15 years of CECAD, that was a reason to celebrate. Almost 150 guests accepted the invitation to the ceremony which started with a reception in the foyer of the CECAD research building, presenting the reopened exhibition "Imagine Aging" accompanied by the Triological Quartet, a jazz formation of the Collegium musicum. Both the Mayor of Cologne, Andreas Wolter, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Gonca Türkeli-Dehnert, were enchanted by the works of art of nature and enjoyed explanations by the researchers present. The exhibition was also the center of the report in the “Kölnische Rundschau” about this event (https://www.rundschau-online.de/koeln/koeln-zentrum-fuer-alternsforschung-feiert-15-jaehriges-bestehen-535989).
The official ceremony took place in the building of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing across the street, which, like the neighboring MPI for Metabolic Research, is an important partner of the Cluster of Excellence CECAD. Axel Freimuth, Rector of the University of Cologne, gave the first welcome greetings. He had played a major role in developing CECAD which was the first Cluster of Excellence of the University of Cologne. The NRW State Secretary for Science, Gonca Türkeli-Dehnert, stressed aging as a socially high relevant topic for NRW, so the funds provided by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to support CECAD has been well invested. Last welcome greetings were given by the scientific coordinator of CECAD, Carien Niessen. She thanked all scientists as well as the University of Cologne, the University Hospital Cologne, the Faculties of Medicine and Mathematics and Natural Sciences and the CECAD partners – the MPIs for Biology in Ageing and for Metabolism Research and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Cologne – for their great support that has made CECAD an internationally renowned center for aging research.
Representatives of the aforementioned institutions then gathered for a roundtable discussion moderated by journalist Jutta Neumann: Alga Zuccaro – Research and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Cologne, Andreas Wolter – Mayor of the City of Cologne, Edgar Schömig – Chairman of the Board and Medical Director of the University Hospital Cologne, Thomas Langer – Director of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Frank Jessen – Head of the Clinical Alzheimer's Research Group at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and Gereon R. Fink – Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne.
The keynote lecture was given by Peter Walter, Director of the Altos-Bay Area Institute of Science. His talk with the title "Targeting the Cell's Stress Pathways for Therapeutic Benefit" gave an insightful overview about the benefit of basic research in the field of aging, which might lead to translational applications. His research group was able to find and develop a highly promising substance that could potentially alleviate a whole range of neurodegenerative diseases, and is currently in the clinical trials. Afterwards, the guests celebrated with delicious food and good conversation.
Ceremony for the 15th anniversary of the CECAD Cluster of Excellence
600 visitors at CECAD and MPI age came to find out more about aging research.
CECAD goes public - research findings on aging and age-related diseases explained to the citizens of Cologne (German language)
CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research of the University of Cologne in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Köln (Adult Education Center Cologne)
Program of the CECAD Aging Academy / VHS Lecture Series:
"Das Geheimnis des menschlichen Alterns", lecture in German language
Prof. Dr. Björn Schumacher Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne
Date: Tuesday, 24.01.2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.
Venue: VHS Forum im Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Neumarkt/Cäcilienstr. 29-33, 50667 Köln
Host: VHS Köln (Adult Education Center Cologne)
Why and how do we age, and why is the aging process so often accompanied by multiple diseases? The CECAD Cluster of Excellence at the University of Cologne has made an enormous contribution to this question through interdisciplinary research over the past 15 years to better understand the biology of aging and age-related diseases. Through this type of basic research, we now know better which genes limit our lifespan, or we can show that the malfunction of a single protein triggers an age-related disease such as Alzheimer's disease. We are constantly gaining exciting new insights into cell division and metabolism and their sources of danger, with increasing opportunities to derive insights for healthy aging. Our goal is to prevent the aging society from becoming an ageing society. Prof. Björn Schumacher reports on the latest findings and examples of current research at CECAD as part of the series "CECAD goes public - insights from research on aging and age-related diseases explained for Cologne citizens".
"Why do we get cancer more often in old age?", lecture in German language
Dr. Stephanie Panier & Dr. Ron Jachimowicz, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging
Date: Monday, 06.02.2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.
Venue: Classroom (0.06) at the VHS Studienhaus, Cäcilienstr. 35, 50667 Köln, Altstadt/Süd
Host: VHS Köln (Adult Education Center Cologne)
As we age, more and more people develop cancer. The reason is that over the course of life, damage has accumulated in the DNA that causes a normal cell to become an uncontrollably dividing tumor cell. But cells are not defenseless against this damage. On the contrary, they have a number of extremely efficient tools that can detect and repair problems in the genome. On the occasion of World Cancer Day on February 4, 2023, two group leaders from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging will report on their research into the development of and fight against cancer as part of the series "CECAD goes public - insights from research into aging and age-related diseases explained for Cologne citizens".
"Macht uns unser Gehirn dick?", lecture in German language
Dr. Henning Fenselau & Prof. Dr. Marc Tittgemeyer Max Planck Institute for Metabolic Research
Date: Monday, 06.03.2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.
Venue: Classroom (0.06) at the VHS Studienhaus, Cäcilienstr. 35, 50667 Köln, Altstadt/Süd
Host: VHS Köln (Adult Education Center Cologne)
Not only our stomach and intestines are responsible for the absorption of nutrients, but also our brain. Whether we have an appetite for chips or an apple, how food is processed in the intestine and whether we feel happy after eating or want to eat more - all this is controlled by nerve cells in our head.
On the occasion of Healthy Eating Day 2023 in Germany, two researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Metabolic Research will talk about their research into nutrition as part of the series "CECAD goes public - insights from research into aging and age-related diseases explained for Cologne citizens". In their lecture, they not only address how the brain controls our food intake, but also the pathogenic consequences of overeating in obesity and the associated disorders.
