Understanding Ageing Across Disciplines: From Cells to Society
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course. This means that 80% of the seats are reserved to PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH and 20% of the seats are reserved to PhD students from other Danish Universities/faculties (except CBS).
The course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. Understand and explain major biological, nutritional, psychological, and societal dimensions of aging from an interdisciplinary perspective.
2. Compare how aging is conceptualized, investigated, and interpreted across different scientific disciplines.
3. Be introduced to and assess differences in methodologies, terminology and evidentiary standards used in ageing research across disciplines.
4. Communicate effectively across disciplinary boundaries and engage constructively in interdisciplinary scientific discussion and collaboration.
5. Apply interdisciplinary thinking to formulate an outline for an interdisciplinary research proposal.
Content
This interdisciplinary PhD course introduces participants to aging as a complex, multifactorial process spanning biological, nutritional and psychosocial dimensions. The course is funded by the SEED4EU programme, and is jointly organized by the University of Copenhagen, the University of Milan, and Heidelberg University, each contributing complementary expertise within aging research.
The course combines perspectives from molecular and cellular biology of aging, nutrition and healthy longevity, and psychological and behavioral aspects of aging. Participants will explore how aging is studied across disciplines and how different scientific traditions approach ageing concepts.
The University of Copenhagen contributes expertise in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging, with particular focus on the hallmarks of aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and cellular senescence. Through research-based teaching and exposure to experimental age-related assays and methodologies, students will gain insight into how fundamental biological processes drive aging and age-related diseases.
The University of Milan contributes expertise in the clinical and nutritional phenotype of aging, with a particular focus on body compartment remodeling, sarcopenia, and evidence-based interventions. Through research-based teaching, students will explore the "rehabilitation nutrition" framework, integrating protein-dense strategies, resistance training, and the modulation of the gut-muscle axis to preserve physical function. Participants will gain practical insight into advanced assessment methodologies to recognize high-risk phenotypes like sarcopenic obesity and inflammaging
The University of Heidelberg contributes expertise in psychological aging research, delving into developmental processes of mental functioning and behavioral changes unfolding from midage across old age until the end of life. The focus will be on developmental self-regulation, that is, individuals’ potentials and means to adapt to age-related loss (e.g., of cognitive ability, physical health, social connections and future time perspective) and maintain autonomy and well-being in old age and late life. Illustrative data analysis examples will provide students with first insights into the methods of developmental studies in psychology and related disciplines.
Through lectures, case-based discussions, and interactive group work, students will be introduced to contemporary aging research methodologies ranging from molecular assays and experimental model systems to nutritional intervention studies and longitudinal psychosocial research. The course further emphasizes differences in theoretical frameworks, terminology, methodological approaches, and criteria for evidence across disciplines.
A central component of the course is interdisciplinary collaboration. Students from diverse academic backgrounds will work together in groups to develop an outline for an interdisciplinary research project addressing an aging-related challenge. This collaborative exercise is designed to strengthen interdisciplinary communication, joint problem-solving, and integration of perspectives across fields, highly valued in grant proposals.
Participants
This PhD course is intended for students and early-career researchers with an interest in aging and longevity research.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from all graduate programmes within health sciences, biomedical sciences, life sciences, nutrition and food sciences, psychology, public health, and related interdisciplinary research areas.
At the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, the course is relevant to all graduate programmes.
All graduate programmes
Language
English
Form
The course combines lectures, case-based discussions, interactive workshops, and interdisciplinary collaborative group work. Teaching will be delivered by researchers across the participating 4EU+ universities (Copenhagen, Milan and Heidelberg).
Participants will engage with researchers from multiple disciplines and institutions through moderated discussions and collaborative exercises. Where possible, students will also be introduced to ongoing research activities, methodologies, and laboratory or data-driven approaches used within the participating research environments.
As part of the course assessment, participants will work in interdisciplinary groups to develop and present a short outline for a collaborative aging-related research proposal integrating perspectives from multiple disciplines.
Course director
Helena Borland Madsen, Assistant Professor, BMI, hborland@sund.ku.dk
Teachers
Claus Desler, Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen (BMI)
Simone Perna, Associate Professor, University of Milan
Oliver Schilling, Associate Professor, University of Heidelberg
Dates
17-18th of November
Course location
To be announced, at Panum.
Registration
Please register before 27th of October
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.