An international research team drawn from almost 40 nations is working to uncover underlying molecular, physiological and evolutionary mechanisms.

Regional partners include the MPI for Metabolism Research and the Cluster of Excellence CECAD (both in Cologne) as well as the DZNE and the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior (both in Bonn).

Further model organisms in the form of the African turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are in use.

Since the beginning of the research work in 2008 Adam Antebi (US), Nils-Göran Larsson (Sweden) and Linda Partridge (UK) had been jointly directing the institute.

As one of the youngest institutes of the Max Planck Society, the MPI for Biology of Ageing is expanding further and should eventually have a staff of about 350.

Their leaders are appointed by the President of the Max Planck Society and enjoy independent status within an MPI, similar to that of the directors.