Aging Experts Drs. Niedernhofer and Robbins to Lead Medical Discovery Team on Biology of Aging at University of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (March 22, 2018) –The University of Minnesota Medical School announced today that Drs. Laura Niedernhofer and Paul Robbins have accepted roles as Director and Associate Director, respectively, for the newly founded Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism (iBAM).

Drs. Niedernhofer and Robbins, internationally recognized experts in the molecular and cellular basis of aging, are coming to the University from the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida. Dr. Niedernhofer’s expertise is in how cellular senescence, or the halt of cellular growth, is regulated and the role of DNA repair during aging. Dr. Robbins’ work focuses on the role of inflammation in aging and on the discovery of drugs that may influence the aging process.

The Medical Discovery Team on Biology of Aging will pursue the goals of understanding the molecular events that lead to aging and developing molecular tools to influence lifespan, healthspan, and the quality of life for the people of Minnesota.

Thanks to the support of Governor Dayton and the Minnesota Legislature, Medical Discovery Teams (MDT) were created to support the Medical School's efforts to achieve the state's goals of improving patient and population health, lowering costs, and improving health care experiences.

In addition, the Discovery Teams are designed to increase national preeminence by attracting and retaining world-class faculty, staff, students, and residents.

With these hires, all four of our MDTs are launched and ready to take the next steps toward becoming national leaders in addressing health and health care in these areas. Both Drs. Niedernhofer and Robbins will join the faculty as tenured professors in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics in June 2018.

About the University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. Visit med.umn.edu to learn how the University of Minnesota is innovating all aspects of medicine.