Research Programs
Interrogation of brain aging and translational applications in neurological diseases
The global burden of age-related neurological disorders presents an urgent healthcare challenge. Projections indicate that by 2050, over 130 million individuals worldwide will be affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, approximately 15 million people suffer strokes annually, with age-related cerebral small vessel disease accounting for 25% of cases. As populations age, these conditions will impose increasingly substantial healthcare and socioeconomic burdens on societies worldwide.
GCNI leads the frontier in addressing these challenges through an approach that bridges fundamental neuroscience with translational applications. Our research framework integrates basic and experimental neuroscience with clinico-translational strategies to advance both the understanding and treatment of age-related neurological diseases. By combining cellular and molecular biology, advanced neuroimaging and computational modelling, we systematically decode disease mechanisms and develop targeted therapeutic strategies.
Our research portfolio focuses on two complementary strategic pillars:
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Mechanistic Investigation
Aging represents the primary risk factor for various neurodegenerative disorders. We pursue a deep scientific understanding of aging processes as the foundation for therapeutic innovations. Through cutting-edge technologies, including single-cell and spatial omics profiling combined with optical and MRI imaging in animal models, we decipher the molecular and functional signatures of brain and body-wide aging. This approach enables us to understand their relationship with neurodegeneration and vascular dysfunction, and develop strategies to counteract them.
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Translational Deployment
Our translational efforts employ rational large-molecule drug design approaches guided by mechanistic insights from understanding brain aging, as well as testing existing drugs that hold promise in slowing the progression of neurodegeneration. To this end, we integrate advanced imaging techniques with deep molecular profiling across both animal models and human trials. Our pharmacological research distinctively emphasizes the need to co-target the aging process to address the fundamental causes of neurological disorders, beyond their specific pathology.
Through strategic partnerships with other leading institutions and industry collaborators, we accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into practical therapeutic solutions. Our mission centers on developing effective interventions that address the mounting challenge of age-related neurological diseases, ultimately aiming to improve healthcare and population quality of life.
