Ageing, Longevity and Senescence Biology

In this educational series, students will explore different biological concepts related to aging, emphasizing cellular senescence. They will learn about the mechanisms leading to age-related diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, chronic lung and cardiovascular diseases), the therapeutic interventions that can slow down aging (e.g., caloric restriction), health trajectories, and biological vulnerabilities. Additionally, students will discover how big data analysis using bioinformatic and systems biology tools can help identify new aging mechanisms and pinpoint potential therapeutic interventions promoting health span. 

« First, we will lay out the land by introducing students to terms that are frequently used in the field of aging research. For example, what do we mean when we talk about biological age, what do we mean when we talk about chronological age, what do we mean when we talk about frailty, and what do we mean when we talk about vulnerability in terms of biology? We will teach the students the evolutionary biology of aging and let them discover the current state-of-affairs concerning aging hallmarks and how they drive age-related pathologies. What happens to the organ or tissue when aging occurs, and what can we do? How can we exploit basic molecular aging mechanisms for therapeutic purposes? ». Oliver Bischof