Welcome to the Institute for Biomedical Aging Research
Worldwide, the segment of the population aged 60 or over is increasing rapidly. In the year 2006, in Austria, more than one-fifth of our population has been over 60 years of age. In 2030 this segment will amount to one third. These senior citizens will place an enormous personal and socioeconomic burden on their families and on our society unless we act quickly to develop better prevention and treatment programs for many of the physical and mental ailments associated with old age.
The goal of biomedical research on aging is to help people grow old with dignity and in good health.
See latest news below!
University of Innsbruck
Institute for Biomedical Aging Research
Rennweg 10
A-6020 Innsbruck
Phone: +43 512 507 50801
E-Mail: iba@uibk.ac.at
Head:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Birgit Weinberger
Research Groups
Birgit Weinberger
Immunosenescence and Vaccination
Age-associated changes in the immune system (immunosenescence) contribute to increased incidence and severity of infections and decreased immunogenicity and clinical efficacy of many currently used vaccines in older adults. We investigate how T cells change with age and study the immune responses after vaccination with licensed vaccines to develop improved vaccination strategies.
Emmanuel Derudder
Humoral Immunity
B lymphocytes are central players in adaptive immunity and the sole producers of antibodies. While efficient B cell development and responses occur in young organisms, aging causes a decline in production and remodeling of functionality. We are investigating the regulatory mechanisms permitting optimal gene expression during the B cell life cycle to shed light on B cell aging.
Pidder Jansen-Dürr/ Maria Cavinato
Cellular Senescence in Aging and Disease
We investigate the molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence in various human cell types. This includes the role of mitochondrial proteins in senescence, age-associated metabolic dysregulation, and the impact of FAHD1 on healthy aging.
In addition, we explore the relationship between cellular senescence and age-related diseases, emphasizing intercellular communication in aging and disease.
Alexander Weiss
Mitochondrial Metabolism and Cellular Senescence
Research interest in mitochondrial metabolism and cellular senescence aims to uncover the intricate interplay between these two processes, exploring how dysfunctional mitochondria contribute to cellular aging and senescence, and identifying potential interventions to mitigate age-related decline and diseases.
Werner Zwerschke
Cell Metabolism and Differentiation Research
The major research goals of the Zwerschke-Group are to better understand the importance of adipose tissue in obesity and aging. Moreover, the group studies nutritional anti-aging interventions.
Martin Widschwendter
European Translational Oncology Prevention & Screening (EUTOPS)
Our vision is to integrate cutting-edge research in systems biology and oncology to enable real-world implementation of the concepts of P4 medicine (predictive, preventive, personalised and participatory). The EUTOPS Institute is ideally placed for collaborative research in the heart of Europe.
News and Events
News at IBA
IBA Research Group Joins the CMBI
The research group led by Emmanuel Derudder has become a new member lab of the Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI) at the University of Innsbruck, an interdisciplinary research network that brings together different scientific disciplines to investigate molecular and cellular processes.
We are pleased to welcome this new membership and the opportunities it offers for scientific collaboration!
IBA in the Stanford-Elsevier Ranking 2026
In the latest Stanford-Elsevier Ranking 2026, 81 researchers from the University of Innsbruck are among the world's top 2% most cited scientists in their respective fields. Among them is Birgit Weinberger, Head of our Institute for Biomedical Aging Research.
The entire IBA team is delighted by this international recognition of her scientific work and warmly congratulates her on this achievement!
New Master's Student
We warmly welcome Teresa Butsch as a master's student at the IBA! Her master's thesis focuses on the topic “MicroRNA (miR)-142 may limit cell death in age-associated B cells by suppressing TGF-β signaling,” which she is conducting in Emmanuel Derudder's group under the supervision of Will Olson. We wish her every success with her research project!
upcoming events
5:00 pm, IBA Seminar Room
Rennweg 10
Title: TGF-b signaling leads to reduced live cells under the regulation of miR-142 locus during B cell development in mice
Lore Hellemans (Zoology) / Alexandra Fritz (Molbio)
4:15 pm, HS D
Campus Technik
Title: tba
MolBio, Zoology & IBA Joint Seminar Series
5:00 pm, IBA Seminar Room
Rennweg 10
Title: tba
Looking for blood donors
We're looking for blood donors for our biomedical research.
It takes about 15 minutes and youre making a valuable contribution to research in the field of immunology.
Should you be interested and between 18 and 99 years old, please contact us for more information or to make an appointment.
Contact:
E-Mail: Michael.Keller@uibk.ac.atPhone: +43 512 507 50812