Key Profile Area Aging-Associated Diseases (AGING)
The number of elderly people is steadily increasing across the globe. The aging process is the main risk factor for a number of diseases, some of which are chronic, including metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, renal insufficiency, and cancer.
The Key Profile Area (KPA) AGING focuses on the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that lead to aging and its associated diseases. The Cologne Cluster of Excellence on Aging and Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD) is its central building block and has developed into the largest European centre for aging research since it was founded in 2007. By integrating innovative concepts from various disciplines at the UoC, which address the challenges of demographic change and the aging of our society, the intention is to advance new approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of age-related diseases and the promotion of healthy aging.
KPAs at the University of Cologne
KPAs are thematically defined research areas of high academic and/or societal relevance. They have substantial critical mass and are characterized by research at the highest international level.
Research within the KPAs is transdisciplinary and integrated into networks that create synergies – both within the university and with non-university partners (such as Max Planck Institutes).
If you want to get a member of the KPA, please fill in this template.
KPA Seed Funding Call 2026:
Deadline: March 15th 2026
Description (Please note, all CECAD full members are automatically KPA members and are eligble to apply for funding)
Template Proposal
Template CV
Participating Faculties
Executive Board
Sprecher und Co-Sprecherin
Prof. Dr. Björn Schumacher
Principal Investigator
Chair for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease
CECAD Scientific Coordinator
Telephone+49 221 478 84202
E-mailbjoern.schumacher[at]uni-koeln.de
CECAD Cologne
CECAD Forschungszentrum
Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26
50931 Köln
Prof. Dr. Natalia Kononenko
Principal Investigator
Professor for cellular and molecular Physiology
Telephone+49 221 478 84302
Vorstandsmitglieder
Prof. Dr. Kai Vogeley
Department of Psychiatry
E-mailkai.vogeley[at]uk-koeln.de
University Hospital Cologne
Kerpener Strasse 62
50937 Cologne
Prof. Dr. Lea Ellwardt
Department of Sociology and Social Psychology
Telephone+49 221 470 89165
E-mailellwardt[at]wiso.uni-koeln.de
Department of Sociology and Social Psychology
Universitätsstraße 24
50931 Cologne
Prof. Dr. M. Cristina Polidori, MD MPhil FRCP
Principal Investigator
E-mailmaria.polidori-nelles[at]uk-koeln.de
Full Professor and Head of Ageing Clinical Research/Leitung Klinische Altersforschung, Dpt. II of Internal Medicine/Klinik II für Innere Medizin
Kerpener Str 62
50937 Köln
Koordination
Dr. Sibylle Grandel
Administrative Coordinator
Telephone+49 221 478 84046
E-mailsgrandel[at]uni-koeln.de
CECAD Cologne / Central Office
CECAD Forschungszentrum
Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26
50931 Köln