Biological Basis of Aging and Related Diseases_2nd Edition

Explore the fundamental biological mechanisms that underlie ageing and its associated diseases.

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CIVIS focus area
Health
Open to
  • Master's
  • Phd
Type
  • Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP)
Course dates
8 March - 19 June 2026
Apply by
30 octobre 2025 Apply now

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. 

Main topics addressed

  • Session 1: Introduction to Ageing Biology - an overview of the ageing process and its meaning from a biological perspective
  • Session 2: Molecular and Cellular Basis of Aging - the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive the ageing process 
  • Session 3: Physiological dysfunction in Aging - the physiological changes that occur with aging and their impact on health 
  • Session 4: Aging and Related Diseases - the pathophysiological mechanisms of major age-related diseases

Presentation and discussion of Final Projects

Participants will select a topic related to “Biological Basis of Ageing and Related Diseases”. Thereafter, they will:

  • perform a bibliographic review on the selected topic;
  • write a summary of 5 pages maximum on the bibliographic review;
  • perform an oral presentation with the main findings on the selected topic.

Learning outcomes

This comprehensive program equips participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the field of ageing research and addresses the pressing health challenges associated with an ageing population.

At the end, the participants:

  • would have gained awareness of the biological of ageing and its consequences in an ageing society;
  • would have achieved a thorough understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying ageing;
  • will be able to explain how ageing affects different physiological systems; 
  • will be able to recognize the pathophysiological basis of major age-related diseases;
  • will exhibit critical thinking and effective communication in scientific contexts;
  • would have gained interpersonal & networking transversal skills in an international environment.
Dates: 8 March - 19 June 2026 Total workload: 100 hours
Format: Blended ECTS: 4*
Location: Bucharest, Romania Language: English (B2)
Contact: violeta.ristoiu@bio.unibuc.ro  

*recognition of ECTS depends on your home university

Physical mobility

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 - 12:00: Concha Peiró (UAM): The NLRP3 inflammasome at the crossroads of vascular ageing
  • 12:00 - 13:00: University Tour event
  • Lunch break
  • 14:00- 17:00 Hands-on sessions
  • Student Group A Module 1 (Moderator Concha Peiró)
  • Student  Group B Module 2 (Moderator Maria Isabel Sanchez)
  • Student Group C Module 3 (Moderator Adoracion Gomez Quiroga)
  • Student Group D Module 4 (Moderator Manuela Garcia Lopez)
  • 19:00 Dinner

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)

  • 9:00 - 10:00: Adoracion Gomez Quiroga (UAM): Drugs and Ageing: Why Design, Reactivity, and Sample Preparation Matter on Drug’s Mechanism of Action 
  • 10:00 – 11:00: Manuela Garcia Lopez (UAM): Emerging Pharmacological Targets for Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Coffee break
  • 11:30- 13:00 Students presentations sessions 
  • 11:30- 12:15: Students presentations - Session 1
  • 12:15- 13:00: Students presentations - Session 2
  • Lunch break
  • 14:00- 17:00 Hands-on sessions
  • Student Group A Module 4 (Moderator Concha Peiró)
  • Student Group B Module 1 (Moderator Maria Isabel Sanchez)
  • Student Group C Module 2 (Moderator Adoracion Gomez Quiroga)
  • Student Group D Module 3 (Moderator Manuela Garcia Lopez)

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)

  • 9:00 - 10:00: Maria Isabel Sanchez (UAM): Cellular Senescence in Cancer: Antitumor Functions and Emerging Therapeutic Targets
  • 10:00 – 11:00: Bogdan Amuzescu (UB): Models of Replicative Senescence in Mesenchymal Stem cells
  • Coffee break
  • 11:30- 13:00 Students presentations sessions 
  • 11:30- 12:15: Students presentations - Session 1
  • 12:15- 13:00: Students presentations - Session 2
  • Lunch break
  • 14:00- 17:00 Hands-on sessions
  • Student Group A Module 3 (Moderator Concha Peiró)
  • Student Group B Module 4 (Moderator Maria Isabel Sanchez)
  • Student Group C Module 1 (Moderator Adoracion Gomez Quiroga)
  • Student Group D Module 2 (Moderator Manuela Garcia Lopez)

