GRK 1789:  Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Aging (CEMMA)

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2013 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 194266605

The demographic development predicts an inversion of the "normal hierarchical demographic structure" in most Western societies over the next decades, with a subsequent significant increase in age-associated diseases. Thus age-associated diseases and their prevention will become one central aspect of medicine, business and social studies. Improved and in depth knowledge on basic molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging will allow to design rational approaches and therapies that are ultimately aimed at achieving healthy aging. The Research Training Group CEMMA will recruit and train the next generation of scientists in aging research, a very critical task in the light of the anticipated demographic development. The Research Training Group is designed as a structured, internationally visible training programme for doctoral students working in the field of aging research. CEMMA is based on a group of highly qualified principal investigators in aging research, while balancing among this group very experienced as well as younger mentors for the students. It is a training programme with distinct admission rules, a coordinated study plan, intermediate evaluations and interdisciplinary thesis advisory committees leading to a PhD or Dr. rer. nat. The qualification programme with respect to aging research includes distinct teaching modules on model systems in aging research and on theories on molecular aging in addition to modules analysing aging with respect to general medicine and social studies. The research programme within CEMMA reflects this complexity and interactive nature of the aging process, with a specific focus on aging with respect to the connective tissue, the neuronal system, the immune system and highly replicative, primarily stem cell driven tissues like the hematopoietic system. The Research Training Group works closely together with the International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm, which is supported by the Excellence Initiative by the German federal and state governments and uses structures established by the Clinical Research Unit "Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms in Aging" to implement and administer the structured qualification programme in aging research.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Hartmut Geiger
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Christian Buske; Professorin Dr. Karin Danzer; Privatdozent Dr. Sebastian Iben; Professor Dr. Frank Kirchhoff; Professorin Dr. Birgit Liss; Professor Dr. Albert Christian Ludolph; Professor Francesco Roselli, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek; Professor Dr. Reinhold Schirmbeck; Professorin Dr. Elisabeth Maria Wiesmüller; Professor Dr. Thomas Wirth