Our team investigates the role of mitochondrial function and dysfunction in aging processes and cellular senescence. Age-related diseases, which include neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovasuclar disease, diabetes but also cancer, establish a challenge to our society. Aging and cancer are highly correlated biological phenomena, and increasing evidence suggest a central role for metabolic regulation in control of aging lifespan. Ensuing studies revealed that depletion of mitochondrial regulator protein FAH domain containing protein 1 (FAHD1) inhibits mitochondrial electron transport and induces cellular senescence in human umbilical endothelial vein cells. A distinct research focus of this group addresses the question whether FAH proteins play a role in the proliferation of human cancer cells, thus having potential as pharmacological targets in selected human malignancies.