Biogerontology

Scope

Biology, biomedicine and genetics.

Workstream leaders

Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix (University of Namur), (Olivier Toussaint)

About the workstream

The critical importance of biogerontology to ageing research has been recognised widely in the Member States and in allocation of resources under European research funding since FP5 in 1999.

FUTURAGE worked closely with existing projects, LINK-AGE (Coordination Action under FP6 project which finished in December 2009) and WhyWeAge (Specific Support Action under FP7). WhyWeAge aimed to establish a road map for European research on the molecular aspects of healthy human ageing. The coordinator of both LINK-AGE and WhyWeAge is Olivier Touissant at the University of Namur, and he will lead the Biogerontology theme of FUTURAGE.

Both LINK-AGE and WhyWeAge drew on an impressive consortium of leading figures in the field to deliver high quality science. Through a previous series of meetings, researcher exchanges, summer schools, topical research group meetings and a preliminary biogerontological road map meeting, LINK-AGE identified twelve priority topics in this field:

  • biomarkers of ageing

  • vascular ageing

  • mitochondria and senescence

  • oxidative stress and protein damage

  • telomeres and DNA damage

  • immunosenescence and inflammation

  • obesity/diabetes/nutrition/lipid and glucose metabolism

  • muscle weakness and sarcopenia/physical exercises

  • skin age-related modifications and elastic tissues

  • nuclear receptors and ageing/osteoporosis/circadian rhythmicity

  • gender related ageing

  • biotechnology, bioethics and recruitment of participants in clinical studies linked with molecular biogerontology

Biogerontolgy road map

WhyWeAge FUTURAGE biogerontology road map (PDF, 321KB)

Links