□ The Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST; President Kunwoo Lee) announced that DGIST and Nature, one of the world’s most renowned academic journals, will co-host the 2025 Nature Conference from December 9 (Tue) to 11 (Thu) at the DGIST Convention Hall. The conference’s topic is “Towards Healthy Brain Aging: Bridging Biology, Lifestyle, and Therapeutics.”
□ Under the theme of healthy brain aging, the Conference will delve into the (i) latest research trends in the field of brain aging and neurodegeneration, (ii) impact of systemic physiology and lifestyle factors on brain health, and (iii) molecular- and cellular-level mechanisms and biomarker-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
□ According to a recent study published in Nature, regular brain imaging alone can predict how fast an individual’s brain ages, with an average acceleration of 5.5 months reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these latest research findings, the Conference will broadly discuss the association between brain structural changes and cognitive health.
□ The keynote speech, scheduled on the first day of the event, will be delivered by Director Ana Maria Cuervo of the Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Director Cuervo is one of the most renowned academics in the field of selective autophagy, recognized around the world for suggesting the potential for restoring brain health through protein regulatory mechanisms. In this keynote speech, Director Cuervo will introduce strategies to combat aging and neurodegenerative diseases at the protein level based on specific studies.
□ Professor Tony Wyss-Coray from the Stanford University School of Medicine will also deliver a keynote speech. Professor Wyss-Coray gained global attention for his research and finding that blood components from younger individuals can restore aging brain functions, and was named one of Time’s 50 Most Influential People in Health Care. In this upcoming keynote, Professor Wyss-Coray will be sharing innovative strategies and the latest research findings on restoring brain health.
□ The Conference will also be attended by key editors of leading journals under Nature, including Nature Aging, Nature Neuroscience, and Nature Metabolism. They will share on the latest research trends and academic visions, and offer a platform of in-depth academic exchanges with researchers in Korea and from other parts the world.
□ The Conference will have presentations from 16 invited researchers from different subject matters, as well as poster sessions and oral presentations by researchers selected from submitted abstracts. An official certificate in the name of DGIST and Nature will be granted to all poster presenters. Special lectures and research collaboration opportunities will be offered to outperforming researchers.
□ “This conference will serve as an opportunity for distinguished scholars in the world to gather in Daegu and deepen academic exchanges and collaboration in the field of brain health and slow aging,” said DGIST President Kunwoo Lee. “It will be a great opportunity for DGIST to establish itself as an international research hub.”
□ Meanwhile, pre-registration for the event (early bird) will be available until November 9 on the official website[1].
[1] Address: https://natureconferences.streamgo.live/towards-healthy-brain-aging/regi...
