Vilchez, David - C 14

Ageing is associated with changes in various cellular pathways, leading to tissue deterioration and pathological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases characterized by protein aggregation. Thus, discovering interventions that delay aging can greatly benefit our ever-aging society. In addition to the gradual loss of physiological integrity in somatic cells such as neurons, aging also impairs germline function, reducing fertility across species. However, many lifespan-extending interventions come at the cost of reduced fertility. 

Unlike other longevity interventions, our recent findings demonstrate that moderate cold temperature not only extends lifespan and prevents age-related diseases but also prolongs reproductive capacity. This presents a unique and timely opportunity for aging research. In this project, we will define cold-induced mechanisms and explore their potential application at normal and warmer temperatures to delay aging and prevent diseases while simultaneously extending fertility. Here, we will investigate how cold temperature enhances proteostasis to maintain proteome integrity and prevent pathological protein aggregation and reproductive aging. To this end, we will combine a multi-omics approach with genetics in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and disease modeling using patient derived iPSCs.

Our aging population presents a major challenge due to the rising prevalence of age-related diseases and disabilities. In this project, we will define cold-induced mechanisms and explore their application at normal and warmer temperatures to identify interventions that extend healthspan and fertility. Our findings could have broad implications for multi-disease prevention and offer substantial benefits to our aging society, contributing to a sustainable understanding of age-related diseases.

• Patient-derived  iPSCs culturing and differentiation into neurons
• C. elegans: aging and proteotoxic stress
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and  Huntington’s disease models C. elegans models
• RNAi
• CRISPR/Cas9
• Proteomics
• Co-Immunoprecipitation and interactome assays
• Western blot
• Quantitative PCR
• RNA sequencing

For more information (research, lab members etc.), please check Vilchez Lab. 

• Institute for Integrated Stress Response Signaling, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne
• Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne
• Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne
• Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC)
• CRC 1678