Joris Deelen

Joris Deelen is a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne, Germany, where he leads research on the genetic and biomarker underpinnings of human longevity. His work bridges molecular epidemiology, functional genomics, and metabolomics to understand why some individuals age more healthily than others.

• PhD in Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University (cum laude)
• MSc and BSc in Biomedical Sciences, Leiden University

His research focuses on identifying and functionally characterizing rare genetic variants in long-lived individuals using CRISPR/Cas9 models and large-scale human cohort data. He also investigates metabolic biomarkers predictive of mortality and healthy ageing. His recent work emphasizes integrating multi-omics data to uncover mechanisms of ageing.

The trends in his publications reflect a strong focus on human ageing genetics, with key contributions in genome-wide association studies, functional validation of genetic variants, and metabolic profiling for mortality prediction. His work spans high-impact journals such as Nature and Nature Communications, highlighting translational relevance.

His scientific awards include:

• ERC Starting Grant (2022–2027)
• Longevity Impetus Grant (2022–2026)
• Humboldt Research Fellowship (2017)

Dr. Deelen supervises several PhD students and leads a multidisciplinary team integrating bioinformatics, molecular biology, and clinical data. He has secured major third-party funding and is establishing human ageing studies in Cologne to validate biomarkers in clinical settings. His lab collaborates extensively with international cohorts and leverages data from model organisms.

He is actively involved in advancing the biology of ageing through innovative research, aiming to compress morbidity and extend healthspan.