Daniele Bano

Dr. Daniele Bano serves as a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Bonn, Germany, where she investigates molecular mechanisms linking aging to neurodegenerative disorders through interdisciplinary approaches integrating epigenetics, mitochondrial biology, and metabolism.

Her research program focuses on two interconnected domains:

• Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Elucidating how mitochondrial bioenergetics failures drive cellular degeneration, with landmark studies identifying novel molecular cascades in neuronal death (Sendoel et al., 2014; Gioran et al., 2014; Meyer et al., 2015). Current work involves high-throughput screening of neuroprotective compounds in nematode and murine models of mitochondrial disease.
• Epigenetic Plasticity: Deciphering how histone variants (notably H3.3) and chromatin remodelers (SWI/SNF/BAF complex) maintain transcriptional adaptability during aging, evidenced by H3.3's role in enabling C. elegans longevity pathways (Piazzesi et al., 2016). This research extends to understanding epigenetic contributions to age-related neuronal vulnerability.

Dr. Bano's translational strategy combines genetic and pharmacological interventions to identify therapeutic targets, with ongoing compound validation for preclinical applications in neurodegenerative conditions. Her laboratory actively explores metabolic adaptations to environmental stressors and their implications for neuroprotection.

Based at the Venusberg Campus facility, her team employs C. elegans and murine models to investigate fundamental aging mechanisms, with research outputs directly informing strategies for mitigating age-related neurodegenerative pathologies through targeted molecular interventions.