- Event Report - BBSRC UKAN Researchers on Ageing: Approaches to Ageing Issues
OIST hosted the 'BBSRC UKAN Researchers on Ageing: Approaches to Ageing Issues' event on 1 October 2024. The workshop showcased innovative research focusing on the biological mechanisms of ageing and their implications for human health. The event featured a series of engaging presentations by prominent researchers associated with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) UK Ageing Network (UKAN), including Dr Sian Henson, Dr Li Chan, Dr Richard Faragher and Dr Julie Thornton. Their presentations highlighted different aspects of ageing, from cellular metabolism to the role of the microbiome in skin health.
One of the highlights of the event was a talk by Nobel Laureate Sir Tim Hunt, who engaged the audience with his presentation, ‘An Overview of the Mechanism of Aging’. Drawing from decades of research, he explained on how cellular and molecular mechanisms underlie the ageing process.
The program included presentations by OIST researchers, whose groundbreaking work has generated considerable interest from the UKAN researchers. Dr. Keiko Kono from the Membranology Unit presented her research on plasma membrane damage and its role in inducing cellular senescence. Dr. Marco Terenzio from the Molecular Neuroscience Unit discussed his work on impairments in axonal translation and cytoplasmic viscosity in ageing sensory neurons. Dr. Tomomi Kiyomitsu from the Cell Division Dynamics Unit gave an engaging talk on the use of medaka fish embryos as a model for ageing research.
The UKAN researchers expressed their admiration for the innovative and interdisciplinary approaches demonstrated by the OIST teams. Discussions following the presentations highlighted the potential for collaborative projects, with shared aspirations about the opportunities for collaboration between OIST researchers and UKAN researchers.
Participants explored opportunities to address pressing questions in ageing research, including cellular resilience, neurodegeneration, and the societal implications of demographic change.
This successful workshop not only deepened mutual understanding between OIST and UKAN researchers but also laid the foundation for new partnerships aimed at accelerating discoveries in the field of ageing.
