DFKI and Mainz University Medical Center join forces to decode immune system aging through AI-powered research

Prof. Dr. Wolfram Ruf, Minister Clemens Hoch, Prof. Dr. Andreas Dengel, CFO Helmut Ditzer

(IN BRIEF) The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and Mainz University Medical Center have initiated the MARK project to understand and predict the biological aging of the immune system using artificial intelligence. Funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health with €300,000, the project combines DFKI’s AI expertise with Mainz’s biomedical research to identify early molecular markers of disease and immune decline. The findings could enable new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for age-related conditions. The collaboration underscores how AI-driven analysis can help societies shift from reactive healthcare toward proactive, knowledge-based aging management.

(PRESS RELEASE) KAISERSLAUTERN, 11-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and Mainz University Medical Center have launched a groundbreaking research initiative, MARK (Molecular Analysis of Age-Related Risk Mechanisms through Artificial Intelligence), to unravel the biological mechanisms behind the aging of the human immune system. Funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health with approximately €300,000, the project aims to build an AI-supported predictive model that identifies early molecular indicators of immune decline and age-related diseases.

As the human body ages, the immune system weakens, primarily due to the depletion of blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow. This decline increases vulnerability to infections, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and cancer. MARK seeks to address this by analyzing high-dimensional biomedical data to discover biological markers that can detect early signs of immune deterioration. The research combines the biomedical and clinical expertise of Mainz University Medical Center with DFKI’s technological excellence in artificial intelligence to generate insights that could transform diagnostics, prevention, and therapy.

“The MARK project impressively demonstrates how the combination of artificial intelligence and biotechnology can lead to concrete medical progress,” said Clemens Hoch, Rhineland-Palatinate’s Minister of Science and Health. “By jointly investigating age-related changes in the immune system, researchers at DFKI and Mainz University Medical Center are opening up new perspectives for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy.”

Prof. Dr. Andreas Dengel, Executive Director of DFKI in Kaiserslautern and Head of the Smart Data & Knowledge Services department, highlighted the broader social potential of the initiative: “Aging is not inevitable – it’s about whether we invest in knowledge. With AI, we can detect risk patterns years in advance and take action before diseases develop. This is not about optimizing people but extending healthy living. If we succeed, we will not only ease the healthcare burden but also improve quality of life for the elderly. That is real social progress.”

Prof. Dr. Wolfram Ruf, Scientific Director of the Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis at Mainz University Medical Center, added that their team has collected unique single-cell data on immune system aging and its effects on vascular health. “With DFKI’s AI applications, we can now uncover deep insights into these aging processes and translate them into potential therapeutic strategies for healthy aging.”

Through this cross-disciplinary collaboration, MARK aims to make aging research more predictive, data-driven, and socially relevant, combining life sciences and artificial intelligence to foster breakthroughs that directly benefit public health. The initiative also enhances Rhineland-Palatinate’s standing as a hub for AI and biomedical innovation, positioning it at the forefront of Europe’s efforts to merge data science with healthcare.

Contact:
Dr. Markus Junker
Markus.Junker@dfki.de
Phone: +49 631 20575 7080

Press contact:
Communications & Media Kaiserslautern
communications-kl@dfki.de

SOURCE: DKFI