NICHE-Leeds joined international colleagues in Cologne (25-26 September 2025) for the third seminar of the International Network of Living Labs in Ageing and Long-Term Care. This vibrant and growing network brings together researchers, practitioners, and care partners from across Europe to share learning, build partnerships, and co-develop impactful research rooted in real-world care settings.
Sharing Progress and Priorities
The seminar was attended by Professors Karen Spilsbury and Claire Surr, Associate Professor Reena Devi, and Researchers Kirsty Haunch and Zena Aldridge from NICHE-Leeds. The formal programme began at the University of Cologne’s Institut of Nursing Science, where Living Lab teams from Leeds, Maastricht, Graz, Halle, and Cologne shared updates on their latest work. Highlights included:
· PraWiDem Living Lab (Cologne & Halle): Results from a process evaluation exploring implementation, impact mechanisms, and context.
· Maastricht Living Lab: Reflections on open-door policies, using quality of care data, and care for people with Huntington’s disease.
· NICHE-Leeds: Reena Devi presented a prioritisation exercise identifying future research topics that matter most to those living and working in care homes.
· Opinion Lab Graz: Eva Pichler shared progress from idea to implementation.
The day closed with a scavenger hunt, followed by a relaxed social dinner where we had more opportunities to deepen connections and spark new collaborations.
Research focused workshops and strategic planning
Day two featured parallel sessions that balanced strategic planning with practical research workshops. Living Lab leaders explored how to sustain and expand the network, including discussions on funding models and partnership criteria.
Meanwhile, research-focused sessions covered:
· PraWiLab Cologne: Refining the PraWiDem logic model.
· Maastricht: Measuring Living Lab impact and success.
· Halle: Expert recommendations for implementing Living Labs.
· Leeds: Kirsty Haunch led a session on maximising the potential of Linking Pin roles, emphasising their importance in bridging research and practice.
The seminar wrapped up with reflections from Martin Dichter and Eva Pichler, and a shared commitment to continue building a collaborative, impactful network.
NICHE-Leeds: Listening, Doing, Offering
Throughout the seminar, NICHE-Leeds reaffirmed its commitment to co-producing research with care home staff, residents and their relatives. Professor Karen Spilsbury’s presentation showcased the team’s interdisciplinary capacity, strong partnerships with care providers, and growing international reach.
From undergraduate interns to postdoctoral researchers, NICHE-Leeds continues to nurture capacity and excellence in care home research. Our work is grounded in real-world settings and shaped by those who live and work within them and is centred around 1) sustaining the workforce, 2) enhancing quality, 3) optimising fundamental care, and 4) enabling technologies.
As the network grows, exciting plans are emerging—from student exchange visits and joint publications to collaborative projects that span international boundaries. The Living Lab model is proving to be a powerful approach to improving long-term care—one that is inclusive, evidence-based, and deeply connected to practice.
NICHE-Leeds is proud to be part of this international community, working together to ensure that ageing and long-term care are informed by research, shaped by experience, and driven by compassion.