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)

  • 9:00 - 10:00: Aurel Popa-Wagner (University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova): Protein Turnover in the Ageing Brain: A N14/N15 Isotopic Study
  • 10:00 – 11:00: Robi Tacutu (Institute of Biochemistry, Bucharest): Integrative Systems Biology Approaches to Unravel the Mechanisms of Longevity
  • Coffee break
  • 11:30- 12:15: Gratiela Gradisteanu (UB): The Ageing Microbiome: Implications for Healthspan and Longevity
  • 12:15- 13:00: Bianca Galateanu (UB): Smart Ageing: How Patient Navigation Enhances Quality of Life for Seniors
  • Lunch break
  • 14:00- 17:00 Hands-on sessions
  • All Student Groups (A, B, C, D) Maria Mernea (UB): Bioinformatics methods applied in ageing research 

Day 5: 19.06.2026 - lectures on How to write a Grant Proposal - Beatrice Radu, UB (Conference Hall in Research Platform for Biology and Systemic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest)

  • 9:00 - 10:00: Grant Proposal Writing: Concepts, Structure and Best Practices 
  • 10:00 – 11:00: Write Your First Grant: Step-by-Step Practice Session
  • Coffee break
  • 11:30 – 12:30 Daniela Cucu (UB): How to write a scientific paper
  • Lunch break
  • 13:30 - 14:30: Evaluation (Multiple Choice Question Test)
  • 14:30 - 15:00: 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: Immunohistochemical Analysis of Brain Slices from Aged Rats. Responsible: Assoc. Prof. Bogdan Amuzescu
  • Module 3: Animal models used to investigate the impact of ageing on the neurobiology of chronic pain in the elderly. Responsible: Assist. Prof. Roxana Gheorghe
  • Module 4: The ageing microglia: image analysis workflow of the cytoskeleton. Responsible: Teaching Assist. Prof. Melania Magercu 

Virtual part

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)

Assessment

Students need to attend at least 80% of the activities of the program to be evaluated. The virtual and physical component of the program will have an equal contribution (35%) to the final assessment of the students and the Final Research Project will represent 30% of the final mark. Evaluation will be assed as follows:

 1. Virtual component (35% total marks)

  • individual questionnaires, quizzes and self-paced learning activities in Moodle: 40%
  • teamwork & presentations: 60%

 2. Physical component (35% total marks)

  • individual Questionnaires, quizzes and self-paced learning activities in Moodle: 40%
  • teamwork & presentations: 60%

 3. Evaluation of the Final Research Project: (30% total marks)

The programme is open to students at CIVIS member universities, participating in a MSc program or PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Biomedicine, Pharmacy or similar in the field of Health sciences. 

Needed skills:

  • awareness of the biological of ageing and its consequences in an ageing society,
  • thorough understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying ageing,
  • ability to explain how ageing affects different physiological systems,
  • ability to recognize the pathophysiological basis of major age-related diseases,
  • critical thinking in scientific contexts,
  • effective communication in scientific contexts,
  • interpersonal & networking transversal skills in an international environment.

Also, the participants should have excellent English skills (B2-C1) and and be computer-literate persons. Will be considered a plus:

  • basic research skills (i.e. use of laboratory equipment and techniques, data analysis, interpreting scientific results and applying statistical methods);
  • technical skills (i.e familiarity with laboratory techniques, including microscopy, cell culture, molecular biology methods (e.g., PCR, Western blot), and aging models (e.g., animal models, in vitro models);
  • critical thinking and problem-solving;
  • interdisciplinary approach (i.e understanding the intersection of biology with other fields like genetics, pharmacology and bioinformatics);
  • communication skills (i.e ability to present scientific concepts clearly in both written and oral formats);
  • collaboration and teamwork (i.e ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, particularly in research settings).
This CIVIS course is a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) - a new format of Erasmus+ mobility which combines online teaching with a short trip to another campus to learn alongside students and professors across Europe.

