ARDRE research training
Excellence of the ARDRE interdisciplinary advanced research programme
The ARDRE-DP is based on the unique combination of complementary expertise of three different groups of researchers working at the Innsbruck University (UIBK). Scientists from the Faculty of Biology have long-standing track records in ageing research complemented by research into ageing mechanisms of other life forms, including plants. Secondly, stem cell research was strongly developed over the last 15 years and world class expertise on stem cells and regeneration across the animal kingdom is available in the Faculty of Biology. Thirdly, scientists in the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy are highly reputed experts in drug research - comprising natural products and synthetic drugs alike. High-end technologies for the identification, characterisation and targeted modification of drug candidates are available.
In recent years, close interactions were developed between these three areas of research, providing a profound and robust basis for the ARDRE training and research. Scientists from both Faculties have ample experience with supervising staff and students; they also lead and collaborate in numerous national and international research projects. At the forefront of science, ARDRE will
- elucidate cellular and molecular mechanisms of ageing in various phyla across the kingdoms of life
- work towards the identification of drug targets in cellular models
- validate these using state-of-the art mouse models and reprogrammed human cells and
- screen natural plant products for their potential use, also benefiting from existing expertise with enhancing the therapeutic quality of natural products by an outstanding (semi-) synthetic approach, in combination with state-of-the-art technology for characterising pharmacologically active molecules and modelling their interaction with biological targets.
Funding
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 847681.
