The Cologne Excellence Cluster for Aging and  Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) is an interdisciplinary research network of the University of Cologne, the Cologne University Hospital, the Max Planck Institutes for Biology of Ageing and for Metabolism Research, and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE).

The cluster was founded in 2007 as part of the Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments. Today CECAD is among the internationally leading institutes in the area of aging research.

Basic research, as it is conducted at CECAD, is an important prerequisite for the development of new therapies to combat age-associated diseases. The close connection to the University Hospital of Cologne enables the transfer of basic research results to clinical applications.

In total, more than 650 scientists from nearly 60 nations in about 60 research groups are working towards one goal: healthy aging.