Collin Ewald is a Professor at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich. He is in charge of Lab which provides basic research and systems-level approaches to develop novel strategies to treat age-related pathologies. The aim of the Ewaldlab`s project is to determine the molecular mechanism(s) that prolong health during aging, using the nematode C. elegans, in order to develop novel strategies to treat age-related pathologies. Aging is the major risk factor for developing diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Their recent work has shown that many health- and longevity-promoting interventions re-activate the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes during aging. This ECM enhancement is required and sufficient for extending the lifespan of C. elegans. One fascinating facet they are also currently investigating is the role of the ECM with the accumulation of extracellular protein aggregates associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.