Leibniz Trainee Award 2025 goes to trainee at Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena

Hakar Aliyas (24) impressed with his excellent professional achievements and strong social commitment

Extension of CRC 1310

As our gut age: New study finds out why important genes “go quiet” as we get older

Researchers from the Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena, Germany, the Molecular Biotechnology Centre (MBC) in Turin and the University of Turin, Italy, have discovered a fundamental mechanism of aging in the gut. Over the course of life, a specific form of epigenetic aging - known as ACCA drift - accumulates in intestinal stem cells. This leads to the shutdown of key genes through hypermethylation. The drift spreads across the intestinal crypts and is caused by a combination of age-related inflammation, weakened Wnt signaling, and impaired iron metabolism, which affects the activity of DNA-modifying enzymes. The findings provide new explanations for why the risk of colorectal cancer increases with age and which molecular processes are involved.

A look back at the Aging & Microbiome Conference 2025

Almost 100 researchers from around the world gathered at AMC25 in the Rosensäle Jena to discuss the latest findings on microbiomes and aging processes. In addition to presentations, the Zeiss Planetarium program provided opportunities for discussion, networking, and making new contacts.