Save the Dates: October 5 and 6, 2009 - AFAR Awards Dinner and Scientific Conference

Awards Dinner- Investing in Futures
Please join AFAR on October 5, 2009, as we celebrate advances in the field of aging research and honor those that have made significant contributions. Honorees include: Robert N. Butler, MD, President and CEO of the International Longevity Center and Pulitzer Prize winning author; John C. Erickson, Chairman and Founder, Erickson Retirement Communities; Fredric B. Garonzik, AFAR Emeritus Director, former partner at Goldman Sachs & Co. (posthumous recognition); Husseini Manji, MD, Global Head, Neuroscience, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development; and John C. Whitehead, WW II hero, former partner at Goldman Sachs & Co., former United States Deputy Secretary of State.

Acknowledgements at the dinner include: Brian Kennedy, PhD, of the University of Washington, recipient of the Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star in Aging Research Award and Woodring Wright, MD, PhD, of the University of Texas South Western Medical School, recipient of the Irving S. Wright Award (no relation). Dr. Kennedy will receive his award at the annual meeting of the American Aging Association on May 30, 2009; Dr. Wright will receive his award at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America on November 19, 2009.

Register at www.afar.org/09dinner.html.

For more information, please contact Nancy O'Leary, AFAR's director of development at 212-703-9977 or Nancy@afar.org.

Scientific Conference- The Aging Heart: A Roadmap to Cardiac Independence
On October 6, AFAR will host its annual scientific conference on the aging heart. The conference will explore fundamental aspects of aging and cardiovascular diseases as well as therapies currently being developed for the aging heart. Leading investigators will address the physiologic, cell and molecular biology and genetic changes that increase the impact of cardiovascular diseases in the older population. Topics will include the role of gender, cardiac myocyte energy utilization and vascular dysfunction as well as environmental influences on the aging heart. The conference will also include a session with experts in translational medicine describing clinical strategies currently being developed to address the specific needs of the aging heart, including biological therapies such as stem cell technologies. A preliminary program and registration can be found at www.afar.org/agingheartconf.html.

For more information, please contact Stacey Harris, AFAR’s communications director at 212-703-9977 or Stacey@afar.org.

Both events will be held at the Union Club located at 101 East 69th Street, NYC.