Tine Buffel

Tine Buffel is a Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology at the University of Manchester, directing the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG). She holds an honorary visiting professor position at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Her work focuses on urban ageing, social exclusion, and age-friendly communities, with interdisciplinary collaborations across sociology, geography, and urban planning. She has led major grants, including a Leverhulme Trust Fellowship (2020-2025), exploring urban responses to ageing populations. Her research emphasizes participatory methods and co-production with older adults to address equity in urban environments.

Key research themes include neighbourhood dynamics, social inequality in later life, and the development of inclusive cities. MUARG collaborates with global stakeholders like the WHO and local initiatives such as Age-friendly Manchester. Buffel’s work bridges academic research with policy impact, receiving accolades for public engagement and innovative methodologies.

Recent publications highlight critical perspectives on age-friendly cities, gentrification’s impact on older residents, and co-research approaches with marginalized groups. Her projects address global challenges like housing precarity, migration, and the intersection of urban development with ageing demographics. She serves on the British Society of Gerontology’s executive board and the WHO’s UN Decade of Healthy Ageing advisory group.

• Awards: Leverhulme Research Leader Fellowship, ESRC Future Leaders Award, Marie Curie Fellowship
• Grants: £2M+ funding across Leverhulme, ESRC, WHO, and EU initiatives
• Labs/Teams: MUARG, interdisciplinary collaborations with global cities (e.g., Akita, Manchester)