ABSTRACT
Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled Molecular Basis of Healthy Aging,
organized by Drs. Amy Wagers, Saul Villeda and Salvador Aznar Benitah. The conference will be held in
Breckenridge, Colorado from March 26-29, 2023.
This conference will explore the biological mechanisms that regulate trajectories of aging and enhance
organismal resilience. The program will include discussions on lessons learned from research on multiple
organ systems, organisms, and experimental model systems, with a broad scope spanning molecular to
systems approaches. Emphasis will be placed on recent technological and conceptual innovations and
translational opportunities that have opened new frontiers in the effort to protect health during aging. Other
topics of focus will include discussion of the accelerated trajectories of aging that may arise due to stress,
disease, genetic, epigenetic and external (sleep, nutrition, light and other pollution) influences, as well as
emerging therapeutic opportunities that exploit these mechanisms, including gene therapies, senolytic,
senomorphic and immune modulating drugs, and cellular replacement therapies. One unique feature of this
program will be the inclusion of expert speakers employing “big data” and machine learning approaches for
meta-analyses of aging trajectories and biomarkers. Finally, this conference will be held jointly with
Mitochondrial Dysfunction: From Ultra-rare Diseases to Aging, which will address key questions surrounding
mitochondrial pathogenesis and bring a powerful perspective on the function of these critical organelles across
a continuum of development, growth and aging. It is anticipated these interactions will drive exciting cross-
fertilization of ideas drawing lessons and mechanisms from both rare genetic disorders and more common
diseases of advancing age.