Cluster of Excellence CECAD
| Cluster of Excellence - Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| purpose | Basic biomedical research |
| Chair: | Carien Niessen (Scientific Coordinator)
Thomas Benzing , Thorsten Hoppe (representative) |
| Establishment date: | 2007 |
| Number of members: | about 440 |
| Seat : | Cologne , North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany |
| Website: | cecad.uni-koeln.de |
The Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases is an interdisciplinary research association of the University of Cologne and the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Aging , which deals with the research of molecular mechanisms of aging and age-associated diseases. It was founded in 2007 as part of the second round of the Federal and State Excellence Initiative and initially funded with around 6.5 million euros per year for 5 years. On June 15, 2012, the DFG decided to extend the funding for a further 5 years. A third funding period in the context of the Excellence Strategy started in January 2019 and runs for seven years.
aims
The focus of the research lies in the investigation of molecular mechanisms of aging in order to derive therapeutic approaches for age-associated diseases. Drosophila melanogaster , house mouse , roundworm and zebrafish serve as model organisms for research into human diseases .
organization
The core of the research network is formed by the mathematical, scientific and medical faculties of the University of Cologne. The Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging , also located on the opposite side of the street at CECAD in Cologne, is closely associated with the project. A total of around 40 working groups from more than ten cross-faculty institutes, such as the Institute for Genetics, the Cologne Center for Genomics , the Max Planck Institute for Metabolic Research and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases are involved. The research focus of aging research is divided into four research areas. Each working group is assigned to one or more research areas:
- A - The cell's stress reactions
- B - Aging of membranes and aging-dependent defects in the defense against pathogens
- C - inflammation associated with age-related diseases
- D - Metabolic signaling pathways associated with age-related diseases
Carien Niessen is the scientific coordinator of the Cluster of Excellence. The deputy speakers are Thomas Benzing and Thorsten Hoppe from the University of Cologne. Mirka Uhlirova, who is also a member of the cluster, was awarded the Sofja Kovalevskaja Prize in 2008 , one of the most valuable German research prizes. The new CECAD research building was approved in 2007 to improve the networking of the working groups . The federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia share the costs of around 85 million euros. The first groundbreaking took place in September 2009. In spring 2013 the new building was inaugurated.
Graduate School Cologne Graduate School of Aging Research
The Cologne Graduate School of Aging Research was founded in 2013 as a joint graduate school of the Graduate School of the Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) and the International Max Planck Research School for Aging (IMPRS AGE). In addition to the cluster of excellence CECAD these are the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Aging , the Max Planck Institute for Metabolic Research , the caesar research center and the University of Cologne involved. The Cologne Graduate School of Aging Research has set itself the task of offering exceptionally talented students the opportunity to do a doctorate in the field of aging research. The doctoral degree is awarded by the University of Cologne.
Web links
- The dream of eternal life - biological aging research and its visions Interview with Dr. Björn Schumacher from CECAD on Deutschlandfunk on April 19, 2013.
- Oxygen in the blood can have a destructive effect Article on koeln-nachrichten.de
- Healthy aging DFG video about the Cluster of Excellence
- Website of the Cologne Graduate School of Aging Research
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b CECAD: Scientific Coordinator , accessed July 24, 2019.
- ↑ a b CECAD: Facts & Figures , accessed on May 6, 2020.
- ↑ German Research Foundation: Second round in the Excellence Initiative decided , October 19, 2007, accessed on July 24, 2019.
- ↑ German Research Foundation: Decisions in the second program phase of the Excellence Initiative , June 15, 2012, accessed on July 24, 2019.
- ↑ German Research Foundation: Decisions in the Excellence Strategy: Excellence Commission selects 57 Clusters of Excellence , from September 27, 2018, accessed on July 24, 2019.
- ↑ CECAD: Research Areas , accessed July 24, 2019
- ↑ Science Council : Recommendations for the Funding of Research Buildings (Drs. 8618-08), July 2008 , accessed on July 24, 2019.
- ↑ CECAD: New Building for Research on Aging , press release of September 23, 2009, accessed on July 24, 2019.
- ↑ CECAD: Opening of the new CECAD research center on the Cologne campus , press release of May 2, 2013, accessed on June 13, 2014.
- ↑ Dirk Riße: Relocation stress in the high-tech laboratory , KSTA, from November 4, 2013, accessed on June 13, 2014.