Molecular Mechanisms
Protein structure, molecular interactions, proteostasis and cellular function.
Longevity Nexus — scientific concept development
Understanding the Biology of Human Aging
Exploring the molecular, structural and computational mechanisms that shape aging, resilience and healthy longevity.
An evolving research initiative. Longevity and aging biology define the current search space; the final lead concept and experimental programme will be selected through evidence-led horizon scanning and concept competition.
- Scale
- Molecular → Systemic
- Approach
- Mechanistic
- Status
- Programme design
The scientific question
Why do biological systems lose resilience with age?
Aging is not a single process. It emerges from interacting molecular, cellular and systemic mechanisms whose causal relationships remain only partially understood.
Examine the candidate questionsGenomic Regulation
Genomics, epigenomics, gene regulation and longitudinal molecular change.
Systems & Computational Biology
Multi-omics integration, biological networks, predictive models and precision medicine.
Research domains
One programme, examined across biological scales
The initial map deliberately connects molecular measurement, physical mechanism and computational integration. Its final scope will be determined by verified expertise and evidence.
01
Aging Biology
Mechanistic study of how biological function changes across molecular, cellular and systemic scales.
02
Genomics
Sequence variation, genome architecture and regulatory landscapes.
03
Multi-Omics
Joint analysis of genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic and proteomic layers.
04
Structural Biology
Three-dimensional biomolecular structure and its relation to function.
05
Molecular Biophysics
Physical principles governing molecular stability, dynamics and interaction.
06
Bioinformatics
Reproducible computational analysis of large-scale biological data.
07
Systems Biology
Network-level models of interacting biological components and states.
08
Precision Medicine
Inter-individual biological variation and heterogeneous trajectories.
09
Translational Research
Connecting mechanistic questions with potential clinical relevance.
10
Longevity Science
Determinants of healthspan, resilience and variation in biological aging.
Research programme
From scientific gap to experimental programme
A transparent sequence for turning a broad field into a falsifiable and methodologically coherent research design.
01
Scientific Track Record
Verify publications, methods, independence and scientific trajectory for the candidate researchers.
02
Horizon Scanning
Map frontier aging biology, emerging technologies, contradictions and unresolved mechanisms.
03
Unresolved Problems
Identify questions whose scientific importance extends beyond descriptive biomarker discovery.
04
Knowledge Gaps
Validate where current mechanistic explanation genuinely ends using current primary evidence.
05
Research Opportunities
Generate a broad portfolio of serious, person-specific frontier-research directions.
06
Concept Competition
Score and red-team candidate concepts for novelty, PI fit, high-risk/high-gain and feasibility.
07
Lead Concept
Select one research question only after novelty, competition and scientific fit survive deep review.
08
Experimental Programme
Build hypotheses, aims, methods, validation, statistics, risks and alternative strategies around the selected concept.
Concept stage
Current scientific priorities
Candidate directions for structured evaluation. These are research concepts, not reported findings or active studies.
Biological Resilience
Why some biological systems maintain function longer than others.
Exploratory
Molecular Aging Signatures
Separating potentially causal molecular changes from correlates of age.
Exploratory
Multi-Omics Integration
Connecting heterogeneous molecular layers into interpretable models.
Research Area
Structural Drivers of Aging
How molecular structure and protein dynamics may relate to loss of function.
Exploratory
Precision Longevity
Understanding heterogeneous biological trajectories between individuals.
Research Area
Longevity knowledge map
A cross-scale map of aging biology
A navigational framework for locating mechanisms, measurements and open questions.
Molecular layer
Genomic Stability
Epigenetic Regulation
Proteostasis
Cellular layer
Mitochondrial Function
Cellular Senescence
Stem Cell Exhaustion
Systemic layer
Intercellular Communication
Metabolic Regulation
Immune Aging
Systems-Level Aging
Researchers
Scientific profiles, built from verified evidence
Biographical details, publication records and methodological expertise remain hidden until source verification is complete.
