Suzanne Labarge Lecture in Aging

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The Suzanne Labarge Lecture in Aging, named after chancellor emerita and McMaster alumna Suzanne Labarge, honours her longstanding support and contributions to aging research at McMaster University and the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA).

To be held annually, the lecture aims to foster interdisciplinary research and collaboration to optimize the longevity and well-being of Canada’s aging population.

The lecture supports visits from distinguished researchers from Canada and abroad who are conducting innovative and interdisciplinary research on aging.

Focus areas include:

Biological and Physiological Contributors: Understanding the fundamental biological processes that affect aging.
Behavioural, Cognitive, and Psychosocial Influences: Exploring how behaviour, cognition, and social factors impact aging processes.
Biomedical, Clinical, and Technological Innovations: Developing new technologies and clinical practices to promote optimal aging.
Environmental Components: Examining the social, economic, policy, and physical factors that influence optimal aging and independence.
Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Management Strategies: Creating strategies to prevent, rehabilitate, and manage decline in function.

The Suzanne Labarge Lecture in Aging aims to:

Promote Interdisciplinary Collaboration: By bringing together researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders from various fields, the lecture fosters a collaborative environment to address the complex challenges of aging.
Advance Research and Innovation: The lecture highlights cutting-edge research and innovative approaches to improving function and independence in aging, encouraging the development of new solutions and strategies.
Engage the Community: By inviting members of the public, the lecture seeks to raise awareness and understanding of aging-related issues, promoting a more informed and supportive community.

Dr. (Hon.) Suzanne Labarge, has a long history of supporting aging research at McMaster. A notable McMaster alumna and chancellor emerita, a member of the Order of Canada and a former vice-chair of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Her exemplary vision and dedication to the science of aging and mobility has resulted in donations of over $42 million to McMaster University to enhance the lives of older adults.

In 2007, her $2-million endowed gift established the Raymond and Margaret Labarge Chair in Research and Knowledge Application for Optimal Aging, named in tribute to her parents and has been held by Dr. Parminder Raina since its inception.

To bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world application, she founded the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative in 2012 with a $12-million gift. The initiative includes the evidenced-based McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, a trusted online resource that takes complex information about aging and presents it in easy-to-understand language.

In 2016, her $15-million gift launched the Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging (LCMA), which formally established the structure of MIRA at the university. The LCMA facilitates and amplifies research that mitigates the risks and consequences of declining mobility with age. In 2021, Labarge donated a further $5M to create the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre, unique partnership between the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) and Dixon Hall, a multi-service agency focused on addressing poverty, social injustices and isolation across the lifespan, in Toronto’s downtown East.

Labarge’s latest investment of $7.5 million in 2024 will help MIRA leverage existing research programs and engage in developing innovative programs to better understand how the drivers of brain and cognitive reserves, relationship between gut and brain and how brain impacts changes in physical and social function as people age.

Thank you Suzanne for supporting the future of aging research. Your vision has changed lives for aging populations.

2025’s Lecture by Dr. Stephen Lord

April 14, 2025

We are honored to welcome Dr. Stephen Lord as the keynote speaker for the inaugural Suzanne Labarge Lecture in Aging. Dr. Lord is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia and a Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering research on balance, gait, and falls in older adults.

His presentation, titled “Steady, safe and savvy: New technologies for fall prevention as we age,” will delve into the latest advancements in technology that are transforming fall risk assessments and prevention strategies for older adults.

Dr. Lord will discuss the utility of wearable sensors (including using wrist-worn sensors and smart phones) to improve fall prediction and the efficacy of e-health, exergame, virtual reality, and reactive balance training interventions for fall prevention.

The presentation will discuss how this new research can be made available to older people and implemented into government policies and clinical practice.

Learn more about this year’s lecture and Dr. Stephen Lord