Exploring Human-Animal Intersections
Converging Lines of Evidence in Comparative Models of Aging
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Hill Pavilion - Billhardt Auditorium
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine
380 South University Avenue
Birds do it; bees do it. Drosophila, elephants, monkeys, dogs and cats do it. Despite some industries’ best efforts, even humans do it. We all age. The impact of aging and aging-related diseases is felt by humans and animals, from the degenerative pain of osteoarthritis to the issues accompanying obesity, cardiovascular health, and increased longevity.
Since all species experience the aging process, what can we learn from each other?
What might researchers learn that can be applied to uncover the mechanisms of the aging process in other species and subsequently develop possible treatments for aging-related diseases?
On March 8, 2007, the Institute on Aging, the Penn School of Medicine, and the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine will present a full-day symposium to discuss
- where current aging research using animal models at the Penn School of Medicine and the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine intersects,
- where future research may continue through joint investigative efforts, and
- the implications for the study of aging and aging-related diseases for humans and animals.
To support a inter-school dialogue, individual faculty from the Penn School of Medicine and the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine will present their animal models research in certain key areas, with a corresponding colleague offering introductions and moderating topic discussion.
Our keynote speaker for the symposium is Virginia M.-Y. Lee, PhD, Director, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research;
John H. Ware 3rd Professor in Alzheimer’s Research; Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Co-Director, Marian S. Ware Alzheimer Drug Discovery Program, Penn School of Medicine. Dr. Lee will be presenting a special session on "Animal Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases."
Dr. Lee’s research focuses on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), frontotemporal dementias (FTDs) and related neurodegenerative disorders of aging. She is the author of over 450 papers since 1970, including over 300 papers on AD, PD, FTDs and other age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Lee’s research has been recognized by a number of awards, was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, and is involved in collaborative initiatives to advance drug discovery in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Dennis F. Lawler, DVM, Veterinary Research Scientist, Nestle Research Center St. Louis, will lead the closing roundtable discussion among the day's participants. Dr. Lawler was co-investigator of the first-ever lifelong canine diet restriction study and demonstrated that a dog's median life span can be extended by 15 percent—nearly two years for the Labrador Retrievers in this study—by feeding to ideal body condition through diet restriction. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. He has 28 years of experience in population biology of dogs and cats and in animal reproduction and his current interest is in investigating the pathology of aging.
As a benefit to those attending the all-day symposium, a $5,000 seed grant, jointly provided by the Penn School of Medicine and Penn School of Veterinary Medicine, will be available to an individual from either school who attends the symposium and submits a winning proposal for a collaborative project, arising out of the day’s discussion, that is intended to lead to future joint studies in animal models of aging.
The IOA will also make a $50,000 2008 IOA Pilot Research Grant available for a worthy, joint School of Medicine-School of Veterinary Medicine project using animal models of aging.
Agenda
9:00-9:15am |
Opening Remarks
Dean Joan C. Hendricks, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM
Henry and Corinne R. Bower Professor of Small Animal Medicine
Section Chief, Critical Care
The Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine
Glen N. Gaulton, PhD
Executive Vice Dean and Chief Scientific Officer
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Penn School of Medicine |
9:15-9:20am
9:20-9:35am |
Introductions: Dean Joan C. Hendricks, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine
Longevity: Brad Johnson, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Penn School of Medicine |
9:35-9:45am |
Discussion: Longevity |
9:45-9:50am |
Introductions: Karen Teff, PhD
Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center
Director, Translational Research, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Penn School of Medicine |
9:50-10:05am |
Nutrition: Kathryn E. Michel, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVN
Associate Professor of Nutrition
Clinician Educator and Chief, Section of Medicine
Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine |
10:05-10:15am |
Discussion: Nutrition |
10:15-10:20am |
Introductions: Karen Teff, PhD
Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center
Director, Translational Research, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Penn School of Medicine |
10:20-10:35am |
Diabetes: Rebecka S. Hess DVM, Dipl. ACVIM
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Clinician Educator
Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine |
10:35-10:45am |
Discussion: Diabetes |
10:45-11:00am |
Mid-morning Break |
11:00-11:05am |
Introductions: Peter J. Felsburg, VMD, PhD
Chair, Institutional Animal Care adn Use Committee
Trustee Professor of Clinical Immunology
Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine |
11:05-11:20am |
Immunology: Michael P. Cancro, PhD
Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Penn School of Medicine |
11:20-11:30am |
Discussion: Immunology |
11:30am- 11:35am |
Introductions: H. Lee Sweeney, PhD
William Maul Measey Professor and Chairman of Physiology
Department of Physiology
Penn School of Medicine |
11:35-11:50am |
Cardiovascular; Meg M. Sleeper, VMD, Dipl ACVIM (Cardiology)
Section Chief, Cardiology
Assistant Professor of Cardiology
Clinician Educator
Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine |
11:50am-12:00pm |
Discussion: Cardiovascular |
12:00-12:05pm |
Introductions: Karen L. Rosenthal, DVM, MS, Dipl. ABVP
Assistant Professor of Special Species Medicine and Surgery, Clinician Educator
Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine |
12:05-12:20pm |
Osteoporosis: Robert J. Pignolo, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric
Medicine
Director, Ralston-Penn Clinic for
Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders
Penn School of Medicine
|
12:20-12:30pm |
Discussion: Osteoporosis |
12:30-1:00pm |
Lunch |
1:00-1:05pm |
Introductions: Steven J. Fluharty, PhD
Vice Provost for Research
Professor of Pharmacology, Psychology, and Neuroscience
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Arts and Sciences, and School of Medicine |
1:05-1:20pm |
Obesity: Karen Teff, PhD
Member, Monell Chemical Senses Center
Director, Translational Research, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Penn School of Medicine |
1:20-1:30pm |
Discussion: Obesity |
1:30-1:35pm |
Introductions: Joshua L. Dunaief, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Penn School of Medicine |
1:35-1:50pm |
Retinitis: Gustavo D. Aguirre, VMD, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology and Medical Genetics
Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine |
1:50-2:00pm |
Discussion: Retinitis |
2:00-2:15pm |
Introductions: Brad Johnson, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Penn School of Medicine |
2:15-3:00pm |
Keynote speaker: Virginia Lee, PhD
Director, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research
John H. Ware 3rd Professor in Alzheimer’s Research
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Co-Director, Marian S. Ware Alzheimer Drug Discovery Program
Penn School of Medicine |
3:00-3:15pm |
Discussion: Keynote Speaker |
3:15-3:30pm |
Afternoon Break |
3:30-5:00pm |
Roundtable discussion
Introductions: Dean Joan C. Hendricks, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM
Penn School of Veterinary Medicine
Moderator: Dennis F. Lawler, DVM, Veterinary Research Scientist
Nestle Research Center, St. Louis |
|
Participants: Introduction and Presentation Speakers and Panelists
Panelist: Allan Pack, MB, ChB, PhD
Chief, Division of Sleep Medicine
Director, Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology
Professor of Medicine and Neurology
Penn School of Medicine
Panelist: Peter F. Davies, PhD
Director, Institute for Medicine and Engineering,
Robinette Foundation Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine
Professor of Bioengineering
Penn School of Medicine
|
5:00pm |
Adjourn |
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