Cluster of Excellence of the Department of Biology

In times of an aging society, age-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity as well as kidney, skin and neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise. This poses major economic and social challenges to society. In the Cluster of Excellence CECAD, molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging are elucidated.

The aim is to understand the molecular basis of aging processes and age-related diseases in order to define new approaches for their prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 

Interdisciplinary teams explore the mechanisms in the cell as well as the interactions between tissues and organs and the influence of the environment on the aging organism. Findings from basic research as well as associated projects on unique, Europe-wide patient cohorts are incorporated into CECAD's translational research from “bench to bedside and back”.

More than 650 scientists and physicians from the University, the University Hospital, the Max Planck Institutes for Biology of Aging and for Metabolism Research, and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases work together at one location. Successfully established platforms for technology development, new approaches to training and career development are further pillars that distinguish CECAD as an internationally leading and attractive center in biomedical aging research.

CECAD is one of 14 Clusters that has been funded for three funding periods.

CEPLAS addresses the major challenges of climate change and the decline of natural resources through fundamental research on complex traits of plants and associated microorganisms (holobiont), which influence adaptation to limited resources and environmental changes. The long-term goal is to predict plant performance and enable the design of SMART-plants with novel traits and improved environmental adaptation.

By providing tailored training programs for early-career researchers at various career stages and for diverse career paths, CEPLAS aims to establish itself as an internationally recognized training center for experimental and theoretical plant and microbial biology.

CEPLAS pools the resources of the Universities of Düsseldorf and Cologne, the Max-Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding Research, the Forschungszentrum Jülich, and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research.