INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIOLOGY OF AGING SET FOR FALL
LAWRENCE -- Faculty, students and researchers are being invited to attend an international symposium on the recent advances in research into the molecular biology of aging.
The "New Biology of Aging" symposium will bring together nationally and internationally recognized investigators and younger scientists, including several from the University of Kansas, from Sept. 26 to 29 at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.
"It's a sharing of the latest research and scientific discoveries," said Del Shankel, professor emeritus of molecular biosciences at KU and co-chair of the planning committee for the event. "We hope lots of KU faculty, graduate students and postdocs will attend."
Topics are expected to range from research into Alzheimer's disease and ALS, commonly refered to as Lou Gehrig's disease, to the latest neurological and genetic studies of aging, Shankel said.
In addition to keynote speakers, there will be seven sessions on the following topics:
- Genetics and the aging process.
- Immunology of aging.
- Mitochondria and mitochondrial diseases in aging. This relates to the small cellular structures in the body where energy is produced.
- Blood-brain barrier and metalloproteinases. Numerous essential biological functions involve metalloproteins.
- Protein turnover related to aging.
- Systems of repair and plasticity in aging. Plasticity refers to some of the changes in cells that occur as we age, some of which can be repaired.
- Clinical applications and chemoprevention of aging.
Chemoprevention refers to chemicals that can be applied to protect against some effects of aging.
Scheduled invited speakers include scientists from such institutions as Duke University, the University of Washington, Scripps Research Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, and the University of California-Los Angeles.
There also will be a poster session.
The symposium is the fourth such gathering sponsored by the Scientific Education Partnership, a research and training project involving KU, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the Hoechst-Marion Roussel Foundation, a Kansas City-based pharmaceuticals company. The Scientific Education Partnership was formed to promote scientific knowledge and development in the greater Kansas City area with a specific focus on aging.
Symposium fees, which include seven meals, range from $195 for general participants to $75 for graduate students and postdoctoral personnel. The Hyatt-Regency is offering discounted rates of $115 a night for participants.
For more information contact Marvin Hunt at 864-7857 or [email protected]. Registration deadline is Aug. 15. Participants may register on-line at http://www.kumc.edu/kuce/app/nba/nba.html.
Story by Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858 or [email protected]
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