The "Biological Basis of Ageing and related Diseases" is an interdisciplinary course that explores the fundamental biological mechanisms that underlie ageing and its associated diseases.

This programme integrates key concepts from molecular biology, genetics, epigenetics, physiology, and pathophysiology to provide a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the ageing process and its impact on human health.

The participants of the BIP will:

• understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning ageing; 
• explore the physiology of ageing: analyze how ageing affects different organs, systems and physiological functions;
• examine pathophysiological aspects of ageing-related diseases: identify major diseases associated with ageing, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer;
• develop practical research skills: learn and apply techniques for studying ageing and age-related diseases;
• foster critical thinking and scientific communication: critically evaluate scientific literature on aging and disease;
• internationalization and networking personal communication.

Moreover, this BIP is synergistic with a range of EU COST network activities (e.g. BenBedPharma, ATHERONET), EU Marie Curie International Training Networks (e.g. MINDSHIFT) and CIVIS Open Labs dedicated to “Improving the life of seniors". These offer a potential for further networking and potential training and career pathway and progression for students in this BIP to further their training in European labs of excellence, addressing a major EU healthcare and socio-economic challenge. 

The physical mobility part will take place between 15 to 19 June 2026 in Bucharest, Romania. The activities involve 20h of face-to-face activities, distributed across lectures, workshops and student presentations sessions.

During these activities the students will interact with experts in the field, will participate in hands-on activities, will present their work on a given pre-announced subject related to ageing and will network with fellow learners.

Proposed schedule:

Day 1: 15.06.2026 -  lectures on Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Ageing: From Inflammation to Functional Decline (Conference Hall in Research Platform for Biology and Systemic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest)

• 10:00-10:15: Opening ceremony: Vice-Rector of UB and Dean of the Faculty of Biology 
• 10:15 - 11:00: Florentina Pluteanu (UB): The hallmarks of cardiovascular ageing
• 11:00 - 11:45 Concha Peiró (UAM): The NLRP3 inflammasome at the crossroads of vascular ageing
• 11:45 - 12:45 Visit to the labs of the Research Platform of Biology and Systems Ecology (PCBE) of the University of Bucharest
• Lunch break
• 13:45 - 16:15 Hands-on sessions

1. Student Group A Module 1 (Moderator Concha Peiró)
2. Student Group B Module 2 (Moderator Maria Isabel Sanchez)
3. Student Group C Module 3 (Moderator Adoracion Gomez Quiroga)

Day 2: 16.06.2026 - lectures on Exploring Drug Action and Design in the Context of Ageing and Brain Disorders (Conference Hall in Research Platform for Biology and Systemic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest). Moderator: Manuela Garcia Lopez

• 9:00 - 09:45 Adoracion Gomez Quiroga (UAM): Drugs and Ageing: Why Design, Reactivity, and Sample Preparation Matter on Drug’s Mechanism of Action 
• 09:45-10:30: Manuela Garcia Lopez (UAM): Emerging Pharmacological Targets for Neurodegenerative Diseases
• 10:30- 12:30 Students presentations sessions Moderator: Manuela Garcia Lopez
  10:30- 11:00: Students presentations - Session 1
• Coffee break
• 11:30- 12:00 Students presentations sessions - Session 2
• 12:00 - 12:30 Students presentations - Session 3
• Lunch break
• 13:30 - 16:00 Hands-on sessions

1. Student Group A Module 4 (Moderator Concha Peiró)
2. Student Group B Module 1 (Moderator Maria Isabel Sanchez)
3. Student Group C Module 2 (Moderator Adoracion Gomez Quiroga)

• 16:00- 19:00 Social activities - Visit to the Palace of Parliament Bucharest

Day 3: 17.06.2026 - lectures on Senescence at the Crossroads of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology (Conference Hall in Research Platform for Biology and Systemic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest). Moderator: Manuela Garcia Lopez

• 9:00 - 09:45: Maria Isabel Sanchez (UAM): Cellular Senescence in Cancer: Antitumor Functions and Emerging Therapeutic Targets
• 09:45 - 10:30: Bogdan Amuzescu (UB): Models of Replicative Senescence in Mesenchymal Stem cells
• Coffee break
• 11:00 -11:45: Stephane Baudry (ULB): Motor units: a key structure in neuromuscular ageing
• 11:45 - 12:30: Bianca Galateanu (UB): Smart Ageing: How Patient Navigation Enhances Quality of Life for Seniors
• Lunch break
• 13:30- 16:00 Hands-on sessions

