Our Research

We are interested in how aging and neurodegenerative diseases affect the brain, neural cells and neural stem cells. Using novel stem cell, reprogramming and genome editing technologies we are studying how genetic pathways involved in aging and neurodegenerative disease affect formation and function of neural cells. We also have a strong interest in basic stem cell biology with a clear focus on neural stem cells and neurogenesis in the adult and aging brain.

Aims

• To develop cellular models of human neural aging and degeneration
• To investigate mechanisms responsible for neural cell dysfunction in aging and disease
• To understand and restore age related decline in neurogenesis

Impact

Aging is the largest risk factor for developing cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The world population is getting increasingly older. Given this continuos increase of mean lifespan, incidence of neurodegenerative disease will continue to rise.

Aging is an important but often overlooked factor in stem cell and regenerative medicine research. Age will affect all somatic stem cells and the aged environment in which cells will be transplanted to will influence cell replacement therapies.

By combining research on normal aging and neurodegenerative disease and using human neural cells we will gain synergistic results towards the goal of accurately model and understanding neural aging and degeneration. 

List of Team Ahlenius publications

Join us!

We are looking for one or more talented post-docs to join our team. Please contact Henrik [dot] Ahlenius [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Henrik Ahlenius).

Team

(name linked to profile in Lund University research portal)

Henrik Ahlenius

Principal Investigator, Henrik [dot] Ahlenius [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Henrik[dot]Ahlenius[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Francesco Trovato

Postdoc, Francesco [dot] Trovato [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Francesco[dot]Trovato[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Laura Robles Rodriguez

Postdoc, laura [dot] robles_rodriguez [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (laura[dot]robles_rodriguez[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Enrico Pracucci

Postdoc, enrico [dot] pracucci [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (enrico[dot]pracucci[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Jonas Fritze

PhD student, Jonas [dot] Fritze [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Jonas[dot]Fritze[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Oskar Zetterdahl

PhD student, Oskar [dot] Zetterdahl [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Oskar[dot]Zetterdahl[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)

Cristiana Pinto dos Santos Vaz

Student, cristiana.pinto_dos_santos_vaz@med.lu.se

Jonne Mei Eggink

Student, jonne.mei_eggink@med.lu.se