Discover how MIRA members and trainees are making a significant impact in aging research, local communities, and global policy. The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) and our focused research Centres, the Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging and the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre, invite you to a day of knowledge sharing and connection with McMaster’s interdisciplinary aging research community.
Details:
Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Location: The Loft (4th floor), The Hub | McMaster University
Event Highlights:
- Opening Remarks & MIRA Year in Review: Gain insights into the latest advancements and achievements in aging research.
- New Research & Collaborations: Learn about groundbreaking projects and innovative collaborations.
- Poster Session & Judging: Explore exciting research posters and engage with researchers and trainees.
- MIRA Trainee Research Highlights: Hear from emerging researchers about their impactful work.
- Plenary Session & Closing Remarks: Be inspired by thought-provoking discussions about the future of aging research supported by MIRA.
Networking Opportunities:
- Connect with colleagues and researchers from across the University.
- Develop connections with potential collaborators or future supervisors.
- Learn about how MIRA and McMaster’s aging research community can support you!
Poster Submissions
Trainees are invited to present their research posters at our flagship interdisciplinary poster fair. Submit your poster by Friday, October 31, 2025, and participate in the trainee poster competition. Poster submission is through the registration link.
Agenda (subject to change):
Presentation titles and details are subject to change
08:00 – 09:00: Registration, breakfast
08:30 – 9:00: Poster viewing
9:00 – 9:45: Opening remarks
- Gianni Parise, Vice President Research
- Paul O’Byrne, Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences
9:00 – 9:45: Shaping the Future of Aging Research with MIRA
- Parminder Raina, Scientific Director, MIRA
- Marla Beauchamp, Director, MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre
9:45 – 10:30: Paving the way: Impact of MIRA’s First Cohort of major Programs of Research
- Chair: Stuart Phillips
- Rebecca Ganann: EMBOLDEN: A co-designed community intervention for improving physical mobility, nutrition and social connection
- Marla Beauchamp: McMaster Monitoring My Mobility (MacM3) study: Technological Approaches for Advancing the Assessment of Early Mobility Limitation in Older Canadians
- Andrea Gonzalez: Intergenerational Study on Aging (MIRA-iGeN): Building a Platform for Intergenerational Research
10:30 – 11:00: Building momentum: Mobilizing Aging Research at the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre
- Chair: Andrew Costa
- Carol Lee & Joanna Sinn: The Challenges of Aging in Place When Living in a Rooming Home
- Brian Detlor: Digital Literacy Training for Older Adults
11:00 – 11:45: Poster session and judging
11:45 – 12:30: Lunch and networking
12:30 – 13:00: New Horizons: MIRA Trainee Research Highlights
- Aedan Rourke (Supervisor: Jeremy Walsh) | Ketone supplementation: A novel approach for improving cognitive impairment
- Marie-Lee Yous (Former supervisor: Sharon Kaasalainen) | Dementia care in Canada and beyond
- Natassja Brien (Supervisor: Hendrik Poinar) | Ancient epigenetics: A deep time approach to skeletal frailty and aging
13:00 – 14:00: Stronger Together: Collaborative Research for Real-World Impact
- Introduction: Parminder Raina | Connections between hearing and the aging brain
- Plenary: Ian Bruce | Hearing loss, live music and assistive listening technologies
14:00 – 14:30: Closing remarks and award announcements
- Heather Sheardown, Dean (Faculty of Engineering)
- Suzanne Labarge
14:30 – 15:30: Ask Me Anything: Networking reception and speed mentoring
Featuring MIRA researcher mentors:
- Ian Bruce, Louise Lafortune, Ada Tang, Dylan Kobsar, Luciana Macedo, Shane Saunderson, Ravi Selvaganapathy, Allison Williams, Hao Yang, and Ruhai Wu
Join us to celebrate the advancements in aging research and foster new opportunities for collaboration. We look forward to seeing you there!
