The Cologne Excellence Cluster for Aging and Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) has once again been selected for funding by the German Research Foundation (DFG). This marks a strong endorsement of CECAD’s pioneering research on the biological mechanisms of aging and related diseases.
As populations age worldwide, the challenge of preserving health in later life becomes increasingly urgent. CECAD researchers aim to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind aging and age-associated diseases such as metabolic disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, kidney disease, dementia, and skin disorders. Our goal: to identify new strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, helping people stay healthier for longer.
“We were very pleased to receive the approval,” says Professor Dr Carien Niessen, Scientific Coordinator of CECAD. “This renewed funding allows us to explore why individuals age differently and face varying health risks.”
In the next phase, CECAD will investigate how environment, sex, and genetic predisposition influence the aging process and lead to different disease patterns in older age. These insights aim to lay the groundwork for preventing illness and maintaining health into advanced age.
CECAD brings together leading scientists from the University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, the Max Planck Institutes for Biology of Ageing and Metabolism Research, and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). The University of Cologne serves as the speaker university.
Scientific contact person:
Prof. Dr. Carien Niessen
CECAD Scientific Coordinator
+49 221 478 89512
carien.niessen[at]uni-koeln.de
Press and Communications Team:
Dr. Tanio Calabrese
+49 221 478 84044
g.calabrese[at]uni-koeln.de
Further information:
https://www.dfg.de/en/service/press/press-releases/2025/press-release-no-10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRVwrS3s6Ac