The main research interest focuses on the role of environmental / and food-relevant metals, especially trace elements (TE), in biological processes. Maintenance of the TE homeostasis is of central importance for “health”. Alterations may contribute to disease-associated phenotypes and are further supposed to be a risk factor for several disorders as neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, concerns are rising about the consequences of alterations in TE homeostasis for the developing organism. Also, the role of a genetic predisposition such as Parkinson´s disease is unknown. It is of central importance to understand how a distinct genetic background of a specific disease, is having an impact on the TE status or may sensitize the organism towards TE toxicity. In order to address this questions cell cultures and the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) are used.

Interactions of essential trace elements in healthy and diseased elderly (TraceAge)

DFG-Forschergruppe