Recent success in lifespan extension of mid- and late-age male and female mice by chronic treatments with the drug rapamycin could lead to a new era of pharmacological intervention for aging and age related diseases.

This conference will highlight the new and exciting discoveries in our understanding of the major metabolic pathways associated with the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and how these insights relate to the regulation of aging. In addition, the role(s) that TOR signaling plays in the major diseases related to aging and how preemptive intervention may lessen their burden will be a focus. TOR and associated signaling pathways in unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes are ripe for discoveries of new and better drug therapies. The conference will therefore explore the feasibility of clinical trials for aging intervention and/or disease prevention.

The conference will spotlight recent discoveries of next generation mammalian TOR inhibitors and delivery systems and address the questions: how can they best be used as tools to better understand aging and will they be better or worse than rapamycin as potential interventional approaches for the modulations of healthspan and lifespan?

Organizers

Richard W. Besdine, MD
Alpert Medical School of Brown University

George M. Martin, MD
University of Washington School of Medicine

Roger McCarter, PhD
Pennsylvania State University

Z. Dave Sharp
University of Texas Health Science Center

Terrie Fox Wetle, PhD
Brown University

8:30 am

Keynote: Chronic mTOR Inhibition by Rapamycin to Increase Healthspan
Z. Dave Sharp, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center

9:15 - 10:15 am
Session I: mTOR Signaling & Nutrient Signaling

TOR Signaling and the Control of Cell and Animal Growth
Michael Hall, PhD, University of Basel

George Thomas, PhD, University of Cincinnati

Reactor: Steve Austad, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center

10:15 - 11:45 am
Session II: Translational Control

Brian Kennedy, PhD, The Buck Institute

Coffee Break

Pankaj Kapahi, PhD, The Buck Institute

Reactor: George M. Martin, MD, University of Washington

11:45 - 12:30pm
Session III: Stress-response

Speaker to be announced

Reactor: Roger McCarter, PhD, Pennsylvania State University

12:30 - 2:00pm
Lunch: Speakers assigned to tables for small-group discussion

2:00 - 2:45 pm
Closing Speaker: Looking Forward
mTOR and its Role in Growth Control and Aging
David Sabatini, MD, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2:45 - 4:00 pm
Panel Dialogue
Moderator: Terrie Fox Wetle, PhD, Brown University
Translating Basic Research to Application: Where Will mTOR Take Us Now?
Featuring conference speakers.

Sponsors to Date

Glenn Foundation for Medical Research
The Ellison Medical Foundation
National Institute on Aging-National Institutes of Health

Want to learn about past AFAR Scientific Conferences? Read the proceedings and check out video from the 2009 Aging Heart Conference.

Conference Registration

There is no charge for this event but space is limited and registration is required. Please register early!

To register, please send your contact information, including title, organization and current email address, to info@afar.org.

AFAR is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support biomedical research on aging. It is devoted to creating the knowledge that all of us need to live healthy, productive, and independent lives. Since 1981, AFAR has awarded approximately $124 million to more than 2,600 talented scientists as part of its broad-based series of grant programs. Its work has led to significant advances in our understanding of aging processes, age-related diseases, and healthy aging practices. AFAR communicates news of these innovations through its web site www.afar.org and educational web sites Infoaging (www.infoaging.org) and Health Compass (www.healthcompass.org).