Healthy Ageing: From Molecules to Organisms

Ageing can lead to declining health and function, and it is the major risk factor for cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease. The second conference in this series will focus on recent discoveries and current challenges in ageing research, with a focus on translating basic research insights into health improvement for older people.

We aim to explore the mechanisms of ageing in cells, tissues and organisms in order to identify interventions that can ameliorate its negative effects. The conference will focus on how recent developments in cell- and immune-senescence, neuroinflamation, stem cells and epigenetics are leading to an increased understating of the ageing process. There will be a special session on drug discovery and drug development. Overall the meeting will emphasise the connection between discoveries made in model organisms and mechanisms leading to healthy ageing in humans.

The meeting is aimed at scientists, clinicians and drug developers involved in research into ageing and other relevant fields.

The conference will start at approximately 12:30 on 31 January and close at approximately 14:00 on 2 February 2018.

Topics will include:

• Cellular senescence
• Stem cells
• Nutrition and omics
• Neuroinflammation
• Immunoscensence
• Epigenetics
• Systems physiology
• Animal models in ageing
• Genome stability
• Drug discovery
• Clinical trials

A draft programme will be available shortly.

Scientific programme committee

Keynote speakers

Confirmed speakers

Arne Akbar – University College London, UK
Steven Braithwaite – Alkahest, USA
Anne Brunet Stanford – University School of Medicine, USA
Judith Campisi – Buck Institute for Research on Aging, USA
Nathanial David – Unity Biotechnology, USA
Jesus Gil – Imperial College London, UK
Margaret Goodall – Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Bass Heijmans – Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Valter Longo – University of Southern California, USA
Johanna Meijer – Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Celine Riera – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA
Janet Thornton – EMBL-EBI, UK
Dario Valenzano – Max Plank Institue for Biology of Ageing, Germany
Sara Wiskstroem – Max Plank Institue for Biology of Ageing, Germany
Tony Wyss-Coray – Stanford University School of Medicine, USA

Conference organiser: Sue Taylor – Wellcome Genome Campus, UK

The registration fee includes entrance to the lectures and poster sessions, an abstract book, meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked accommodation.

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for the nights of 31 January and 1 February 2018. Please note: there is limited onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, early registration is recommended.

If you wish to book onsite accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Conference Centre directly.

Travel visas
Contact the conference organiser if you require a letter to support a travel visa application. Please note: letters will only be provided to confirmed registrants.

Non-European Economic Area or Swiss nationals may be required to have a visa to enter the UK.
Early application is strongly advised, as this process can take 6-8 weeks or longer.

Please visit the following websites for further information:

• UK Border Agency website
• Information for general visitors and business visitors

A limited number of registration bursaries are available for PhD students to attend this conference (up to 50% of the registration fee) from Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences.

The following documents will need to be provided:

• Abstract
• CV
• Covering letter
• Letter from supervisor

To apply, please contact the conference organiser.

Bursary deadline: 31 October 2017

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted.
Abstracts will only be considered from registered delegates. Please use our online abstract submission system and follow the instructions given to ensure your abstract is submitted correctly. All abstracts must be submitted by the deadline. If you are intending to submit more than one abstract, please contact the conference organiser prior to registration.

The scientific programme committee will assess your abstract after the deadline has passed and you will be notified whether you have been selected for an oral or poster presentation.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0- portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the conference programme book and poster boards will be allocated at the conference.

Abstract deadline: 14 November 2017