Ms. Barzilai brings to this role more than three decades of leadership experience. She recently retired as a partner at Sidley Austin, LLP, where she served on the Firm's Executive Committee and global head of the Firm's tax practice. She joined AFAR's Board of Directors in 2015, was elected Vice-Chair in 2023, and has served on and/or chaired several board committees.

Stephanie Lederman, EdM, AFAR Executive Director, shares: "For nearly a decade, Laura's contributions as a board member, committee chair, and Vice Chair have significantly guided AFAR's governance and growth. She believes strongly in the promise of geroscience and will bring an industrious vision to her new role as Chair."

Read more in her bio here.

Dr. Rando is currently the Director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology at UCLA, where he is a professor of Neurology and Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. He joined the AFAR Board of Directors in 2017, was elected President-Elect in January 2021, and has served on and/or chaired several board and scientific review committees. Notably, Dr. Rando received early career support from AFAR through a 1999 Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholar Award. In 2008, he received AFAR's Glenn Foundation Breakthroughs in Gerontology (BIG) Award.

"Thomas Rando has led research that undoubtedly has laid the foundation for understanding the biology of aging and translating this into potential therapeutics. AFAR is not only proud to have provided him an early career grant to support his far-reaching research path but also grateful for his contributions to the organization as a board member. He will excel in this new role as President to help guide AFAR's vision for aging research at large and healthy aging for all," notes Lederman.

Read more in his bio here.