National E-infrastructure for Aging Research (NEAR/2023-2028)

With this application, we seek support to consolidate and expand the National E-infrastructure for Aging Research (NEAR) after the building phase, supported by the VR-grant for national infrastructures (2018-22).

NEAR’s purpose is to empower aging research in Sweden by providing substantial added value to the field: a broad, multidisciplinary research perspective that cannot be achieved with the individual databases; increased sample size and variation, which enhance representativeness and generalizability; and a critical mass of data that opens new research avenues and supports innovation.

The ultimate goal is to contribute to identifying sustainable intervention strategies for better health and care for older people.

During the first 3-years, we have followed the original plan with only marginal deviations: the Consortium of 8 Swedish universities, where the 15 local databases are located, has been established, NEAR fundaments are in place and initial use of NEAR was started with 8 ongoing projects (www.near-aging.se).

NEAR-Phase 2 (2023-28) will be implemented by means of 9 modules: 1) organizing and governing, 2) completing the technical platform, 3) updating the documentation, 4) continuing data harmonization, 5) increasing visibility and user numbers, 6) enriching the local databases, 7) including new databases and registries, 8) supporting users & knowledge advancement, and 9) fulfilling knowledge gaps and developing new methods.

The availability of such a large collection of social, biological and medical data, and the scientific excellence of the NEAR founders, will reinforce the international profile of Swedish aging research, promote new collaborations and support the development of a new generation of well-qualified researchers.

Ultimately, NEAR will contribute to societal development by providing a platform for researchers, companies and non-profit organizations to improve public health and health care in a field that requires urgent innovation.