53rd Annual Meeting of the American Aging Association

Abstract. We are requesting funds to support the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Aging Association (AGE) that will take place on May 11-14, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska. The 53rd Annual AGE Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging Symposium (May 11). Since its first conference in 1971, the American Aging Association has been the only scientific society in the United States focused solely on the biology of aging. The annual AGE meeting is one of the premier meetings in geroscience research and serves as a critical mechanism by which AGE advances its mission to promote biomedical aging studies that target increasing the functional lifespan of humans, to keep the public informed on these activities, to increase knowledge of geroscience among health care professionals, and to foster the scientific and professional career development of AGE trainees and scientific members. The primary goal of the conference is to convene senior and junior scientists in a forum where the latest discoveries in aging research are discussed and debated, to highlight exciting new research in the field, and to promote the emergence of new ideas and collaborative activities among participants. The theme for the AGE 53rd annual meeting is “New Frontiers in Aging Research”. The invited speakers include prominent established scientists, early career investigators, and trainees, all of whom will be selected based on the quality and impact of their science. We have planned 10 non- competing oral sessions that will be held along with three special lectures and a roundtable panel discussion. Fostering the next generation of geroscientists is a primary goal of the society; therefore, one of the sessions will be organized in its entirety by the Trainee Chapter of AGE. In addition, we have chosen to have at least one to two speakers in each of the sessions as early career investigators or trainees selected from submitted abstracts. Two poster sessions are planned that will not compete with oral presentations. Abstracts will be reviewed and scored, and the top 40 poster presenters will be given the opportunity to present their posters in a two-minute oral “poster pitch” during the regular sessions. Gender parity will be achieved, with women representing 55% of invited and confirmed speakers. Additionally, 48% of all session speakers will be early career researchers or trainees, and at least 20% of speakers will be from underrepresented groups. We expect that the meeting will be held in person with a live-streamed virtual component. AGE has experience with both fully virtual and hybrid meetings. We will adhere to established meeting guidelines, including ensuring that day care opportunities and special needs access are provided.