Introduction & Mission

Immune Regulation and Ageing

Background

Advances in public health, medicine, and socioeconomic development has resulted in an almost linear increase of our lifespan since ~ 1850. By the year 2050, this will have resulted in 22% of the population being 60 years or older. The emerging ageing population implies a direct challenge for science to provide ways to improve the societal health-span. As a result, increasing scientific attention is given to the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of ageing.

Ageing is a multifactorial and complex process which involves (epi)genetic, biochemical and (cell)physiolocial changes. Ageing is accompanied by a decline in the function of the immune system, referred to as immunosenescence, which increases susceptibility to infections. Also, immunosenescence is associated with failing immune regulatory mechanisms which result in the development of autoimmunity, cancer and multimorbity. Therefore, The ability to delay or reverse the effects of ageing on the immune system will have significant beneficial effects on increasing the health-span in our ageing population.

The research group

The research group Immune Regulation and Ageing is part of the Groningen Research initiative on healthy Ageing and Immune Longevity (GRAIL). The research group Immune Regulation and Ageing focuses on epigenetic and phenotypic changes, in the immune system related to detrimental aspects of immunosenescence.

Research themes

1)What factors contribute to age-related immunosenescence and how do these factors deviate from normal immune-aging

2)How can patients at risk be recognized, e.g. what are the indicators that relate to the development of immunosenescence and ensuing chronic diseases.

3)What are the mechanistic fundaments of the age related aggregation of risk factors, e.g. what age related molecular mechanisms are instrumental for the development of immunosenescence and ensuing chronic diseases.

4)How can we expand immune-longevity and prevent the development of immunosenescence and ensuing chronic diseases or multiple morbidity.

Additional background on our research group is presented in this pdf-file:

"Groningen Research Initiative on healthy Ageing and Immune Longevity - the answer to a clear medical need"