Across Europe and much of the developed world, populations are ageing at an unprecedented rate. By 2050, one in three Europeans will be over the age of 65. While people are living longer, these extra years are not always lived in good health. Ageing is the single greatest risk factor for many chronic diseases—including cancer, heart disease, neurodegeneration, and diabetes—that not only diminish quality of life but also strain healthcare systems and economies. The need to extend healthspan—the years of life spent in good health—is becoming one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
Despite the urgency of the problem, our understanding of how and why we age remains limited. Recent advances in biomedicine, however, have revealed that ageing is not simply a passive process. Cellular pathways linked to DNA damage, metabolism, inflammation, and stem cell exhaustion appear to actively contribute to the physical and cognitive decline seen in older age. These insights open new and exciting possibilities for medical interventions that can delay, prevent, or even reverse age-related deterioration.
The RACE project (Research and Innovation Program of Excellence on Ageing and Longevity) addresses this critical scientific and societal challenge. Funded under the EU’s ERA Chair programme, RACE aims to turn the University of Crete (UoC) into a leading centre of excellence in the biology of ageing. By building new research capacity and attracting international expertise, the project will unlock innovative approaches to promote healthy ageing and combat age-related diseases.
At the heart of the project is the recruitment of Prof. Dr. Björn Schumacher, a world-renowned researcher in genome stability and age-related disease, to lead an interdisciplinary research team. This team—based in Crete but connected globally—will study the mechanisms that drive biological ageing, develop strategies to enhance resilience to age-related stress, and explore therapies that extend healthspan.
The overall objectives of RACE are to:
Build a world-class research program on ageing and longevity at UoC, integrating cutting-edge molecular biology, genomics, and translational science.
Advance fundamental understanding of the biological mechanisms behind ageing and age-related diseases.
Develop and test new interventions—including drugs and gene-based therapies—that may prevent or delay degenerative diseases.
Train the next generation of scientists in an international, interdisciplinary environment, with an emphasis on mobility and career development.
Foster innovation by linking research with the private sector, generating patents, and promoting spin-offs.
Reverse brain drain by attracting and retaining top scientific talent in Crete and contributing to the development of a vibrant regional research ecosystem.
By strengthening research excellence and promoting innovation, RACE is expected to have lasting impacts on both science and society. The project aligns with Greece’s and Europe’s smart specialisation strategies and will serve as a model for upgrading scientific capacity in regions currently underrepresented in European research.
Ultimately, RACE aims to shift the paradigm in how we approach ageing—not simply as an inevitable decline, but as a modifiable process—while contributing to healthier, more active, and more independent lives for Europe’s ageing population.
