Progress reported on diabetes, aging and childhood disease research

Top California scientists will report progress this week on studies of Alzheimer’s Disease and other diseases of aging, as well as efforts to extend lifespan, develop cures for diabetes and improve diagnosis and treatment of childhood neurological disorders.

The research updates will be presented October 8 and 9 during the second annual Scientific Conference of the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation, held at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus. The Foundation supports medical research, predominantly in California, focused on diabetes, diseases of childhood and aging.

Last year, the Foundation established the UCSF Larry L. Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus. Director is Cynthia Kenyon, PhD, professor of biochemistry and biophysics. Kenyon is a leader in studies of the genetic basis of aging.

The scientific sessions are divided into three research areas: aging; children’s diseases and diabetes. Among more than 20 scientists describing their research are seven from UCSF:

* Bruce Miller, MD, professor of neurology and director of the
  UCSF Memory and Aging Center.
* Katherine Rankin, PhD, assistant professor of neurology
* Cynthia Kenyon, PhD, professor of biochemistry and biophysics
* Karin Vargervik, DDS, director of the UCSF Center for
  Craniofacial Anomalies
* Daniel Adams, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology
* Stephen Miller, MD, neonatal neurology fellow
* Michael German, MD, associate professor of medicine and
  hormone research in the UCSF Diabetes Center

The two-day meeting will include a dedication of the UCSF Larry L. Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging, located in Genentech Hall, at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus.

For more information, or to attend all or part of the scientific sessions, contact Wallace Ravven in the UCSF News Office at (415) 476-2557.