Wednesday, 29. April 2026, at 06:00 pm CET Online, via Zoom Prior registration is required, by 27. April at the latest

Abstract of the Talk

Neurodegenerative diseases have long been studied through a predominantly genetic lens. However, the concept of the exposome – encompassing the totality of environmental, lifestyle, and biological exposures across the lifespan – is increasingly redefining our understanding of disease risk and progression. A growing body of evidence indicates that exposome-related factors, including environmental toxicants, diet, microbiome alterations and metabolic dysfunction, significantly influence both disease initiation and neurodegenerative trajectories. This lecture will summarize key exposome domains that shape the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases and discuss how integrating exposome science into research frameworks may open new avenues for risk stratification, early detection, and prevention strategies.

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About the Speaker

Dr. med. Eva Sch?ffer is a senior physician at the Department of Neurology in Kiel, Christian-Albrechts-University. She is the group leader of the Research Group on Early Detection of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) at the University of Kiel and a member of the task force and clinical commission “Prevention in Neurology” of the German Society of Neurology (DGN). Her main research interests focus on early diagnosis, disease subtyping, the gut–immune–brain axis, and prevention in PD. Her overarching objective is to integrate early detection strategies based on novel biomarkers with innovative, mechanism-based prevention approaches, such as intestinal dysbiosis and neuroinflammation. Dr. Sch?ffer received competitive funding from the German Parkinson’s Disease Society (DPG), the Parkinsonstiftung, and intramural research funding for her research on biomarkers of the gut–immune–brain axis in PD.

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About ARISE

ARISE (Augsburger Nachwuchsprogramm für Organismus, Nervensystem und Umwelt) is a junior research training program at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg. It is a funded by the Else Kr?ner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) and aims to educate and further train young physicians at the interface of environmental sciences and translational neuroscience. By inviting leading researchers and experts, the ARISE seminar series offers a platform for graduate students, staff, researchers, clinician scientists, and professors of the faculty to learn on emerging issues in the field, discuss relevant scientific challenges and opportunities, and facilitate networking and collaboration across research groups, chairs, departments, and universities. For more information, please visit our page or write to us at arise@med.uni-augsburg.de

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Registration

https://intranet.uni-augsburg.de/de/fakultaet/med/forschung/graduiertenfoerderung/arise/bewerbung/registration/