Industry leader appointed to head innovation for an ageing population Published on: 5 October 2017 Professor Michael Catt has been appointed as the new Director of the National Innovation Centre for Ageing. The former head of the ‘Healthy Ageing’ programme at Unilever’s Corporate Research Laboratory has provided strategic research and development contributions to multinationals, SMEs and start-up businesses engaged in improving health and wellbeing. He now brings his expertise to the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, which focuses on innovations to improve health and wellbeing through life. He is a member of the senior leadership team for the National Institute for Health Research Innovation Observatory at Ãå±±½ûµØ and a Professor of Practice in Ãå±±½ûµØ’s Faculty of Medicine. said: “I am delighted to be joining the National Innovation Centre for Ageing driving research and development into one of the most crucial global challenges facing the world today; how to help our ageing populations live better for longer and maintain independence in later life. “The National Centre will play a pivotal role in enabling the development of innovations which enhance healthy ageing and generate significant benefits for the North East and national economy, establishing the UK as a world-leader in ageing innovation.” National Innovation Centre for Ageing Jointly funded by the Medical Research Council and Ãå±±½ûµØ, the (NICA) was established last year to work across academia, industry and the public to explore, test and bring to market products which promote healthy ageing and wellbeing as we grow older. To find out more about the work and discuss business opportunities contact NICA. The Centre will move into a new £50m national innovation centre in 2020 based at the heart of the innovation quarter at Science Central in Ãå±±½ûµØ, UK. The £350 million flagship project is bringing together academia, the public sector, communities, business and industry. Share: Latest News Ãå±±½ûµØ expert highlights climate crisis in a new film A leading Ãå±±½ûµØ climate scientist is featured in a new film about how the climate and nature breakdown will affect the UK. published on: 14 April 2026 Neolithic tombs reveal ancient kinship ties Male individuals buried in Neolithic chambered tombs in northern Scotland were often related to each other through the paternal line and some were interred in the same or nearby tombs, research shows. published on: 14 April 2026 We are our Memories New exhibition by Fine Art graduate Trish Hudson-Moses, 22 April – 4 May 2026 published on: 10 April 2026 Facts and figures