NB: Visiting Students - Erasmus Funding Eligibility

To be eligible for your selected CIVIS programme, you must be a fully enrolled student at your CIVIS home university at the time you will be undertaking the programme. 

This course is also open to students with the same academic profile, who are enrolled at a CIVIS strategic partner university in Africa. Please check here, if you can apply and this particular course is open to applications from your university. Successful applicants will receive an Erasmus+ grant covering travel and subsistence costs during their stay. Applicants should be willing to extend their stay at the host university for 1-3 weeks for additional research and/or training purposes.

Partner universities:

  • Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
  • Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
  • University of Bucharest (Romania)
  • University of Glasgow (UK)
  • University of Salzburg (Austria)
  • Makerere University (Uganda)

Professors:

  • Prof. Paul Shiels - expert in geroscience, School of Molecular Biosciences & Institute of Cancer Sciences - University of Glasgow, UK
  • Prof. Günter Lepperdinger - expert in geroscience, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Division of Genetics, Department of Cell Biology - Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Austria.
  • Prof. Colin Selman - expert in biogerontology, School of Molecular Biosciences & Institute of Cancer Sciences - University of Glasgow, UK
  • Prof. Concepcion Peiró - expert in vascular inflammageing and vascular cell senescence, Faculty of Medicine (dept. Pharmacology) - Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain
  • Prof. Maria Isabel Sánchez Pérez - expert in biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine - Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain
  • Dr. Ognian Neytchev - expert in epigenetic clocks, School of Molecular Biosciences & Institute of Cancer Sciences - University of Glasgow, UK
  • Prof. Violeta Ristoiu - expert in neuro-immune interactions, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Prof. Stephane Baudry - expert in motor control during ageing, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences - Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
  • Prof. Emilie Combet (Glasgow) - expert in nutritional biology and diseases of ageing, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing - University of Glasgow, UK
  • Prof. Leon Schurgers - expert in vascular remodelling, Department of Biochemistry -  University of Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • Prof. Peter Stenvinkel (Sweden) - expert in metabolic, cardiovascular and nutritional complications in chronic kidney disease, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden

Contributors:

  • Prof. Manuela García López - expert in pharmacology and neurodegenerative diseases Faculty of Pharmacology - Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain
  • Prof. Adoración Gomez Quiroga - expert on Drug synthesis, Faculty of Sciences (dept. of Inorganic Chemistry) - Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain
  • Assoc. Prof. Florentina Pluteanu - expert in cardiovascular physiology and electrophysiological recordings, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Assoc. Prof. Bogdan Amuzescu - expert in cardiovascular and nervous system physiology and electrophysiological recordings, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Prof. Aurel Popa-Wagner - expert in neuroscience, with a particular focus on aging and the brain, stroke and brain plasticity and regeneration, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania
  • Dr. Robi Tacutu - expert in bioinformatics, network biology and machine learning techniques applied to genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms behind ageing, longevity and age-related diseases, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy
  • Assoc. Prof. Grațiela Grădișteanu - expert in gut microbiome, host-pathogen interactions, and metabolic diseases, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Assoc. Prof. Bianca Gălățeanu - expert in oncology, regenerative medicine, and biomedical applications of nanotechnology, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Assoc. Prof. Maria Mernea - expert in molecular modeling, bioinformatics, and neurobiology, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Prof. Beatrice Radu - expert in neuroscience and project management, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Assoc. Prof. Dana Cucu - expert in cellular and molecular biology, tumor biology, and neurobiology, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Assist Prof. Roxana Gheorghe - expert in neuroscience and animal models for neuropathic pain, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
  • Teaching Assist. Prof. Melania Magercu - expert in neuroimmunology, Faculty of Biology - University of Bucharest, Romania
     

 

Send your application by filling in the online application form by 30 October 2025, including:

  • CV
  • Motivation letter
  • Level of English

Applications will be evaluated according to the correct academic background to undertake the programme, required level of proficiency in English and how participation will enhance the candidate's professional development and career path, as well as the willingness of participants to fully participate in all aspects of the course.

Apply now

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