Interfaces that influence the aging of the nervous system

Our focus
Research Area A investigates how neural circuits change during aging and neurodegenerative diseases—and, in particular, what role the “interfaces” through which nerve cells communicate with each other and with other cell types play.

Goals of our projects
Identifying molecular and cellular mechanisms that trigger age-related changes in neural networks.

Laying the foundation for developing long-term targeted strategies against age-related changes in the human nervous system.

Interfaces that alter the immune system upon aging

Our focus
Research Area B investigates how aging alters the immune defense—from blood formation in the bone marrow to the behavior of immune cells in the organs.

Goals of our projects
Elucidating mechanisms of how and why the immune system ages.

Understanding how an aged immune system itself contributes to the aging of tissues and organs.

Developing strategies to prevent or correct age-related malfunctions of the immune system.

Interfaces that control the aging of organs and organisms

Our focus
The projects in Area C combine basic research and clinical disciplines. They primarily deal with molecular and cellular mechanisms of tissue aging and its spread within and between organs.

Goals of our projects
Deciphering mechanisms that transfer aging from one cell, tissue, or organ to other areas 

Identifying and further developing biomarkers of aging to enable personalized interventions