"Behandlung der Parkinson-Krankheit - können wir von biologischen Modellansätzen für Patienten lernen?" , lecture in German language
Prof. Dr. Michael T. Barbe & Prof. Dr. Rudolf Wiesner, Clinic and Polyclinic for Neurology & Center for Physiology of the University Hospital of Cologne
Date: Wednesday April 12, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.
Venue: VHS Studienhaus,
Cäcilienstr. 35, 50667 Köln, Altstadt/Süd,
Host: VHS Köln (Adult Education Center Cologne)
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder, with symptoms such as stiff muscles, slowed movements and uncontrollable tremors. According to the German Parkinson's Association, about 1 percent of people over 60 in Germany are affected. The estimate of men and women with the disease in Germany is 240,000 to 280,000. World Parkinson's Day on April 11 is dedicated to those affected.
As part of the series "CECAD goes public - findings from research on aging and age-related diseases explained for Cologne citizens", two speakers from the University Hospital of Cologne will report on the origin and treatment of Parkinson's disease. Professor Rudolf Wiesner explains why, in his view, there is much to suggest that Parkinson's is a mitochondrial disease. Mitochondria are the "power plants" of all our cells, in which the energy contained in our food is made biologically available. Since this explanatory approach is still relatively unexplored, the research group resorts to biological models, e.g., dopaminergic neurons grown from patient cells in cell culture, but also uses genetically modified mice to understand neuronal death and develop new therapeutic approaches. The latest therapeutic approaches will be presented by Professor Barbe.
"Pflegebedürftigkeit – Herausforderung und Chance für Betroffene und Versorgende", lecture in German language
Prof.' Dr. Maria Cristina Polidori & Prof. em. Andreas Kruse, Senior Physician and Head of Clinical Research on Aging, Clinic II Internal Medicine of the University Hospital Cologne & Gerontology Heidelberg
Date: Wednesday 17 May, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.
Venue: VHS Forum, Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum
Cäcilienstraße 29-33, 50676 Köln
Host: VHS Köln (Adult Education Center Cologne)
May 12, 2023 is the International Day of Caregivers. According to the Federal Statistical Office, more than 4 million people in Germany were in need of care in December 2019. Four out of five of these people in need of care were cared for at home, nearly two-thirds of them largely by family members. Speakers working in gerontology, Professor Cristina Polidori and Professor em. Andreas Kruse, will report on their work as part of the series "CECAD goes public - findings from research on aging and diseases of old age explained for Cologne citizens*."
In gerontology, one encounters vulnerable people in need of help. Vulnerability, however, does not necessarily mean frailty; rather, vulnerability means the clear emergence of weaknesses, or difficulties in warding off, compensating for, or overcoming these weaknesses. The challenge for doctors and nurses is not only to provide practical care but also to
The challenge for physicians and nurses lies not only in practical care, but also in the interpretation of how to deal with vulnerability. The speakers will report, among other things, on models of stress management, changes in the level of demands in the case of chronic stress and approaches to personalized medicine, which are intended to preserve personal values and quality of life for patients and caregivers.
"Chancengleichheit durch Mentoring", lecture in German language
Prof.' Dr. Carien Niessen & Prof.' Dr. Pia Pinger, Department of Cell Biology of the Skin, University Hospital Cologne & Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Cologne
Date: Monday June 19, 2023, 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.
Venue: VHS Studienhaus,
Cäcilienstr. 35, 50667 Köln, Altstadt/Süd,
Host: VHS Köln (Adult Education Center Cologne)
The last lecture in the series "CECAD goes public - insights from research on aging and age-related diseases explained for Cologne citizens" takes International Children's Day as an opportunity to present work and findings on the promotion of children from two Clusters of Excellence at the University of Cologne.
According to the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, the aging society in Germany, as part of the demographic change, increases the bottlenecks in the skilled labor sector. This is another reason for sustained support of the German education system, in which equal opportunities are often still more of a wish than a reality. From the perspective of a university, it is becoming increasingly important to introduce children and young people - especially those from non-academic or disadvantaged backgrounds - to science at an early age.
Study results by Professor Pia Pinger from the ECONtribute "Markets & Public Policy" Cluster of Excellence show that a support program known as mentoring can improve the educational outcomes of children who have comparatively few educational opportunities with relatively little effort. This has a positive impact on parents and their children and improves children's educational opportunities in the long term.
To this end, the CECAD Cluster of Excellence has launched two mentoring projects. In a pilot program, there are "hands-on scientists" for elementary school children. In a direct exchange, they learn what scientists do, what research is and how exciting it can be. Under the motto "Discover your science," scientists experiment with children on school grounds. Professor Carien Niessen, who launched this initiative, reports.
With every second we age. Aging affects everyone, thus providing a high health-related quality of life in an aging population is a major challenge of future social concepts.
In 2007 the CECAD Cluster of Excellence started its mission with a new scientific approach – which addressed the organism as a whole and not a single disease – by elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying lifespan regulation and aging. Basic researchers and clinicians were brought together on the life-science campus in Cologne, to foster a multidisciplinary approach. This lead to an enormous increase in the fundamental knowledge of the biology of aging, which enabled clinicians to develop new approaches for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of age-associated diseases.
This great success story has been inspired by the continuous bonds and support of its main players - the University Cologne, the University Hospital of Cologne, the MPI for Biology of Aging and the MPI for Metabolism, and since 2013 the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - and lead to the development of a unique research infrastructure at one location.
With 650 involved scientists, six high-level state-of-the-art technology platforms and its broad career and diversity programs, CECAD has developed in its 15 years of existence into a globally visible, unique research center for aging and aging-associated diseases.
15 years of research lead to a lot of exciting knowledge and results!
