Molecular Causes for Connections between Ageing and Cancer

Molecular causes for the connections between ageing and cancer are the topic of a scientific conference with over 300 participants taking place in Heidelberg from 19 to 21 May 2011. The organisers behind this “Forum of the DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance” are the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University’s Centre for Molecular Biology (ZMBH). In the course of the three-day symposium, leading international scientists from the fields of molecular and cell biology, epidemiology and tumour biology will be presenting cutting-edge research findings on ageing processes and cancerogenesis.

As life expectancy increases, chronic widespread age-related diseases are becoming a problem with immense implications on the health-policy front. “The problem is that our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that lead to ageing and the associated biological basis of many age-related diseases is still rudimentary,” says Prof. Dr. Bruce Edgar, researcher at both DKFZ and ZMBH and one of the organisers of the symposium. “In ageing cells, essential cellular processes undergo changes and then for example play a decisive role in the formation of tumours and metastases.”

The aim of the conference is to provide an overview of the latest research. Central topics are molecular mechanisms and biomarkers of human ageing, the influence of nutrients and metabolism on cell ageing and the role of the cellular response to ageing. An additional facet is the role of the so-called genome stability. Among the speakers are renowned scientists from the USA, Canada, the UK, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Germany. During the conference, young scientists will have the opportunity to present their work in poster form.

The conference is entitled “Ageing & Cancer: from Molecules to Organisms” and takes place in the framework of the DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance. This alliance, the strategic cooperation between the German Cancer Research Centre and the Centre for Molecular Biology, is part of Heidelberg University’s Institutional Strategy to promote top-level research in the framework of the Excellence Initiative of the German federal government and the state governments. At the same time, the symposium is part of the jubilee programme marking the 625th anniversary of the University this year.

Attendance at the conference is free of charge, but participants must register beforehand via the conference website at www.dkfz-zmbh-allianz.de, where they will also find details of the finalised programme of events. The conference language is English.

Note for newsdesks
The conference “Cancer & Ageing: from Molecules to Organisms” takes place from 19 to 21 May 2011 at the lecture-hall complex of the German Cancer Research Centre, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280.

Contact
Dr. Ralf Tolle
Centre for Molecular Biology
phone: +49 6221 546850
r.tolle@zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de

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