ABSTRACT
Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled Mitochondria in Aging and Age-Related
Disease, organized by Drs. Gerald S. Shadel and Holly Van Remmen. The conference will be held in
Keystone, Colorado from January 13-17, 2019.
Aging is the largest risk factor for most human diseases, yet the underlying reasons for this are not clear and
hence remain under intense investigation. Mitochondria have long been associated with aging as the
cornerstones of the “mitochondrial” and “free radical” theories of aging. However, that the role of mitochondria
in aging is simply due to declines in ATP production and increased oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species
production is giving way to more complex hypotheses. These are driven by the realization that mitochondria
are dynamic and have multiple additional roles in cell and organismal physiology (e.g., signaling and
immunity). The goal of this meeting is to bring together investigators working at the interface of mitochondria
and aging to begin to develop network theories of mitochondrial contributions to aging and age-related
diseases that take into account both “old” and “new” functions of mitochondria. Topics covered will include
neurodegeneration, cancer, metabolic diseases, inflammation and mitochondrial signaling pathways. This
meeting is being held jointly with that on Mitochondrial Biology in Heart and Skeletal Muscle, allowing in-depth
coverage of mitochondria in cardiovascular aging and sarcopenia. It is expected that this meeting will facilitate
new interactions and collaborations at the interface of aging and mitochondrial biology. This should catalyze
new research toward therapies for age-related diseases based on selectively targeting mitochondrial functions
and signaling pathways in specific physiological and disease contexts. Workshops will highlight work from
exciting new investigators.