2024 Biomarkers of Aging Conference

Brigham And Women'S Hospital, Boston MA

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY This application requests funds to support the 2024 Biomarkers of Aging Conference, which will be held from November 1–2, 2024 at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. This conference has been organized by the Biomarkers of Aging Consortium following the success of our inaugural event in 2023. We again aim to bring together many stakeholders who work on all aspects of aging biomarkers. Although tremendous strides have been made in the development of aging biomarkers, none have been systematically validated. Moreover, there is little consensus within the field on how such biomarkers may best be developed, validated, and deployed. This represents a major hindrance in the translation of these tools from preclinical studies to clinical trials to test the ability of geroprotectors to extend healthy lifespan. The annual Biomarkers of Aging Conference is a key initiative organized by the consortium in parallel to ongoing scholarly work and other projects. We envision this conference as the premier yearly venue for scientists working on aging biomarkers to meet and discuss the most pressing issues in the field, a need evidenced by the overwhelming response to our inaugural 2023 symposium. We strongly feel that a coordinated and ongoing effort will be necessary to realize the promise of the burgeoning aging biomarkers field in improving the lives of aged individuals across the world. To support this goal, we have organized this year's conference with the goals of: (1) disseminating the latest research related to aging biomarkers to a broad audience through scientific presentations; (2) considering critical outstanding issues that are impeding the field from moving forward and identifying concrete steps to meet these challenges; (3) providing a unique forum for networking between academic scientists, clinicians, regulatory experts, and representatives from industry; and (4) supporting the career development of junior scientists, particularly those from backgrounds underrepresented in science, through active participation opportunities and cultivation of an environment that encourages interactions with senior experts in the field. We believe we have organized a strong program which will directly support the consortium's broader goal of enabling the establishment of reliable biomarkers of aging for clinical use. We feel that this conference will be useful to the community and will continue to serve as an important annual event for all those working to bring biomarkers of aging to the clinic to improve human lives.