Jena, 14.03.2026 – Research into the causes of brain aging will be intensified at the Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung (FLI) in Jena. A newly established and highly endowed working group is seeking strategies to prevent neurodegenerative diseases through cross-species comparisons.
- Institution: Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI) in Jena
- Project Lead: Dr. Dennis de Bakker
- Funding Amount: Up to 1.5 million euros for five years
- Funding Body: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung („Nexus“ program)
- Research Goal: Uncovering mechanisms of brain aging through cross-species comparisons
New Impulses for Experimental Biology in Jena
The new interdisciplinary research group, led by experimental biologist Dr. Dennis de Bakker, already began its work in January 2026. The scientists are focusing on the complex processes that occur in the brain during aging. Through the targeted biological comparison of different species, the researchers hope to gain new insights into how neurodegenerative diseases develop and how they can ideally be prevented.
This project is made possible by the „Nexus“ program of the renowned Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung. The funding program is specifically aimed at outstanding postdocs to enable them to establish an independent interdisciplinary research group. With a funding amount of up to 1.5 million euros, distributed over a period of five years, the foundation offers Dr. de Bakker’s team a reliable and long-term perspective for in-depth basic research.
Background: Top-level Research at Beutenberg Campus
The Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI) is a central player on the Beutenberg Campus, the heart of Jena’s scientific landscape. The institute is primarily dedicated to biomedical research into aging. Scientists in Jena investigate daily why people become more susceptible to complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, or metabolic disorders as they age.
In view of increasing life expectancy and demographic developments, neurodegenerative diseases represent one of the greatest medical challenges of our time. Intensive basic research at the FLI is a decisive step toward developing long-term preventive approaches. In the future, such strategies should not only improve the quality of life for those affected in old age but also sustainably relieve the entire healthcare system.
Source:
Strategies for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.