitors tried pipetting, a grip strength test, an immune-system presentation, and a myth-busting quiz.

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