AEON: International Aging-Entropy Open Research Network

Abstract

Aging is often described as a gradual loss of structure, regulation, and function across biological systems. Many scientists use the concept of entropy, a measure of disorder or unpredictability, to study this process. Entropy is applied in many ways: for example, to describe how gene activity becomes noisier with age, how molecular damage accumulates, or how tissue structures become more chaotic. However, while entropy is widely used in aging research, there is currently no shared understanding of what exactly is being measured.

Different researchers use different types of entropy, such as Shannon entropy from information theory, thermodynamic entropy from physics, or network entropy from systems biology. Some interpret entropy as a physical law applying to aging, while others see it as a metaphor for deregulation. These measures are applied across vastly different types of data, from genes and proteins to medical images and clinical records. As a result, findings are often difficult to compare, and the field lacks a clear consensus on what entropy in aging really means. 

Our project, International Aging–Entropy Open Research Network (AEON), aims to bring clarity, structure, and connection to this growing field. In a new collaboration between the University of Cologne and Yonsei University College of Medicine in South Korea, we will build an international network of scientists and students who study entropy in aging from different angles. Our goal is to centralize knowledge, standardize approaches, and foster international exchange between fields.

To do this, we will produce four main outputs. First, we will write a systematic review that collects and compares existing studies using entropy to measure aging. This will include data from genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and medical imaging across different species. Students will be actively involved in this process and gain experience in scientific research and writing.

Second, we will develop a public online website that brings together all relevant entropy concepts, measures, datasets, and publications in one accessible place. It will include building an entropy database, visualizations, code snippets, and the ability to upload and analyze new data using standardized tools. Educational content, including short explainer videos, will also be included.

Third, we will host a monthly international webinar series featuring talks by leading researchers and junior scientists working on entropy in aging. These talks will be recorded and shared as open educational resources.

Finally, we will organize an on-site workshop at the Cologne International Forum, with lectures, training sessions, and student-led activities. A second workshop will follow at the Yonsei University College of Medicine, strengthening international ties.

Based on the initial partnership between Cologne and Yonsei, AEON will make a lasting contribution to how we understand and measure entropy in aging, and create an international collaborative network that advances the field across borders and disciplines.
 

Dr. Sangwouk Cho

Dr. Sangwouk Cho is a postdoctoral researcher at Yonsei University College of Medicine in South Korea. His research focuses on artificial intelligence for musculoskeletal aging, multi-modal medical image analysis, and the development of clinical AI tools that bridge engineering and medicine.

Dr. Sangwouk’s work spans X-ray, DXA, CT, and ECG data, with applications in osteoporosis, sarcopenia, vertebral fracture detection, body composition, skeletal aging biomarkers, and clinical risk prediction. He has developed AI-driven systems including deep-learning vertebral fracture classifiers, spine-age estimation models, automated CT-based body-composition pipelines, ECG curation tools, and video-based biomechanical estimators.

He joins on two national projects in South Korea: an AI-based automated curation platform for X-ray and ECG data, and a CT-based AI pipeline for predicting skeletal aging phenotypes. Internationally, he collaborates with research groups in the United States, Canada, and Switzerland on fracture biomechanics, aging biomarkers, and musculoskeletal digital-twin modeling.