COGWORKS - The Cognitive Health and Wellbeing Hub

COGWORKS: The Cognitive Health and Wellbeing Hub, is an eclectic international and multidisciplinary research Network, whose goal is the identification of ubiquitous interventions that promote healthy cognitive ageing and independence in later life. The aim of the COGWORKS Network application is to reflect the multi-factorial nature of the determinants of health, in the development of a strategy that will maximise research capacity to identify new strategies that are effective in the promotion of cognitive health and well being. COGWORKS will focus on four research themes: maximising capacity to benefit across the life span; the impact of caring and disability on cognitive and related areas of mental health; the influence of the built environment on cognitive decline and wellbeing and the provision of new cognitive technologies that support and monitor middle aged and older adults. By highlighting the economic and social gains of healthy cognitive ageing and exploiting embedded technologies, the emergent research strategy will be highly relevant to policy and practice. COGWORKS is committed to partnership working across disciplines, with policy makers, practitioners and with representatives of civil society, including traditionally excluded groups such as people with learning disability; people with dementia and carers. The Network reflects the focus on long term health and wellbeing and includes people with interests across the life course from pregnancy to old age. The focus on the broad determinants means that the Network will also act as a catalyst to bring together an exceptional mix of people from various institutions and disciplines including built environment, education, law, medicine, occupational therapy, psychology, public health, healthcare technologies, computing and sociology. These people are currently working on ageing related issues ranging from education in childhood to assistive technology and dementia. COGWORKS will capitalise on this synergy by creating a platform for cross-fertilisation of ideas, knowledge and skills. The activities of COGWORKS will be focused on building strong collaborative relationships and the generation of a robust research strategy. Key activities include the creation of a web-space to facilitate networking; a monthly electronic newsletter; literature reviews; focus group interviews with key stakeholders; participation in key conferences/workshops; monthly research seminars and a research colloquium in November to generate a draft research strategy, which will be refined and finalised in time for the LLHW3 research call. COGWORKS will maximise research capacity to develop effective interventions, responsive policy and service delivery, the ultimate beneficiaries are older people.

People

	Name	Telephone	Email	Office
	Dr Panagiota Smyrni Lecturer in Occupational Therapy (Principal investigator) T: +44 (0)1895 268771 E: panagiota.smyrni@brunel.ac.uk	+44 (0)1895 268771	panagiota.smyrni@brunel.ac.uk	Mary Seacole 1st Floor,Bay 8