The need of understanding of demographic, biological and societal aging has led a group of scientists and clinicians from Montpellier to structure a dynamic meetings, seminars and events, and publish a website built combining animation network M.A.N (http://www.inmfrance.com/M.A.N).

M.A.N includes academic partners (Université Montpellier 1, Université Montpellier 2, Université Montpellier 3, CHU-Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, EPHE and pharmaceutical groups such as Sanofi-Aventis and Pierre Fabre, concerned with basic and applied issues of aging and senescence. The originality of M.A.N is to combine a continuum of expertise from the molecular mechanisms of senescence to the anthropology of aging.

It examines many facets of aging through various experimental models, but complementary, such as molecular aggregation, mammalian cells invertebrate organisms (nematode , Drosophila, etc. ..), rodents (rat, mouse), a primate original model, the mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) and of course studies of aging in humans such as epidemiological studies.

The M.A.Network is also involved in the creation of a new Master untitled Pharmaco-genomics of aging and Nanotechnology for Health (University of Montpellier 1 and 2). This degree will help us to expand the expertise necessary in view of accelerating the development of new molecular tools for studying and diagnosis of senescence and aging, with prospects for rapid transfer to human health.

This convergence of therapeutic expertise will enable MAN to identify emerging needs of research on aging and senescence, similar to those defined by the new French National Agency for Life Sciences and Health (AVIESAN). Finally, the M.A.Network is involved in the new Institute of Transdisciplinary Studies on Aging (ITEV, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes - Paris-Sorbonne) with headquarters in Montpellier (contact : Jean-Michel.Verdier).