UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences

Geriatric Medicine

The University Department of Geriatric Medicine was founded in 1964 at Stobhill Hospital, following a major bequest from the David Cargill Trust. The first chair of Geriatric Medicine in the world was  Sir Ferguson Anderson.  David Stott was appointed in 1994, based at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and Peter Langhorne joined later that year, initially as Senior Lecturer. 

Research

Following the establishment of the Academic Group of Geriatric Medicine at GRI, a major aim has been to develop a funded programme of collaborative clinical research.

The main areas of interest include the following:

  • The care of disabled elderly people including optimising rehabilitation to minimise and prevent disability after stroke.
  • Systematic reviews including the interpretation and implementation of research findings into clinical practise (focusing particularly on rehabilitation after stroke and other disabling conditions in old age)
  • Risk factors for disabling cerebrovascular disease including stroke and cognitive decline in the elderly. 

Funding has been secured for a wide portfolio of research projects. Groups that are collaborating with us include the University Groups in Haemostasis and Thrombosis and Vascular Biochemistry at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Bioengineering, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy at HealthQwest and Glasgow Caledonian University. Further afield we have collaborated with the Centre for Health Services Research in Newcastle, the University of Central Lancashire, and Guys Hospital Medical School. We also have collaborative links with various academic stroke and geriatric medical units throughout the UK, and around the world.

Professor Langhorne leads the Scottish Stroke Research Network.. Professor Stott leads the Cochrane Field for Older People and chairs the Health Services Research Committee of the Chief Scientist Office in Scotland.

The group has a strong track record of publication, with over 150 medline-cited articles from 1994. It also gives high quality support to those working for a postgraduate degree including PhD, MD and MSc by research, with a 100% record of successful completion. Researchers from the group have won a total of 12 prizes for presentations at scientific meetings.
 

Teaching

The unit takes a large number of undergraduate students on clinical attachment, including early clinical experience, clinical skills training, and block attachments for senior MBChB students. It hosts several Special Special Study Modules per annum. Professors Stott and Langhorne also both contribute to the formal MBChB teaching program  with academic days and seminars on University campus.

Professor Stott provides seminars to the BSc and MSc sports science course at Glasgow University (exercise and ageing) and to the dental undergraduate course.