February 2025

The Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging's Aging Insights newsletter features aging-related research, education, and community initiatives that involve or may be of interest to UCalgary campus community members.

Announcement

We Are Back at Foothills Campus!


The Centre on Aging is excited to be back at UCalgary's Foothills Campus. We are now located in the Cal Wenzel Precision Health Building in GD01, sharing space with the W21C Research and Innovation Centre. This relocation will enhance our efforts in advancing research and educational initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of older adults. 


Our team looks forward to strengthening connections and collaborations with our academic community.  


Research Spotlight

Simulation Framework for Modeling COVID-19 Transmission in Long-Term Care Facilities

Dr. Svetlana Yanushkevich and Philip Ciunkiewicz (PhD Student) are leading a research project to develop advanced computational models for simulating the spread of infectious diseases in localized environments like long-term care facilities.


A flexible agent-based simulation framework was created to better understand and mitigate disease transmission, accounting for factors such as:

  • facility layout and size;
  • number and types of occupants;
  • daily schedules and movement patterns;
  • and disease characteristics (e.g., infectiousness, incubation period).


The model's ability to simulate outbreaks and evaluate intervention impacts was tested. Simulations revealed that measures like mask-wearing and vaccination significantly reduces infection risk.


A decision-support system was then developed to help administrators interpret simulation results.

Pictured above is an example frame visualization from a scenario simulation. Viral particle concentration is shown as a transparent red overlay. Agents numbered 1-8 are seated as they would in a lab environment.

UCalgary in the News

January 14, 2025

Summer research opportunity gives mature student experience needed to purse medical school dreams

Read more

December 10, 2024

Pets bring benefits and challenges for seniors, study shows

Read more

Funding Opportunities

Mitacs Globalink Research Award (for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellows)

Application deadline: 16 weeks prior to project start date

Learn more

American Federation for Aging Research: Glenn Foundation for Medical Research (GFMR) Discovery Award (international research funding)

Letter of intent deadline: February 18, 2025

Learn more

2025 SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant

Program application deadline: March 17, 2025

Learn more

Visit the UCalgary database for more research funding opportunities:

 Research database

Events

UCalgary Event

As we strive to live longer and healthier lives, the demand for professionals in this field is growing. Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to join the Centre on Aging for its panel discussion and networking event! You will learn about diverse career paths in aging from local professionals.


March 18, 2025 | Calgary, AB

Register here

Other Events

Palliative Care in Long-Term Care Facilities in a COVID-19 World: International Perspectives from Canada, Japan and England

February 12, 2025 | Zoom Webinar

Learn more

2nd Global Conference on Aging and Gerontology

March 14-16, 2025 | Berlin, Germany

Learn more

Seniors' Expo 2025

April 26, 2025 | Calgary, AB

Learn more

Aging in the Headlines

Seniors' home uses AirTages to give residents more independence

January 5, 2025

View here

'Cycling Without Age' program getting seniors out in the community

January 3, 2025

View here

Saskatoon senior pitches walking soccer

January 2, 2025

View here

I went back to school at 42 to finish my degree

December 10, 2024

Read more

News to share? We would love to learn about your research, an award you received, a grant you received, or an event you are attending. Please send us your content!

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Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging

O'Brien Institute for Public Health I Cumming School of Medicine I University of Calgary

Email: aging@ucalgary.ca I Phone: (403) 210-7208 I Website: https://obrieniph.ucalgary.ca/aging

The Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging is a cross-faculty aging hub whose mission is to create an ecosystem for innovation in age-inclusive environments, practices, and policies. We are focused on catalyzing networks and leading collaborative innovations centered on older adults through education, research, and community engagement. Our vision is to achieve optimal health and well-being for older adults driven by evidence and in an inclusive manner.


The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).