Dr. Patrick Walter
Scientific profile in preparation
Biography, track record and methodological expertise will be added after source verification.
View Scientific ProfileDr. Josef Scheiber
Scientific profile in preparation
Biography, track record and methodological expertise will be added after source verification.
View Scientific ProfileMethods & technologies
Measurement, mechanism and inference
Each method is defined by the quantity it measures and the question it can credibly answer.
Genomic Measurement
Next Generation Sequencing
- Measures
- Nucleic-acid sequence at scale across genomes and transcriptomes.
- Relevance
- Provides quantitative material for genomic and transcriptomic analysis.
- Research question
- Which sequence-level features track biological variation?
Genomic Measurement
Genomics
- Measures
- Genome-wide variation and structural organisation.
- Relevance
- Supports analysis of inherited and acquired genomic variation.
- Research question
- How might genomic variation shape aging trajectories?
Genomic Measurement
Transcriptomics
- Measures
- RNA abundance across genes, isoforms and conditions.
- Relevance
- Captures regulatory state and cellular response.
- Research question
- Which regulatory programmes vary across age and state?
Molecular Measurement
Proteomics
- Measures
- Protein abundance, modification and complex composition.
- Relevance
- Connects molecular composition more directly to cellular function.
- Research question
- Which proteome changes precede functional decline?
Resolution
Single-Cell Analysis
- Measures
- Molecular state at the resolution of individual cells.
- Relevance
- Resolves heterogeneity hidden in bulk measurements.
- Research question
- Which cell populations contribute to tissue-level phenotypes?
Resolution
Spatial Omics
- Measures
- Molecular profiles that retain tissue coordinates.
- Relevance
- Preserves the spatial context in which mechanisms operate.
- Research question
- How is molecular variation distributed within tissue architecture?
Research development process
A staged route to submission readiness
Scientific concept selection precedes grant architecture. No funding status is implied by this roadmap.
Transparent stagesEvidence gatesIterative review
- 01
Scientific Profile Mapping
Verify expertise, track record, methods and available research capability.
- 02
Horizon Scan
Map the current field, emerging methods and competing research directions.
- 03
Knowledge Gap Analysis
Identify open questions with genuine mechanistic and conceptual value.
- 04
Research Concepts
Formulate candidate programmes with explicit assumptions and hypotheses.
- 05
Concept Selection
Evaluate novelty, feasibility, fit and scientific significance.
- 06
Experimental Design
Specify models, controls, power, analysis and validation strategy.
- 07
Pilot Evidence
Plan the evidence needed to de-risk central scientific assumptions.
- 08
Grant Architecture
Structure objectives, work packages, risks and resources.
- 09
Proposal Development
Draft, challenge and revise the scientific case.
- 10
Submission Readiness
Complete compliance, consistency and quality assurance.
Publications
Verified publication records will appear here
The publication index is intentionally empty until records are matched to authoritative bibliographic sources and researcher identities.
Research insights
Editorial records are being prepared
Scientific notes and literature insights will be published only with a documented source basis and a clear status.
Research funding
Potential funding routes under evaluation
The programme is not funded by the ERC or another body. Funding fit, eligibility and proposal architecture remain under assessment.
ERC · AdG
ERC Advanced Grant
For Dr. Josef Scheiber, whose PhD defence took place in January 2007, the Advanced Grant is the principal ERC route under strategic evaluation. Track-record strength, host environment and scientific proposal fit remain to be established before any application decision.
Advanced Grant — strategic evaluation
EU programmes
European Collaborative Funding
Potential collaborative instruments relevant to interdisciplinary genomics, computation and translational research.
Funding routes under evaluation
National agencies
National Research Funding
Potential instruments for pilot evidence, methodological development and research infrastructure.
Funding routes under evaluation
Collaboration
Interested in advancing the science of aging?
We welcome future scientific exchange and interdisciplinary dialogue across molecular biology, genomics, computational science and translational medicine.