Charlotte Beaudart, Namuroise of the Year: reward for her research on ageing

As a lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine since September 1, 2023, and a member of the NARILIS Institute, Charlotte Beaudart is more specifically involved in the biomedical sciences master's degree, specializing in clinical research.She is also involved in the master's degree EMOTION - Erasmus Mundus.

For nearly fifteen years, Charlotte Beaudart has been conducting research into the physiological aspects of aging, exploring areas such as sarcopenia, fragility and intrinsic capacities.

At the age of 50, muscle mass and strength decline significantly. Beyond a certain threshold, this phenomenon is known as sarcopenia. It has an impact on physical performance, promotes walking disorders and is a factor in frailty in the elderly.

With over 200 scientific publications to her credit and an H-index of 56, Charlotte Beaudart has made a name for herself in the field of aging research. One of her most notable achievements is the creation of the SarcoPhAge cohort, bringing together over 530 participants aged over 65 in Liège. This prospective study spans almost a decade, providing valuable information on the dynamics of aging. In addition, Dr. Beaudart has distinguished herself for developing the SarQoL, the first validated quality-of-life questionnaire specific to sarcopenia.

Translated into 35 languages, it is now used on a daily basis by clinicians: "From a medical point of view, explains Charlotte Beaudart, it's great to be able to increase muscle strength in both arms, for example. But what's in it for the patient?

In the course of her career as a researcher, Charlotte Beaudart has also developed a number of methodological expertises, skills in biostatistics and meta-synthesis of the scientific literature, which can be transposed to numerous themes. This enables her to collaborate not only between departments, but also between faculties.She also conducts research in health economics. In this context, she is mainly interested in studies of patient preferences, studies that enter into the dynamics of the evolution of public health policies and more patient-centered healthcare models.

In December 2023, Charlotte Beaudart was rewarded for her work with an AstraZeneca Foundation Prize in partnership with the FNRS and the FWO.

Since December 15, she also holds the title of "Namuroise of the Year".

Deeply attached to her roots, she is delighted to have joined the University of Namur as a teacher-researcher, an opportunity that allows her to return to work in the Namur basin. Receiving the "Namuroise of the Year" award after just one year back in her province is a particularly valuable recognition. After devoting her research to the aging of residents in the province of Liège, she now wishes to put all her energy into serving the senior citizens of the province of Namur.

Discover her portrait produced by the FNRS as part of the "Visages de la recherche" campaign carried out in collaboration with Le Soir and Canal Z.