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, PhD
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

mTOR Signaling, Cellular Energy Status and Aging
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

TOR Translation and Aging
Brian Kennedy, PhD, The Buck Institute

Coffee Break

TOR as a Conserved Pathway for Lifespan Extension
Pankaj Kapahi, PhD, The Buck Institute

Reactor: Roger McCarter, PhD, Pennsylvania State University

11:45 - 12:30pm
Session III: Role of mTOR Signaling in Synaptic Plasticity in Health and Disease

Eric Klann, PhD, New York University

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

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
Translating Basic Research to Application: Where Will mTOR Take Us Now?
Panel Dialogue Sponsored by the NIA
Moderator: Felipe Sierra, PhD, National Institute on Aging
Featuring conference speakers.

Sponsors

The Ellison Medical Foundation
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research
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 was founded in 1981 to fund and nurture talented scientists and physicians, and to encourage them to pursue lifelong careers in research focused on aging processes and age-related diseases. Today, nearly three decades later, AFAR has provided more than $129 million in support of researchers in aging and to encourage the training of new scientists and physicians in geriatric research and in the practice of geriatric medicine. The important work AFAR supports, leads to a better understanding of the aging process and to improvements in the health of all Americans as they age. To learn more, visit www.afar.org.