BIP: AWAKE – Ageing and Well-being: Advanced Knowledge for Equitable Health

The AWAKE immersive course is organised under the auspices of two Ulysseus Innovation Hubs: “Ageing & Well-being”, and “Robotics”. AWAKE aims to create a stimulating environment to share rigorous approaches across diverse disciplines and boost transdisciplinary collaborations in ageing research, with a focus on applications for health and healthcare.

Please be aware that your home university may set a different application deadline depending on their internal selection process.

Registration dates 15 January 2026 30 April 2026

Course dates 29 June 2026 03 July 2026

Registration is open

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Course Outline

Organised under the auspices of two Ulysseus Innovation Hubs: “Ageing & Wellbeing” and “Robotics”, the immersive course will foster transdisciplinary approaches to explore the latest knowledge on ageing research in health and healthcare, from basic sciences to clinical applications. AWAKE is organised in in close synergy with the BIP HERO – “Human-centred and Ethical Robotics for Health and Wellbeing” organised by the Ulysseus Innovation Hub “Robotics”. Adopting the perspectives of multiple scientific standpoints, the different stages of research and innovations will be illustrated by the means of concrete case studies from molecular sciences, clinical research, public health and industrial partnerships. The equity dimension will be highlighted, with emphasis on the process of responsible transfer to clinical care.

AWAKE aims to create a stimulating environment to share rigorous approaches across diverse disciplines and applications, and boost transdisciplinary collaborations within the Ulysseus environment. All participants are encouraged to share their research interest and current project.

Blended Intensive Programme – BIP: The course is structured into two main components: a digital component and a physical component, each designed to complement the other and enhance learning outcomes.

Course Content

Seminar and practical activities will address the following subjects:

Ageing and longevity: genomic and molecular underpinnings;
System thinking and innovation for healthy ageing;
Laboratory cutting-edge techniques in ageing research;
AI-assisted tools for innovation in healthcare;
Assistive robotics in the elderly;
Clinical research and evidence synthesis in the aged population;
Responsible technology transfer: value-based medicine and health impact assessment.

Learning approaches include interactive online and in-person lessons; flipped classes; immersive workshops; site visits to laboratories; start-up pitches. Students are grouped into small teams (3-5 members) comprising participants from both the AWAKE and the HERO BIPs, to enhance the transdisciplinary approach. The workgroups are engaged in immersive activities, such as project design, evidence search and synthesis, presentations of results, etc.

To allow all participants to introduce their current research interest and share their competence, a few small poster sessions will be held.

At the course completion, all participants present their project work, grounded on the capacities built during both the virtual and physical part, and developed thanks to the transdisciplinary teamwork.

Learning Outcomes

Following the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand the current trends in ageing research: students will gain an up-to-date pulse of the field’s latest advances, including basic and clinical research on healthy ageing.
Apply research skills: through the immersive sessions, students will acquire competence in applying proper methodologies to ageing research.
Develop collaborative research capabilities: participants will enhance their ability to work effectively in transdisciplinary teams, a crucial skill for tackling complex research challenges.
Prepare for advanced research opportunities: the practical experience and networking opportunities will equip students to pursue further ageing research or career opportunities in the industrial environment.

Requirements

Both Master and PhD students can participate.
Minimum study level: Bachelor degree in in the biomedicine area – e.g. Medicine, Nursing, Biology, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, or equivalent subjects.
Further requirements:
– Basic knowledge of the key principles for research in life sciences (Good Laboratory Practice and Good Clinical Practice)
– Experience in conducting a research project, under the supervision of a senior researcher.
– Language proficiency level: English C1. The participation to the Ulysseus language courses is strongly encouraged – see also the Ulysseus Language Policy.
– Equipment: personal laptop.

Physical Mobility

The physical mobility part will be running from 29/06/26 to 03/07/26 in Genoa, Italy.

▪ The activity will be based at the University of Genoa, at the Department of Health Sciences and at DIBRIS. Both venues are close to the city centre.

Agenda

Day 1

9:00 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 – 11:20 Lectures and workshops – setting the scene
11:30 – 13:00 Poster session
14:00 – 16:30 Workgroup

Day 2

9:30 – 11:20 Lectures held by the Innovation Hub Ageing & Well-being
11:30 – 13:00 Lab visit & Workshop
14:00 – 16:30 Workgroup

Day 3

9:30 – 11:20 Lectures held by the Innovation Hub Robotics
11:30 – 13:00 Lab visit & Workshop
14:00 – 16:30 Workgroup

Day 4

9:30 – 11:20 Lectures – clinical research and applications
11:30 – 13:00 Lab visit & Workshop / Poster session
14:00 – 16:30 Workgroup

Day 5

9:30 – 11:20 Lectures and workshops – transfer to healthcare, entrepreneurship
11:30 – 13:00 Plenary workgroup presentations
14:00 – 16:30 Networking activities
Thank you & Farewell

Virtual Component

● The virtual component will be running from 22/06/26 to 26/06/26.
● Students will work remotely, with sessions conducted synchronously to allow real-time interaction, on the foundational aspect of matters, focusing on background research, theoretical issues and design.

Application Process

After completing your BIP template, please send it to your Local Mobility Officer to check it.

● CV, including personal contact details.
● A short bio accompanied by an outline of personal interests in the discipline, as well as potential ideas to explore and develop within the workgroup.
● Deadline for application: April, 30th, 2026.
● Maximum number of BIP participants: 20 students