1. Student Group A Module 3 (Moderator Concha Peiró)
2. Student Group B Module 4 (Moderator Maria Isabel Sanchez)
3. Student Group C Module 1 (Moderator Adoracion Gomez Quiroga)

• 16:00- 19:00 Social activities - Visit to the National Museum of the "Dimitrie Gusti" village

Day 4: 18.06.2026 - lectures on New Research Tools to Investigate Ageing Mechanisms (Conference Hall in Research Platform for Biology and Systemic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest)

• 09:00 – 09:45: Gratiela Gradisteanu (UB): The Ageing Microbiome: Implications for Healthspan and Longevity
• 9:45 - 12:15 Hands-on sessions
  All Student Groups (A, B, C, D) - Maria Mernea (UB): Bioinformatics methods applied in ageing research
• Lunch break
• 14:00- 17:00 Social activities - Visit to the Cotroceni Museum
  ***study time for the students for the evaluation test
• 19:00 Farewell dinner for the professors in Bucharest Old Town

Day 5: 19.06.2026

• 9:00 – 9:30: Evaluation test for students (Multiple Choice Question Test)
• Lectures on Scientific Writing: Guidelines and Best Practices (Conference Hall in Research Platform for Biology and Systemic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest)
• 9:30 - 10:15: Beatrice Radu (UB): Grant Proposal Writing: Concepts, Structure and Best Practices
• 10:15 – 11:00: Daniela Cucu (UB): How to write a scientific paper
• Coffee break
• 11:30 – 12:00 Closing remarks

Practical modules:

• Module 1: Functional evaluation of electrical alterations induced by ageing - patch clamp recordings on rat cardiomyocytes. Responsible: Assoc. Prof. Florentina Pluteanu
• Module 2: Animal models used to investigate the impact of ageing on the neurobiology of chronic pain in the elderly. Responsible: Assist. Prof. Roxana Gheorghe
• Module 3: The ageing microglia: image analysis workflow of the cytoskeleton. Responsible: Teaching Assist. Prof. Melania Magercu 

The program includes 15h of face-to-face virtual meetings, spreaded between 8 March - 16 May 2026 (1.5 h/ session). Students will be provided with virtual activities such as video lectures and webinars for 30% of the course. The remaining time will be used for group discussions on seminal papers in aging research, self-paced learning activities in Moodle and interactive quizzes to reinforce understanding.

Proposed schedule:

Topic 1: Introduction to the Biology of Ageing - week 8-14 March 2026

• Session 1.1: Monday, 9 March, 4:00-6:00 PM CET - Prof. Violeta Ristoiu (Bucharest): Welcome address, general introductions, logistics for the BIP and what we want to achieve (30 min); Opening talk; Prof. Paul Shiels (Glasgow): The exposome and a holistic approach to ageing (1.5 h)
• Session 1.2: Thursday, 12 March, 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Prof. Gunther Lepperdinger (Salzburg): The fundamental biology of ageing and disease (1.5 h)

Topic 2: Molecular and Cellular Basis of Ageing - week 15-21 March 2026

• Session 2.1: Tuesday, 16 March, 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Prof. Colin Selman (Glasgow): Experimental approaches to extending health span and lifespan in mice (1.5 h)
• Session 2.2: Thursday, 19 March, 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Prof. Concha Peiro and Prof. Isabel Sanchez (Madrid): Cell senescence, a hallmark of ageing: is it friend or foe? (1.5 h)

 week: 5-11 April 2026

• Session 2.3: Tuesday, 6 April, 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Dr. Ognian Neytchev (Glasgow): Biomarkers of ageing: epigenetic clocks to monitor ageing and disease (1.5 h)
• Session 2.4: Thursday, 9 April, 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Prof. Violeta Ristoiu (Bucharest): Ageing and Pain: Exploring Neurobiological Mechanisms and Clinical Implications (1.5 h)

Topic 3: Physiological dysfunction in Ageing - week 12-18 April 2026

• Session 3.1: Tuesday, 13 April 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Prof. Stéphane Baudry (Bruxelles): The Neurophysiology of ageing​ (1.5 h)
• Session 3.2: Thursday, 16 April 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Prof. Emilie Combet (Glasgow): Nutrition and ageing (1.5 h)

Topic 4. Ageing and related diseases - week: 10-16 May 2026

• Session 4.1: Tuesday, 11 May, 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Prof. Leon Schurgers (Netherlands): The role of vitamin K in ageing - from development to senescence (1.5 h)
• Session 4.2: Thursday, 14 May 4:00-5:30 PM CET - Prof. Peter Stenvinkel (Sweden): Biomimetics, Planetary Health and Ageing (1.5 h)